The Nibelungenlied: Prose Translation (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Anonymous (Author), A. T. Hatto (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1965

Written by an unknown author in the twelfth century, this powerful tale of murder and revenge reaches back to the earliest epochs of German antiquity, transforming centuries-old legend into a masterpiece of chivalric drama. Siegfried, a great prince of the Netherlands, wins the hand of the beautiful princess Kriemhild of Burgundy, by aiding her brother Gunther in his struggle to seduce a powerful Icelandic Queen. But the two women quarrel, and Siegfried is ultimately destroyed by those he trusts the most. Comparable in scope to the Iliad, this skilfully crafted work combines the fragments of half-forgotten myths to create one of the greatest epic poems - the principal version of the heroic legends used by Richard Wagner, in The Ring.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Written around AD 1200, probably by a professional entertainer for performance at court in Austria A.T. Hatto has translated Tristan and Eschenbach's Parzival for Penguin Classics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (April 30, 1965)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140441379
• ISBN-13: 978-0140441376
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Attila to Tolkien, December 12, 2004

By 

Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nibelungenlied: Prose Translation (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Wagner's operas and Tolkien's tales are modern incarnations of legends that have evolved in the European consciousness for centuries, in much the same way as the Arthurian cycle of stories. The Nibelungenlied (Song of the Nibelungs), which dates from around 1200 CE and probably originated in Austria, is one of the best known and most significant versions of those legends. It takes as its main theme the life and death of the hero Siegfried and the revenge of his widow Kriemhild. It also incorporates characters and events based on the lives of Atilla the Hun and Theodoric the Great.

This is a valuable insight into how literature evolved in Medieval Europe. If you are a Wagner or Tolkien fan, or a lover of epic fantasy, you will want to read it, both for historical interest and for the beauty and strangeness of some of the imagery. The inconsistencies in its plot and characterizations are a consequence of the poet trying to merge contradictory sources and also to present a version of pagan legends that would be acceptable to a Christian audience. The result is sometimes awkward but always interesting.

A.T Hatto's Penguin edition is definitely the one to get. There is a brief forward, then the story itself, and then more than 100 pages of editorial, giving you a glossary of character's names, the history of the poem, etc, etc. Probably more than you ever wanted to know about medieval German literature. (Although, having said that, it is odd that there is no mention of the Volsung Saga, which is really needed to complete the picture).

This is a lively, readable and authoritative prose translation. If, like me, your medieval German is less than fluent and likely to remain so, then this is the version to read.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In All Its Bloody Glory, March 1, 2001

By 

Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nibelungenlied: Prose Translation (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

German medieval epics are not for every taste but it is surprising how quickly one can become lost in something written in such an different style from our modern writing. The translation of the Nibelungenlied by A. T. Hatto takes the poem from its poetic roots and turns it into readable prose in an effective manner. This is a marvelous work with some truly memorable characters, particulary the women, and much grisly excitement (the author of the epic will never be cited for subtlety). It is easy to see why this inspired such works as Wagner's Ring Cycle. There is a lot of rich material in these legends and myths. An added bonus are the wonderful appendices at the back that could lead the reader to a richer second read of this book at some point in the future. A fine look at a great epic from the distant past.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars German Mythology, May 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Nibelungenlied: Prose Translation (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Excellent translation of the German Epic of Siegfried's death and Kriemhild's revenge. Used as material for Wagner's third opera in the Ring Cycle. Very important material for anyone interested in the Geramn cultural tradition.