An Annotated Bibliography of Recommended Reading
Cannot find it at the major book sellers? Look for it used at: - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Eddas
The Elder Edda (The Poetic Edda or wrongly, Sæmundr's Edda)
Auden, W. H. and Taylor, Paul B. The Elder Edda: A Selection, Random House, 1970. Another translation of selection lays from the Poetic Edda. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Bellows, Henry Adams. The Poetic Edda, Edwin Mellen Press, 1991. The best translation, to date, of the Poetic Edda. This translation is a reprint and the original publication edited by Ari Óðinssen is available at the Northvegr site. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Hollander, Lee M. (trans.). The Poetic Edda. University of Texas Press, 1987. This is probably the most favored translation of the Poetic Edda in print and easily available but it is not as good as it could be. One must be careful about accepting Hollander's footnotes as fact, as they seem to hold a somewhat of a Christian bias. He also sacrifices much accuracy in the translation in order to preserve the poetic feel of the work in English. I would suggest a better translation at the Northvegr Félag web site, which is the Bellows Translation, edited by Ari Óðinssen. [Get the Hollander Translation in print at Amazon.com]
Terry, Patricia. Poems of the Elder Edda (Middle Ages Series). University of Pennsylvania Press, 1990. Anothe translation of the Poetic Edda. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Thorpe, Benjamin and Blackwell, I. A. The Elder Edda of Saemond Sigfusson, and the Younger Edda of Snorre Sturleson, New York Norroena Society 1907. Thorpe's Translation of the Poetic (Elder) Edda is one that is a good edition to have on hand because he includes three lays that are not normally included in most other transtions of this work: Othinn's Raven Song, Solarjoth and Fjolvinsmal. (Read the Thorpe translation of the Poetic Edda at the Northvegr site) [Get it in print from the Northvegr Foundation Press (Poetic Edda Only) - Paperback]
The Younger Edda (The Prose Edda or Snorri's Edda)
Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist (trans.). Scandinavian Classics Volume V: The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. The American-Scandinavian Foundation. London: Humphrey Milford Oxford University Press, 1923. This one is out of print and hard to find but it is one of my favorite translations of the Prose Edda. If you come across this one get it. Also available at the Northvegr site. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Faulkes, Anthony (trans.). Edda (Everyman Paperback Classics). Orion Publishing, 1995. The recommended translation of the Prose Edda and one of the few that includes Hattatal. It is also in print and easily obtainable. Anyone interested in Norse Heathenism or Viking Age history should have a copy of Faulkes translation. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Reissue Edition - Paperback]
Young, Jean I. The Prose Edda. University of California Press, 2002. This translation of the Prose Edda is not considered the best but it is still in print. I would recommend Faulkes translation over this one. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
The Sagas, Heroic Tales and Folklore
The Complete Sagas of the Icelanders, Various translators. The condensed version [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback] of 5 volume set is available in paperback and hardback at Amazon.com and is highly recommended but if you have the money to spend on this expensive set, it is well worth it. The sagas included in this set are: Eirik the Red's Saga, The Saga of the Greenlanders, Egil's Saga, Kormak's Saga, The Saga of Hallfred the Troublesome Poet, The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of the Hitardal People, The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue, The Tale of Arnor, the Poet of Earls, Einar Skulason's Tale, The Tale of Mani the Poet, The Tale of Ottar the Black, The Tale of Sarcastic Halli, Stuf's Tale, The Tale of Thorarin Short-Cloak, The Tale of Thorleif, the Earl's Poet, The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords, The Tale of Brand the Generous, Hreidar's Tale, The Tale of the Story-Wise Icelander, Ivar Ingimundarson's Tale, Thorarin Nefjolfsson's Tale, The Tale of Thorstein from the East Fjords, The Tale of Thorstein the Curious, The Tale of Thorstein Shiver, The Tale of Thorvard Crow's-Beak, Gisli Sursson's Saga, The Saga of Grettir the Strong, The Saga of Hord and the People of Holm, Bard's Saga, Killer-Glum's Saga, The Tale of Ogmund Bash, The Tale of Thorvald Tasaldi, The Saga of the Sworn Brothers (Foster-Brothers), Thormod's Tale, The Tale of Thorarin the Overbearing, Viglund's Saga, The Tale of the Cairn-Dweller, The Tale of the Mountain-Dweller, Star-Oddi's Dream, The Tale of Thidrandi and Thorhall, The Tale of Thorhall Knapp, Njal's Saga, The Saga of Finnbogi the Mighty, The Saga of the People of Floi, The Saga of the People of Kjalarnes, Jokul Buason's Tale, Gold-Thorir's Saga, The Saga of Thord Menace, The Saga of Ref the Sly, The Saga of Gunnar, the Fool of Keldugnup, Gisl Illugason's Tale, The Tale of Gold-Asa's Thord, Hrafn Gudrunarson's Tale, Orm Storolfsson's