Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58336 in Books
• Published on: 1990-12-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

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

Customer Reviews

Wordy and wide ranging
This book does not tell the story of the Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, it comments on the stories. It gives snippets and summaries, not enough to bring the characters or stories to life, and then goes on to comment in depth about the deities therein. It was first published in 1964, and to me the writing style seems somewhat old fashioned. It also seems to try and interpret the Norse Gods with reference to myths from other parts of the world. Yes, comparitive religion and mythology can be an interesting view on the world, but surely Gods and Myths of Northern Europe can be understood on their own terms, referring to Norse works and religion, not dragging in any number of myth patterns that dont seem a very good fit. Basically it seems to me to cast its net too widely, using references that seem very tenuously connected to Northern Europe at best, and using too many words to do it.

Simple yet effective
This was my first introduction to Norse mythology other than the odd dodgey film (see 'The Vikings' Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis) and making a mini long boat in primary school when i was 9 years old!!
It gives a fantastic basic introduction to this subject without ever going over the top, it gives 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.
Since reading this book i have become more and more interested in a wider range of myth and legends from other great civilizations. It sounds daft, but this book did actually change my life; no less than when i first read 1984 or crime and punishment, just in a different way.

Don't miss it!
If you are in norse mythology or if you want to begin to learn the basis of norse myths, this may be the book for it. I am portuguese but I can read english quite well, and thanks to this awesome book I'm now able to understand much more about such a rich heathen religion.