Norse Mythology: The Prose Edda and The Poetic Edda Complete and Unabridged Collection

Also including Even More Myths of the Norsemen and Told by the Northmen (Stories from the Eddas and Sagas)

By: Henry Adams Bellows, Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, H.A Guerber, E.M Wilmot-Buxton

Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston

Length: 29 hrs

Publisher's summary

Titles in this Collection:

• The Elder or Poetic Edda of Saemund Sigfusson by Henry Adam Bellows
• The Younger or Prose Edda of Snorri Sturlson by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur
• Myths of The Norsemen by H.A Guerber
• Told by the Northmen: Stories from the Eddas and Sagas By E.M Wilmot-Buxton
• (Annotated) with A Historical Introduction to the Age of the Vikings

The Eddas and Sagas are important historical texts in Old Norse literature, often referenced to understand the culture, beliefs, and practices of the Norse people, including their mythology and heroic legends.

There are two Eddas - the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.

The Poetic Edda, also known as the Elder Edda, is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval manuscript Codex Regius. These poems tell stories about the Norse gods (like Odin, Thor, and Loki) and heroes. They provide a rich source of information about Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends. Experience the Poetic Edda through the esteemed lens of Henry Adams Bellows. His rendition elegantly captures the poetic cadence and profound essence of the original Old Norse verses.

The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, was written by Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician, in the 13th century. This work is structured as a guide for aspiring poets, teaching the craft of Old Norse skaldic poetry, but its value extends beyond this. It is a critical source of information on Norse mythology and heroic legends, as it provides detailed narratives of many stories merely alluded to in the Poetic Edda. Arthur Gilchrist's version beautifully captures the essence and nuances of the original, making it a must-have for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

"Myths of the Norsemen" by H.A. Guerber is an extensive retelling of the legends and myths of the Norse pantheon. Published in the early 20th century, Guerber's work is one of the most comprehensive and accessible English renditions of the stories of the Norse gods, goddesses, heroes, and the world they inhabit.

Finally, E. M. Wilmot-Buxton's "Told by the Northmen: Stories from the Eddas and Sagas" is a collection of tales adapted from the ancient Norse sources, specifically the Eddas and Sagas. The aim of the book, much like similar collections from its time, was to make the rich tapestry of Norse mythology and history more accessible to a general audience, especially young readers.

Wilmot-Buxton's retellings are crafted to be engaging, with a narrative style suitable for younger readers or those new to Norse mythology. While the book might not dive deep into academic analysis, it offers an approachable introduction to the rich world of Norse tales.

Buy this definitive anthology that brings together four of the most revered works on Norse mythology today and embark on an unparalleled voyage into the mythical North, where gods and mortals weave tales of heroism, fate, and cosmic mysteries.

©1923 Public Domain (P)2023 Chronos Publishing

Features lots of animal stories

First of all, the narrator is excellent and really makes the stories come alive. I was surprised, and enjoyed, the uncomplicated nature of the stories. Most are short and without interpretation. The listener is left to find their own lessons in the tales. As the tales seem to be meant for children I find that interesting. There is one story that really struck me. It is about a man from one tribe that married a woman from another tribe. The two tribes fought each other and the man stayed with his wife's tribe, fighting his own people. He clearly found loyalty to his new tribe to be of higher honor than his blood connection. Fascinating.

Great collection of stories

This book is really a 4-in-1 omnibus of Norse mythology and ancient Norse writings which really helps provide context for the myths. The myths were familiar but I gained a better understanding of them because of the historical writings. The narrator did a great job telling these stories.

Norse Mythology

For the most part, I really enjoyed this mythology collection. It was well presented and, because this collection includes four separate books, there are quite often multiple versions of the same story. I find it fascinating to be able to see multiple takes on the same tale.
My favorite aspect of this collection is that, in the book containing the Poetic Edda, there are extensive notes accompanying each poem containing things like historic context, notes on meter and composition, and discussion of origin theories.
I received a free Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

hard to follow

So far it has been all poems, so if you aren't giving it 100% attention it's easy to miss parts or not grasp what's going on. I usually listen while driving and with this just being a collection of random Norse poems, that I do not have much background knowledge of, I am having trouble getting invested.