Tale, Thorgrim Hallason's Tale, The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal, The Saga of the Slayings on the Heath, Valla-Ljot's Saga, The Saga of the People of Svarfadardal, The Saga of the People of Ljosavatn, The Saga of the People of Reykjadal and of Killer-Skuta, The Saga of Thorstein the White, The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord, The Tale of Thorstein Staff-Struck, The Tale of Thorstein Bull's-Leg, The Saga of Droplaug's Sons, The Saga of the People of Fljotsdal, The Tale of Gunnar, the Slayer of Thidrandi, Brandkrossi's Tale, Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Saga, Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Tale, Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Dream, Egil Sidu-Hallsson's Tale, The Saga of the People of Laxardal (Laxdæla Saga), Bolli Bollason's Tale, The Saga of the People of Eyri (Eybyggja Saga) , The Tale of Halldor Snorrason I, The Tale of Halldor Snorrason II, Olkofri's Saga, Hen-Thorir's Saga, The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi, The Saga of the Confederates (Bandamanna Saga), Odd Ofeigsson's Tale, The Saga of Havard of Isafjord, The Tale of Hromund the Lame, The Tale of Svadi and Arnor Crone's-Nose, The Tale of Thorvald the Far-Travelled, The Tale of Thorstein Tent-Pitcher and The Tale of the Greenlanders. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Anderson, George K. The Saga of the Volsungs, Together With Excerpts from the Nornagesthattr and Three Chapters from the Prose Edda. University of Delaware Press, 1982. The great Northern Epic that belongs on the same footing as any of the great world classics; a cautionary tale of how even the most virtuous can be destroyed by greed, jealously, and intolerance. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Click here for the William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson Translation.)
Anderson, Rasmus B. (trans.). Viking Tales of the North. S. C. Griggs and Co., 1877. Out of print, hard to find, but at the Northvegr Félag web site. Contains the Saga of Thorsteinn Viking's Son and the Saga of Fridthjof the Bold and Tegner's Fridhjof's Saga. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Anderson, Theodore M. and Miller, William Ian Law and Literature in Medieval Iceland: Ljosvetninga Saga and Valla-Ljots Saga, Standford University Press, 1989. This is a book that will give you a new appreciation for the underlying foundation on which all Icelandic sagas function. Aside from two translations of two very hard to find sagas you get a 118 page introduction on Medieval Icelandic law and ethics. After reading this introduction you will never look at the sagas in the same way again because you will get an appreciation of the intricate ideals, ethics and motivations that underlie what may have seemed like, before reading this book, seemingly curious actions taken by characters in the sagas. This book will allow you to experience the sagas on a level more intricate and satisfying than you perhaps would have thought was possible.
[Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Bachman, W. Bryant. Heidarviga Saga. University Press of America, 1995. One of the major sagas. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Read the Public Domain Translation at the Northvegr site)
--- with Gudmundur Erlingsson, The Sagas of King Half and King Hrolf. University Press of America, 1991. [Get it in print by special order at Amazon.com]
--- Four Old Icelandic Sagas and Other Tales. University of America Press, 1986. Contains a collection of translations from Old Icelandic. Includes four sagas and five shorter narratives, most of which appear for the first time in English. Contents: "The Saga of Clever Ref"; "The Story of Thorstein of the East Fjords"; "The Saga of Valla Ljot"; "The Story of Thorvard Crow-Noes"; "The Story of Shuttle-Halli"; "The Story of Gold Asa-Thord"; "The Saga of Oath-Bound Men"; "The Story of Gisl Illugason"; "The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of Hitardale"; "Bibliography." [Get it in print by special order at Amazon.com]
--- Forty Old Icelandic Tales, University of America Press, 1992. Contains: The Story of Bodvar Bjarki, The Story of Hauk the Tall, The Story of Harald the Greenlander, The Story of Thorleif Jarl's Skald, The Story of Ogmund the Hard-Hit, The Story of Helgi and Ulf, The Story of Eindridi Flat-Foot, The Story of Thorstein Shiver, The Story of Thorvald Tasaldi, The Story of Red the Strong, The Story of Eymund of Skara, The Story of Eindridi and Erling, The Story of Thormod Coal-Brow's Skald, The Story of Toki, The Volsi Story, The Story of Thorgrim Hallason, The Story of Hrafn Gudrunson, The Story of Thorstein the Eastfjorder, The Story of Hreidar, The Story of Audun the Westfjorder, The Story of Brand the Unselfish, The Story of Stuf, The Story of Odd Ofeigson, The Story of Shuttle-Halli, The First Story of Halldor Snorrason, The Second Story of Halldor Snarrason, The Story of Thorstein the Saga-Teller, The Story of Thorvald Crow-Nose, The Story of Blood Egil, The Story of Gisl Illugason, The Story of Einar Skulason, The Story of Gold Asa-Thord, The Story of Ivar Ingimundson, The Story of Thorarin Short-Cloak, The Story of Mani the Icelander, The Story of Hromund the Lame, The Story of Ale-Cap, The Story of Thorstein Goad-Struck, The Story of Brandkrossa and The Story of Jokul Buason. [Get it print by special order at Amazon.com]
