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Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson
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Gods and Myths of Northern Europe Paperback – January 3, 1965

by H.R. Ellis Davidson (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 343 ratings
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Surveys the pre-Christian beliefs of the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples. Provides an introduction to this subject, giving basic outlines to the sagas and stories, and helps identify the charachter traits of not only the well known but also the lesser gods of the age.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    January 3, 1965
  5. Dimensions
    5.1 x 0.6 x 7.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780140136272
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140136272
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About the Author

Hilda Davidson (1912-2006) was a lecturer and Vice-President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0140136274
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 3, 1965
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ unknown
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780140136272
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140136272
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 343 ratings

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Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson

Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
343 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an excellent scholarly study that serves as a great introduction to Norse mythology. The writing style is simple and accessible, making it a very readable reference. They appreciate its historical content, with one customer noting how it delves into the mythos of Northern Europe.

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Information qualityReadabilityWriting styleHistory
32 customers mention "Information quality"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides excellent scholarly information about Norse mythology, serving as a great introduction to the subject.

"...Davidson's is a masterful presentation for portraying the ancient pagan deities from the old time sagas, poems, and songs...." Read more

"...Her chapter on Yggdrasil is extremely illuminating, for example, because she goes beyond the simple depictions offered by some scholars, and tries..." Read more

"...drew on what must have been her staggering and far-reaching knowledge of mythology and folklore, not simply Norse mythology but mythologies from far..." Read more

"...is easier to get into than Lindow’s book; it’s smoother, provides more context, and approached purely as a piece of non-fiction, is more..." Read more

23 customers mention "Readability"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great and enjoyable read that serves as essential reading and one of the best history books ever written.

"...scope and style, she incorporates data from the Eddas, archeology, Sagas, and practically anything else she can think of to provide as complete a..." Read more

"...It's a classic. It's not even half as big as my Lindow dictionary, but somehow it seems to contain five times the information...." Read more

"...eye to adding additional depth, context, and meaning – I enjoyed Davidson’s work immensely, and would gladly read more...." Read more

"This is a stunning book, and I would even go so far as to say that this is essential reading for anyone who wants to study some of the old myths of..." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing style"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it very readable and well-written, with one customer noting that the author doesn't dumb down the content.

"...Furthermore, this book in particular is very accesible, but it also covers a huge amount of material in considerable depth given the modest length..." Read more

"...Can you tell that I'm a fan? Did I mention that it's superbly written? This is it; this is the desert-island-book of Norse Mythology. Read it...." Read more

"...As a result, Gods and Myths of Northern Europe is easier to get into than Lindow’s book; it’s smoother, provides more context, and approached purely..." Read more

"...The writing style is simple enough for the lay reader to follow, and Davidson takes the reader though the old myths, and brings them to life...." Read more

9 customers mention "History"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's historical content, with one review noting how it delves into the mythos of Northern Europe, while another highlights its introduction of myths and sources, and a third mentions its exploration of primordial days.

"..."God and Myths" tells the fascinating tales of Thor's hammer, Odin's eight-legged horse "Sleipnir" (as carrier of heroes into battle), the Valkyries..." Read more

"...Outstanding and very readable reference, and a classic in the field, ranking with the best works of Dumezil, Turville-Petre, Lindow, Simek, and..." Read more

"...She takes you far, far back into the primordial days in which the roots of these myths took hold, trying to understand the hows and wheres and whys..." Read more

"...Both books cover much of the same ground and serve as solid guides to Norse mythology, but while Lindow’s book is organized more like an encyclopedia..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Readalots
    5.0 out of 5 stars Odin's Religion of 1500 Years Ago
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Retired Professor Ellis Davidson's "God and Myths of Northern Europe" (1990 251-page paper back) is a brief survey of European pre Christian pagan religion. Her work here principally reflects the first millennium's Scandinavian, Germanic, and Britannic polytheism. Davidson presents a riveting quick read for the gods and goddesses from which our contemporary fairy tales spring.

    Davidson's is a masterful presentation for portraying the ancient pagan deities from the old time sagas, poems, and songs. In deed, she quotes from dozen of those ancient writs (including "Beowulf", "Edda", Saxo, Venerable Bede, and others). She adeptly examines the origins of the gods, their consorts, and their offspring. She explains the teleology of "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saxon", "Thing", "Valhalla", "Elves", and many more. Her analysis reviews the earliest gods (Tiwas and Wodan) and their evolution into Odin and Thor over six centuries (the 4th through 10th century).

    "God and Myths" tells the fascinating tales of Thor's hammer, Odin's eight-legged horse "Sleipnir" (as carrier of heroes into battle), the Valkyries (female muse-like charioteers that transport dead warriors to Valhalla), Sif's (Thor's beautiful goddess wife) long flowing blonde hair, Freyr's and his consort/sister Freyja's control over agriculture and peace, and much more. Ancient pagan religion determined to explained natural phenomenon through the use of deity and divine application (i.e. Thor pounds his hammer on mountainsides producing thunder and lightening).

    Davidson suggests that ancient heathenism ultimately succumbed to Christianity, by the end of the 10th century, for several reasons. Most prominently, pagan leadership had no principle (or concise) documentation for positioning Odin's religion. Without universally acknowledged writ various pagan communities had no spiritual shield to combat missionary insurgence. She explains that heathen sagas, poems, songs were too scattered, and diluted, to provide a permanent moral believers' base.

