The Penguin Book of Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings

"Listen! Who can hear the sound of grass growing? The sound of wool on a sheep's back, growing? Who needs less sleep than a bird? Who is so eagle-eyed that, by day and night, he can see the least movement a hundred leagues away? Heimdall and Heimdall and Heimdall."

A skillful and muscular retelling of the Norse myths, full of the raw power of ancient kennings and strong Anglo-Saxon sounds. This book is as full of lusty laughter and mighty battles as any hall in Asgard, with the inevitable doom of Ragnarok hanging over all. A really delightful book that brings these thousand-year-old tales to life in the 21st century.

Must-have reference. (20/21 people found this helpful)

Finally I've found it: the book of tales of Odin, and Thor, and Bifrost, and Ragnarok! What a pleasure to read the tales that inspired so much of the world's fantasy literature! Here you'll find the background stories behind and the likes of Beowulf, the Nibelungenlied or the Volsungs' Saga, and obviously the roots of Professor Tolkien's own Middle-Earth mythology, so numerous are the similarities.

Not only are the thirty-two myths comprised in this translation very well told and captivating, but the introduction and notes are very complete and interesting, not to mention the very practical glossary and index. I haven't read Snorri Sturluson's Edda so I can't compare, but I'm pretty sure Kevin Crossley-Holland's is one of the best reference books on the subject, a must-have on one's shelf.

A review of the 'Norse myths' (12/12 people found this helpful)

The author retells the beautiful and colorful Norse mythology in an organized way which in it, it is comfortable to follow the development of the story and without losing in sense of Myth in the translation.
The many stories of that mythology are wonderful and capture the reader in the magical world of the Gods fighting against the giants and trying to keep their grip as rulers until the unavoidable Ragnarok.
The author also made good notes of each story which explains the story's origin and the introduction at the beginning of the book is very interesting and explains a lot about the Norse world and the development of its Mythology through the hundreds of years.
I recommend this book very much to the fans of this kind of literature, the Norse mythology is just fascinating and full of cleverness and humor.

Interesting. (8/10 people found this helpful)

This book taught me how to take an insult (like Thor ignore it- usually!) and reaffirmed the importance of courage. The Gods in these myths are closer to the Greeks ones than the Christians: their vices and virtues, their pettiness and greatness, however, it is all good fun and well worth a look. If you are a more serious student of Norse myths then the original Icelandic epics would, I imagine, be more worthwhile as all the tales are plucked from that tree.

The best resource of Viking Legend (5/6 people found this helpful)

This is easily the best tome of Norse mythology that you can buy. It tells each tale with gusto and offers interesting commentary and a superb glossary of Gods, Giants and sundry characters.

The Penguin Book of Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings

Kevin Crossley-Holland

Reader Reviews:

Making the gods live again (0/0 people found this helpful)

Must-have reference. (20/21 people found this helpful)

A review of the 'Norse myths' (12/12 people found this helpful)

Interesting. (8/10 people found this helpful)

The best resource of Viking Legend (5/6 people found this helpful)

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