--- with Gudmundur Erlingsson, The Saga of Finnbogi the Strong. University of America Press, 1989. [Get it in print by special order at Amazon.com]
--- with Gudmundar Erlingsson, Svarfdale Saga. University of America Press, 1994. [Get it in print by special order at Amazon.com]
Byock, Jessie L (Introduction). The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer. Penguin USA, 2000. The great Northern Epic that belongs on the same footing as any of the great world classics; a cautionary tale of how even the most virtuous can be destroyed by greed, jealously, and intolerance. (Click here for the William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson Translation.) [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki. Penguin USA, 1999. One of the major sagas. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Chappell, Gavin. Hromund Grippsson's Saga, © 2001 Gavin Chappell.
- The Saga of Illugi, The Foster Son of Grid, © 2001 Gavin Chappell.
- Ketill Trout's Saga, © 2001 Gavin Chappell.
- Of the Kings of the Uplands, © 2001 Gavin Chappell.
Collinew, W. Kormak's Saga, AMS Press (Reprint Edition), 1940. Read Kormaks Saga, at the Northvegr site. [Get it print from Amazon.com]
De Costa, B. F. Greenland's Saga. The Pre-Columbian Discovery of America by the Northmen, With Translations From the Icelandic Sagas, By Second Edition, Albany, N.Y.: Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers 1890. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Durrenberger, E. Paul and Durrenberger Dorothy. The Saga of Gunnlaugur Snake's Tongue: With an Essay on the Structure and Translation of the Saga. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1992. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Read the Magnússon and Morris translation at Northvegr)
Fell, Christine (Editor) Lucas, John (Translator). Egil's Saga (Everyman's Library). Everymay Paperback Classics, ?. One of the five must read sagas for those who follow Northern Tradition. As with all the sagas it is highly entertaining and this one is packed with examples of Northern virtues and much good material on the runes. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Finlay, Alison. The Saga of Bjorn: Champion of the Men of Hitardale, Hisarlik Press, 2002. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Hatto, A. T. The Nibelungenlied, Penguin USA, 1965. The Great German Epic of Sigfried. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Head, Sir Edmund (Trans.). Viga-Glums Saga first edition. London, Williams and Norgate. 1866. An excellent saga with many religious customs depicted. This saga is a defenitely one to pick up. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2000. The great Anglo-Saxon epic. An essay on Northern virtues all on its own. [Get it in print and on audio CD at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback - Large Print Edition - Audio CD - Audio Cassette] or read it in English and Old English at the Northvegr site.
Hollander, Lee M.- Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway by Snorri Sturluson. 1991. Required reading just below the Eddas in importance. This huge collection of sagas dealing with the kings of Norway and surround areas is full of information all followers of Northern Tradition should read about. (Click here for the Norroena Society translation.) [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- The Saga of the Jomsvikings. University of Texas Press, 1989. One of the major sagas. This saga has the famous code of the Jomsvikings which is well worth reading it for alone. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Njal's Saga. One of the five must read sagas for followers of Northern Tradition. Njal's saga is thought to be the best of all sagas by some scholars (though I would disagree and put at least Völsunga Saga ahead of it). Greenwood Publishing Group, 1980. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback] [Read the DaSent Translation at Northvegr]
Johnston, George . The Schemers and Viga-Glum: Bandamanna and Viga-Glum's Saga. The Porcupine's Quill, 1999. Two important saga. Bandamanna gives an especially important look into Icelandic legal practice. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] [Read the Head Translation at Northvegr]
- with Anthony Faulkes. Three Icelandic Outlaw Sagas. Includes the Saga of Gisli, The Saga of Hord and the Saga of Grettir the Strong. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Jones, Gwyn. Erik the Red and Other Icelandic Sagas. Oxford University Press, 1999. The Saga of Erik the Red chroncles the discovery of American almost 500 years before Columbus would make his famous voyage. This edition calso includes The Tale of Hen-Thorir, The Saga of the Vapnsfjord Men, The Saga of Thorstein Staff-Struck, The Saga of Hrafnkel The Priest of Frey, The Tale of Thidrandi Whom the Goddesses Slew, The Tale of Audun and the Bear, The Saga of Gunnlaug Wormtongue and the Saga of King Hrolf and His Champions. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Jones, Gwyn- Scandinavian Legends and Folk-Tales. Oxford University Press, 1956.