    Additionally, Odin's ancient heathenism only spoke to war (through the divine house of Aesir) and agriculture/peace (by means of the divine house of Vanir) without moral reflection or ethical consequences. For the pagan society, she posits, good was rooted in winning battles and growing food during peacetime without any consideration for public and private ethical obligations or corporate and personal responsibility. The only appropriate death was reserved for those killed in battle. Elderly, youth, and female society had little opportunity for Valhalla matriculation. Christianity filled this moral vacancy, gave a divine place and promise to every believer, and persevered northern European society from self-destruction.

    Davidson answers many questions about early European religious observance. Her's is a recommended study for all curious about early European paganism, polytheism, and Odin's religion of 1500 years ago.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Erik Goodwyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely, totally, and in all other ways indispensible!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Davidson's review of Norse Mythology goes far beyond the usual summaries and cursory explorations of other authors. Here, in her typically broad scope and style, she incorporates data from the Eddas, archeology, Sagas, and practically anything else she can think of to provide as complete a picture as possible of the Northern heathen imagination of pre-christian Europe. It is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in the Northern European ancient folk religion.

    Davidson's method is conservative and thorough, and she avoids making wild speculations in her analysis. Furthermore, this book in particular is very accesible, but it also covers a huge amount of material in considerable depth given the modest length of the book. This therefore begs for repeat readings and reviews of key elements. Her chapter on Yggdrasil is extremely illuminating, for example, because she goes beyond the simple depictions offered by some scholars, and tries to get into the minds of the heathens who actually held these symbols dear.

    Those with Germanic/Northern European ancestry will find this work especially relevant, since it explains so many aspects of the folk religion and rituals of their ancestors, and the deep wisdom that they convey in their symbols. Outstanding and very readable reference, and a classic in the field, ranking with the best works of Dumezil, Turville-Petre, Lindow, Simek, and Orchard. The only drawback is her conclusion, which is quite dated, where she speculates that the heathen religion was doomed to failure, since the pagans were longing for something which Christianity provided. No disrespect to Christianity, but that's a terrible oversimplification, which overlooks the bloody and ruthless conversion methods of the Scandinavian kings. I'm reminded of a tour of a Norwegian church where I was informed that the conversion efforts in Norway "encountered considerable resistance". I laughed out loud at the sheer nerve of such a statement...those stubborn heathens, so resistant to new ideas; I can't imagine why when the king was threatening to slaughter your entire family if you didn't convert. Saying that such efforts "encountered resistance" borders on insult and seems to justify such cruel methods, but there you have it. Whatever the case, Davidson should know better! One wonders what Davidson's reasoning might be for the steady increase in neopagan and reconstructionist paganism. Does Christianity, by the same logic, have some kind of 'fatal flaw' that people are longing for, and so leading them to convert to such systems?

    Still, an excellent resource overall. I hope this review has been helpful to you.
    21 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • alessandro
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo libro per comprendere la mitologia norrena
    Reviewed in Italy on November 3, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Ho sempre trovato i libri sulla mitologia scandinàva in lingua italiana molto poco chiari e mal strutturati. In questo fantastico libro, invece, Davidson spiega in maniera semplice e chiara quello che sappiamo su questo affascinante soggetto, sempre attento a specificare da dove gli studiosi hanno tratto le informazioni. Dopo un breve riassunto delle fonti principali (soprattutto l'Edda poetica e l'Edda di Snorri Sturluson), si passa ad una sorta di catalogo tematico delle principali divinità e dei temi ricorrenti. Molto interessante anche il suo approccio alle metodologie per lo studio della religione pagana, che dimostrano competenza e sguardo critico, mancanti altrove (basti pensare ai fin troppi semplicismi e generalizzazioni non adeguatamente supportate dalle fonti molto che abbondano in altri testi). Se conoscete l'inglese, è un ottimo testo anche per chi non ha conoscenze pregresse nello studio della mitologia.
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  • Kimberly
    5.0 out of 5 stars A superb study on Norse mythology
    Reviewed in India on October 8, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    lovely book! So informative ...it gives you an insight into the myths from an archeological perspective as well as a comparative study between the ancient civilisations in Northern Europe ...and the possibile influences or similarities of different religions.
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  • P. Browne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Excellent read if you are interested in Northern European paganism and mythology.
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  • Loddfafnir
    5.0 out of 5 stars Readable and well researched.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Having an interest in norse mythology and the history of the 'dark ages', I have come to expect a high level of quality from this author.

    In a field/genre that is filled with trash, it is good to have an author who can be relied upon for sound research. The books themselves now are a little old, so don't always include the latest discoveries in the field archaeology, but this doesn't really impact upon the value of the contents to the interested reader.

    This book, in particular, I found very readable and informative. The information and insights, as they were given, were entertaining.

    I will certainly be on the look out for more by this author.
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  • mefrusako
    5.0 out of 5 stars good overview
    Reviewed in Germany on December 5, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    "Gods and Myths of Northern Europe" gives a good overview of the topic, showing various different interpretations where the historic sources are sparse.
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