Norse Myths and Legends. Biographies of Gods and Heroes with Illustrations and Detailed Comments

Norse myths are a vivid example of living mythology: stories accumulate new plot twists, images, and details and adapt over time, existing in various versions. These poetic and prose works, originally existing in oral tradition, are filled with numerous allusions and are extremely complex to study in both original form and translation. Tom Birket set out to systematize Norse myths and retell them in accessible language, relying on a solid scientific foundation.
In addition to retelling the myths of the creation of the world, about the nine worlds and the World Tree Yggdrasil, about the most famous gods and goddesses (Odin, Frigg, Thor, Sif, Freyr, Freyja, Baldur, and others), about the giants, about monsters, elves, and dwarfs, about the hero Sigurd and the Volsungs, who trace their origin to Odin, and other legendary heroes, the book discusses the exploration of the North Atlantic by Vikings (about the settlement of Iceland and pioneers, about the discovery of Greenland by Erik the Red and Vinland by Leif Erikson), about expeditions to the East and South (about travels in the Baltic, about connections with Rus', about Harald the Ruthless and Constantinople, about the caliphate), about the kings of the North (from the first king of Norway Harald Fairhair to the last king of the Vikings Harald Hardrada). A separate section deserves attention on the overview of sources on Norse mythology and the diversity of interpretations of its motives in art, literature, politics, and popular culture, including video games (Skyrim and World of Warcraft), Japanese manga, and Korean role-playing online games. The publication is excellently illustrated with engravings and color reproductions of masterpieces of world painting and graphics.