The Penguin Book Of Norse Myths: Gods Of The Vikings

A landmark work of world mythology, The Penguin Book of Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings presents the rich and dramatic stories of the Norse pantheon in vivid, accessible prose that brings the ancient world of the Vikings roaring to life. Kevin Crossley-Holland masterfully retells the tales of Odin, Thor, Loki, and the other gods of Asgard, chronicling their battles, rivalries, and fateful journey toward the cataclysmic twilight of Ragnarök. The collection captures the raw, elemental tone of the original myths — at once heroic and darkly comic — while Crossley-Holland's authoritative introduction and notes illuminate the cultural and historical context of the Viking Age. Drawn from the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, these stories illustrate a cosmology of breathtaking scope, from the frost-giant origins of the world to the nine realms of existence connected by the great ash tree Yggdrasil. Essential reading for anyone captivated by mythology, history, or the enduring power of storytelling, this celebrated anthology remains the definitive English-language introduction to the Norse mythological tradition.