- The Vinland Sagas. Viking Press, 1965. This edition includes both the Saga of Erik the Red and the Greendland Saga, both of which, deal with the discovery of America. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Egil's Saga. The American Scandinavian Foundation, 1960. One of the five must read sagas for those who follow Northern Tradition. As with all the sagas it is highly entertaining and this one is packed with examples of Northern virtues and much good material on the runes. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Textbook Binding]
Kvideland, Reimund (editor) and Sehmsdorf, Henning K. (editor). Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend. University of Minnesota Press, 1991. An excellent and very large collection of Scandinavian Folklore. For anyone interested in studying folklore for the insights it gives into the Northern Way, this book is a must have. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Lonnrot, Elias and Bosley Keith. The Kalevala. The Finnish Epic. Oxford University Press, 1999. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Magnusson, Magnus (trans.). Laxdaela Saga. Viking Press, 1969. One of the top five must read sagas for followers of Northern Tradition. Laxdaela is a sweeping saga that spans generations and because of the special attention payed to women in it, it is thought to have been written by a woman. This saga chronicles the life of the great matriarch, Audun the Deep-minded and her descendents. Highly recommended read. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Click here for the The Temple Classics translation.)
- Vinland Sagas. Viking Press, 1965. This edition includes both the Saga of Erik the Red and the Greendland Saga, both of which, deal with the discovery of America. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Njal's Saga. Viking Press, 1966. One of the five must read sagas for followers of Northern Tradition. Njal's saga is thought to be the best of all sagas by some scholars (though I would disagree and put at least Völsunga Saga ahead of it). Greenwood Publishing Group, 1980. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] [Read the DaSent Translation at Northvegr]
- King Harald's Saga. Viking Press, 1976. One of the sagas that appears in the Heimskringla. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Three Northern Love Stories and Other Tales, Translated by Eirikr Magnusson and William Morris, Longmans, Green, and Co. London - New York - Bombay, 1901. Includes, The Saga of Gunnlaug Worm Tongue and Raven the Skald, The Saga of Frithiof the Bold, The Saga of Viglund the Fair, The Saga of Hogni and Hedinn, The Tale of Roi the Fool and The Tale of Thorstein Staff-Smitten. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Mattingly, H. (trans.). The Agricola and the Germania by Cornelius Tacitus. Viking Press, 1971. Tacitus' 1st century account of the German peoples. A very good account of some of their religious and cultural beliefs. One every follower of Northern Tradition should check out. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - or in this edition (Germania only) Hardback - Paperback] (Click here for the Thomas Gordon translation.)
Mierow, Charles Christopher. Gothic History Of Jordanes, Speculum Historiale 1966. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Palsson, Hermann (trans.) Orkneyinga Saga. Penguin USA, 1981. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Hrafnkel's Saga and Other Icelandic Stories. Penguin USA, 1971. Hfrankel's Saga (The Saga of Hrafnkel Freysgothi) is one that is well worth seeking out. This edition also includes The Tale of Thorstein Staff-Struck, The Tale of Ale Hood, The Tale of Hreidar The Fool, The Tale of Halldor
Snorrason, Auden's Story and Ivar's Story. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Seven Viking Romances. Penguin USA, 1986. This is a very good edition of some of the lessor known sagas and thattr (tales). It includes The Tale of Arrow Odd, King Gautrek's Saga, The Tale of Halfdan Eysteinsson, The Saga of Bosi and Herraud, The Saga of Egil and Asmund, The Tale of Thorstein Mansion-Might, The Tale of Helgi Thorisson.
[Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Palsson, Hermann (trans.) Edwards, Paul (editor). Eyrbyggja Saga. Penguin Publishing, 1989. One of the five must read sagas for those who follow Northern Tradition. Eybyggja contains information on hofs (temples) and laws concerning sacred ground and much more. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Click here for the William Morris & Eirikr Magnusson translation.)
- Egils Saga. Viking Press, 1977. For a few bucks you can get one of the best of the Icelandic Sagas, Egils Saga. One of the five must read sagas for those who follow Northern Tradition. As with all the sagas it is highly entertaining and this one is packed with examples of Northern virtues and much good material on the runes.[Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Click here for the W. C. Green translation.)
