Runes: An Introduction [Hardcover]

Ralph Warren Victor Elliott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1989

This book is intended to serve as an introduction to the study of runes in general and of English runic inscriptions in particular.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 151 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 2nd edition (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312034911
• ISBN-13: 978-0312034917
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,520,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Divination > Runes

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Source, August 9, 2007

By 

S. Plowright (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Runes: An Introduction (Hardcover)

This is Professor Elliott's classic on runes. It was written in 1959 & has been a valuable source for basic factual information ever since. Although it acknowledges the surviving Heathen & magical symbolism of the rune names & poems, it sticks to the basic academic facts. This is an essential introduction for anyone serious about learning the runes. Even more so for those who have been duped by the rubbish written in many of the New-Age manuals out there.

Sweyn
The Rune Primer: A Down to Earth Guide to the Runes

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cassic study, June 14, 2009

By 

Christopher R. Travers "Einhverfr" (Chelan, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Runes: An Introduction (Hardcover)

This is an important work, which provides a useful summary of what is known about the Runes. While some elements have been questioned since (the meaning of erilaz for emxample), the work as a whoe is quite solid.

The book covers all of the historic futharks, the main sources of our knowledge, and various trends regarding the development of the inscriptions. However, some elements of historical linguistics are not addressed (what is the relationship of the language of the Elder Futhark inscriptions to the other Germanic language branches, for example*).

Of the greatest interest are the sections discussing the names of the staves, and the origin of Runic writing.

This is a truly classic study and I highly recommend it.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a basic book on what is really known about runes, January 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Runes: An Introduction (Hardcover)

This is basic information on what is known about english & scandinavian runes (with an emphasis on english runes), without all the new-age magic bulls**t found in most other books. If you're going to make up fantasies about the runes, read this first so you can base them somewhat on reality! This book is academic, that is, its carefully researched & truthful.