- Vikings in Russia: Yngvar's Saga and Eymund's Saga. Edinburgh University Press, 1989. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Hrolf Gautreksson: A Viking Romance. University of Toronto Press, 1972. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Palsson, Hermann (trans.) and Magnusson, Magnus (trans.). Njals Saga. Viking Press, 1966. One of the major sagas. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Click here for the Sir George W. DaSent translation.)
- King Harald's Saga. Viking Press, 1976. One of the sagas that appears in the Heimskringla. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Palsson, Hermann and Fox, Denton. Grettir's Saga. University of Toronto Press, 1974. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] [Read the Hight Translation at Northvegr]
Powell, F. York. Færeyinga Saga (The Tale of Thrond of Gate), The Tale of Thrond of Gate Commonly Called Færeyinga Saga, London David Nutt, 270-71 Strand, 1896. An interesting saga that is well worth the read. Available at the Northvegr site. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Rives, J. B. Tacitus: Germania. Clarendon Press, 1999. This translation comes recommended as the best translation of this important work. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Smart, T. H. The Flatey Book, The Flatey Book and Recently Discovered Vatican Manuscripts Concerning America as Early as the Tenth Century, Published by the Norræna Society, London Stockholm Copenhagen Berlin New York, 1908, 1906. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Smiley, Jane (Preface) Kellog, Robert (Introduction), various translators. The Sagas of Icelanders. Penguin Books, 2000. Another must have book for Heathens. Over 700 pages of Icelandic Sagas including what is arguably the best saga of them all, Egils Saga. It is in paperback now so the you can get it without having to pay the big hardback price of $40. It contains the following sagas and tales: Egil's Saga, The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal, The Saga of the People of Laxardal, Bolli Bollason's Tale, The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi, The Saga of the Confederates, Gisli Sursson's Saga, The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue, The Saga of Ref the Sly, The Saga of the Greenlanders, Erik the Red's Saga, The Tale of Thorstein Staff-struck, The Second Story of Halldor Snarrason, The Tale of Sarcastic Halli, The Tale of Thorstein Shiver, The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords and The Tale of the Story-Wise Icelander. Get it now and read it! [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Smyser, H. M. The Risala - Ibn Fadlan's Account of the Rus with Some Commentary and Some Allusions to Beowulf, 1965. pp 92-119. Ibn Fadlan's account of a Viking/Rus Funeral and other customs. A "must read" account. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Swanton, Michael. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Routledge, 1998. Dealing with the conversion in England. A must read for anyone interested in Anglo-Saxon Tradition. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback] or read the Ingram translation at the Northvegr site.
Thorpe, Lewis. Gregory of Tours: The History of the Franks, Viking Press, 1983. A dramatic narrative of French history in the sixth century. Gregory of Tours (c.A.D. 539-594) intended his HISTORY to be a chronicle of events and included the 21 years he spent as Bishop of Tours. This volume contains all ten books of the HISTORY. As Gregory unravels the bewildering events of those decades, what emerges is no dry historical document but a colorful, detailed and moving pageant. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Young, Jean I. - Fljotsdale Saga, The Flottsdale Saga and the Droplaugarsons, translated by Jean Young and Eleanor Haworth, Everyman's Library, 1990. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Heithinn Law, Ethics and World-View
Anderson, Theodore M. and Miller, William Ian Law and Literature in Medieval Iceland: Ljosvetninga Saga and Valla-Ljots Saga, Standford University Press, 1989. This is a book that will give you a new appreciation for the underlying foundation on which all Icelandic sagas function. Aside from two translations of two very hard to find sagas you get a 118 page introduction on Medieval Icelandic law and ethics. After reading this introduction you will never look at the sagas in the same way again because you will get an appreciation of the intricate ideals, ethics and motivations that underlie what may have seemed like, before reading this book, seemingly curious actions taken by characters in the sagas. This book will allow you to experience the sagas on a level more intricate and satisfying than you perhaps would have thought was possible.
[Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Bauschatz, Paul C. The Well and the Tree: World and Time in
Early Germanic Culture. Amherst, MA : University of Massachusetts Press, 1982. This book is THE work on vrdr (wyrd) and the Germanic world conception. You will have a rough time of it if you don't have a somewhat scholarly bent but if you wish to truly understand vrdr, then this book is an absolute must. [Get it through Books on Demand] [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Byock, Jessie L - Medieval Iceland: Society, Sagas, and Power. University of California Press, 1990. An excellent examination of medieval Iceland culture and government. Reading this book, gives one of the backdrop on which most of the major sagas are composed. [Get it print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- Feud in the Icelandic Saga. University of California Press, 1982. Byock's examination of the place of feud in Icelandic sagas. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- Viking Age Iceland. Penguin USA, 2001. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Drew, Katherine Fischer - The Lombard Laws, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1973. An essential book on Germanic law that translates the Lombard laws and that is a very good introduction on the differences between Germanic and Roman law. The introduction and notes in this book are worth the price alone. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Wódening, Eric - We Are Our Deeds: The Elder Heathenry Its Ethic and Thew, Theod, Watertown New York 1998. Absolutely essential reading for anyone wishing to live by the Heithinn ethic and world-view. [Get it at the Theod Book Hoard Online. ]
Margaret Clunies Ross, Prolonged Echoes: Old Norse Myths in Medieval Northern Society, Vol. I. The Myths (1994). pp. 229-247. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
John Lindow, Handbook of Norse Mythology, (2001). pp. 39-45. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Histories
Asser, John and Keynes, Simon. Alfred the Great, Penguin USA, 1984. The Life of King Alfred by Asser as well as other comtemporary sources. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Secondary Sources For Heithinn History and Religion
Bury, J. B. - The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians - W.W. Norton & Company, 2000. Bury's well regarded history covering roughly the two centuries of transition from Roman to Mediaeval Europe, A.D. 375-575. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Chadwick, H. M. The Cult of Othinn. London – C. J. Clay and Sons – Cambridge University Press Warehouse, 1899. An excellent introduction to the worship of Othinn by a well respected scholar. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Craigie, W. A. The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. Constable and Company LTD, 1914. Another examination of Northern Religion by a very respected scholar. Out of print but available at the Northvegr Félag web site. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
- The Icelandic Sagas. Cambridge at the University Press, 1913. A very good overview of the Icelandic sagas by a respected scholar. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Davidson, Hilda Roderick Ellis. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. Penguin Books, 1990. This book is one that I highly recommend that everyone interested in Northern Tradition have in their library. It is especially good for those new to the Northern Way. The Poetic and Prose Eddas can be a little confusing to the newcomer and Davidson's book gives a great and accurate overview that helps make the Eddas more understandable. I always recommend the newby to read this book before tackling the Eddas. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- The Lost Beliefs of Northern Europe. Barnes and Noble Books, 1993. Just about any book by Davidson is worth getting. You will always come away with a better knowledge of the lore. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Myths and Symbols In Pagan Europe. Syracuse University Press, 1988. This is one of Davidson's best. Despite the name it is more of an examination of the religious practices and culture of Northern Tradition than it is about the lore. She also compares Scandinavian and Celtic religion in this volume. An excellent book. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- The Road to Hel: A study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature. (Hilda Roderick Davis) Greenwood Press, 1968. Davdison's landmark study (written under the name Hilda Roderick Ellis) of death in Old Norse culture. Very hard to find but worth any price you need to pay to get it. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
- Pagan Scandinavia. Londin Thames and Hudson, 1967. One of Davidson's older works but still a very good read and like all her books worth getting. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
- Roles of the Northern Goddess. Routledge – London and New York, 1998. My least favorite of Davidson's work. It dealt with more cultures outside the Norse culture than I would have liked but still good information here. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Paperback - Library Binding]
- Patterns of Folklore. D. S. Brewer – Rowman and Littlefield, 1978. Davidson's study in commonalities in Folklore. An excellent book. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
- The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England. Boydell and Brewer, 1998. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- Saxo Grammaticus: The History of the Danes Books 1-9. D. S. Brewer, 1998. Saxo's history of the Danish kings. [Get it in print at Amazon.com] (Read the Elton Translation at Northvegr).
DuBois, Thomas A. Nordic Religions in the Viking Age. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. 1999. This is a great book that is well documented and examines the culture of the ancestors and how it interacted with the Sami culture up through the Christian conversion. A highly recommended book. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - hardback - paperback]
DuChaillu, Paul. The Viking Age (2 volumes). Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1890. Out of print and a good penny for used copies. We will have this work at the Northvegr site in the near future. This 2 volume set is an excellent resource and well illustrated with black and white illustrations. DuChaillu's theories and interpretations are outdated in some cases but the real value of this work are the numerous quotes from the lore that most will not have access to in English in any other source. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Farrell, R. T. editor, The Vikings, London - Phillimore, 1982. This collection of essays has an excellent essay dealing with a comparison of Beowulf and Völsunga Saga. This essay alone makes it well worth getting. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Fitzhugh, William W. and Ward, Elisabeth I. Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London, in association with the National Museum of Natural History, 2000. This is the companion volume to the great touring Smithsonian exhibition of the same name. This is an oversized book with many full color illustrations and a great deal of information on the historical and culture lives of the Vikings. Highly recommended. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Geary, Patrick J. The Myth of Nations: The Medieval Origins of Europe, Princeton University Press, 2003. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- Before France and Germany: The Creation and Transformation of the Merovingian World, Oxford University Press, 1988. Two books coming highly recommended by the author of the Germanic Sources section at Northvegr. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Grimm, Jacob. Teutonic Mythology. Dover Publications, 1966. Grimm's giant 4 volume examination of Germanic Myth. This set is one that is invaluable. You can obtain a reprint version from Ballentrae Reprints - Dover Books - [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Haywood, John. Encyclopaedia of the Viking Age. Thames and Hudson, 2000. A very good Enclopedia with many illustrations and photos. Can't remember if it is Olaf Haraldsson, Olaf Tryggvason or Olaf the White who was later called Olaf the Saint? Find out which is was and more from this book. [Get it print at Amazon.com]
Jochens, Jenny. Women In Old Norse Society. Cornell University Press, 1995. Coupled with Jochen's other book, “Old Norse Images of Women,” you will have the best overview of what it was like to be a woman in Old Norse Society. Highly recommended. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- Old Norse Images of Women. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996. Part of Jochens' one-two knock out punch about women in Old Norse Society. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Jones, Gwyn- A History of the Vikings – Second Edition. Oxford University Press, 1985. Perhaps the best book available on the Viking Age from a historical stand point. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Keyser, Rudoph and Pennock, Barclay (trans.). The Religion of the Northmen by Rudolph Keyser. Charles B. Norton, 1854. A good overview of Norse Religion. Out of print but available at the Northvegr Félag web site. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Magnusson, Magnus- Hammer of the North. Putnam Publishing Group, 1976. A work on Northern Tradition by one of the foremost scholars in the field. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- Viking Hammer of the North. Galahad Books, 1980. A work on Northern Tradition by one of the foremost scholars in the field. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Mallet, M. Northern Antiquities and an Abstract of the Eyrbyggja Saga. paperback reprint, 2002. A history of the Viking Age. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Murphy, G. Ronald. The Saxon Savior: The Germanic Transformation of the Gospel in the Ninth-Century Heliand Oxford University Press, 1995. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
- The Heliand: The Saxon Gospel, Oxford University Press, 1992. The author of the Germanic Sources section at Northvegr says, "For a look at clues to what the Old Saxons believed at the time of the bloody forced conversions, 780 - 840 CE, read the Saxon Savior and the Heliand translation by G. Ronald Murphy. The former is a very necessary companion and intro to the latter." [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Olrik, Axel. Viking Civilization, The American Scandinavian Foundation, 1930. The absolute best scholarly examination of the true spirituality of the Heathen tradition. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Orchard, Andy. Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Orion Publishing, 1999. Not quite as large in scope as Simek's dictionary but still an excellent dictionary. If you only can get one, get Simek's, but if you can get both, Orchard's dictionary compliments Simek's nicely. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Page, R. I. - Chronicles of the Vikings: Records, Memorials and Myths. University of Toronto Press, 1996. Page's scholarship is impeccable so this is one that I am really looking forward to getting. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
- Norse Myths. University of Texas Press, 1991. Highly recommended. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Plowright, Sweyn. True Helm. Rune-Net Press, 2000. An excellent contemporary work that, in my opinion, successfully earns the title of the Norse 'Art of War.' From the steward of the Rune.net. [Order online]
- Rune Net's Runic Primer. Rune-Net Press. A very good primer for beginners that gives a balanced overview of rune magic, including sources from the lore and modern practice. [Order online]
Reston, James Jr. The Last Apocalypse. Anchor Books – Double Day, 1941. An excellent book dealing with the conversion period of Northern Europe. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Simek, Rudolf. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D. S. Brewer, 1996. If you are serious about studying the lore this book is a must have. I fully expect to wear my copy out from frequent use and be forced to have to get a second copy one of these days. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Simpson, Jacqueline. Everyday Life in the Viking Age, B. T. Batsford LTD, London - G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1967. An excellent book on little dealt with topics. Did the Vikings use make-up? What did they eat? What were the houses like? What was their clothing like? What did they do for entertainment? All of those questions and more are answered in this book. [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Todd, Malcom. The Early Germans. Blackwell Publishers, Ltd. 1992. A very good general overview of the Germanic Tribes. Highly recommended. [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Turville-Petre, E. O. G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964. Probably the best book on Northern lore there is in English. Get it. Be careful about accepting some of Turville-Petre's theories as fact. While this book is unparalleled in presenting accurate sources of the lore some of Turville-Petre's theories are not, by any means, accepted by all. Despite the fact that Turville-Petre can barely hide his disdain of the Regin and the religion of the North at times, this book is unparalleled in presenting accurate information on the lore and religion of the North. It is out of print and used copies go for over $60.00. If you can find a copy consider yourself lucky! [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Wolfram, Herwig. History of the Goths. University of California Press, 1990. Highly recommended book dealing with the Goths. [Get it in print at Amazon.com]
Zoëga, Geir T. A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic. Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1910. Out of print, very very hard to find and very expensive, but a must have for anyone wishing to study Old Norse. We are very happy to bring you this dictionary at the Northvegr Foundation web site - [Get it on CD-ROM]
Runes
I. For Beginners
Elliott, Ralph W. V., Runes: An Introduction (2d ed., 1989). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Page, R. I., An Introduction to English Runes (1999). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Page, R. I., Runes (1987). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Paperback]
Pollington, Stephen, Rudiments of Runelore (1995). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Paperback]
II. Intermediate
Page, R. I., The Icelandic Rune-Poem (1999). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
III. Advanced
Andersson, Björn, Runor, magi, ideologi: en idéhistorisk studie (1995). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding]
Antonsen, Elmer H., A Concise Grammar of the Older Runic Inscriptions (1975). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Antonsen, Elmer H., Runes and Germanic Linguistics (2002). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback]
Bammesberger, Alfred, ed., Old English Runes and Their Continental Background (1991). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding - Paperback]
Barnes, Michael P., Jan Ragnar Hagland & R.I. Page, The Runic Inscriptions of Viking Age Dublin (1997). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback]
Derolez, René, Runica Manuscripta: The English Tradition (1954). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Düwel, Klaus, ed., Runeninschriften als Quellen interdisziplinärer Forschung: Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Runes and Runic Inscriptions in Göttingen, 4-9 August 1995 (1998). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Hagenfeldt, Stefan E., & Rune Palm, Sandstone Runestones: The Use of Sandstone for Erected Runestones (1996). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding]
Herschend, Frands, The Recasting of a Symbolic Value: Three Case Studies on Rune-Stones (1993). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Holman, Katherine, Scandinavian Runic Inscriptions in the British Isles: Their Historical Context (1996). [Get it in print at Amazon.com- Paperback]
Jacobsen, Lis, & Erik Moltke, The Runic Inscriptions of Denmark (1947). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Jansson, Sven B. F., The Runes in Sweden (Peter G. Foote, trans., 1962). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding]
Jansson, Sven B. F., Swedish Vikings in England: The Evidence of the Rune stones (1967). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding]
Jesch, Judith, Ships and Men in the Late Viking Age: The Vocabulary of Runic Inscriptions and Skaldic Verse (2001). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback]
Knirk, James E., ed., Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Runes and Runic Inscriptions: Grindaheim, Norway, 8-12 August 1990 (1994). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Looijenga, Jantina Helena, Runes Around the North Sea and on the Continent AD 150-700: Texts and Contexts (1997). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Makaev, E. A., The Language of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions: A Linguistic and Historical-Philological Analysis (John Meredig & Elmer H. Antonsen, trans., 1996). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding - Paperback]
Moltke, Erik, Runes and Their Origin: Denmark and Elsewhere (Peter G. Foote, trans., 1981). [Get it in print at Amazon.com- Paperback]
Nielsen, Hans Frede, The Early Runic Language of Scandinavia: Studies in Germanic Dialect Geography (2000). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding]
Odenstedt, Bengt, On the Origin and Early History of the Runic Script: Typology and Graphic Variation in the Older Futhark (1990). [Get it in print at Amazon.com- Paperback]
Page, R. I., Runes and Runic Inscriptions: Collected Essays on Anglo-Saxon and Viking Runes (David Parsons, ed., 1995). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Palm, Rune, Runor och regionalitet: studier av variation i de nordiska minnesinskrifterna [Runes and Regionality: Studies of Variation in the Scandinavian Commemorative Inscriptions] (1992). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding]
Parsons, David N., Recasting the Runes: The Reform of the Anglo-Saxon “Futhorc” (1999). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Runor och runinskrifter: föredrag vid Riksantikvarieämbetets och Vitterhetsakademiens symposium 8-11 september 1985 [Second International Symposium on Runes and Runic Inscriptions, Stockholm, 1985] (1987). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Unknown Binding]
Sawyer, Birgit, Viking-Age Rune-Stones: Custom and Commemoration in Early Medieval Scandinavia (2001). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback - Paperback]
Thompson, Claiborne W., ed., Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Runes and Runic Inscriptions (Michigan Germanic Studies, v.7 no. 1, 1981). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
Thompson, Claiborne W., Studies in Upplandic Runography (1975). [Get it in print at Amazon.com - Hardback]
Recommended Journal:
Nytt om Runer: Meldingsblad om runeforskning (Oslo). [Search for it used - Bookfinder.com - Half.com - Abebooks]
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