The Elder Edda

Here is the great epic of the North, the source of Norse myth and heroic legend, now in a faithful modern-English rendering that lets today’s reader hear the voice of the Viking Age without the barrier of archaic language. From the seeress’s prophecy of the world’s creation and doom to the sly wisdom of Odin’s sayings, from Thor’s adventures among giants to the tragic fall of the Völsung clan, these poems pulse with raw power, dark humor, and profound insight into fate, honor, and the human condition. This edition presents the poems in their traditional order, with each section prefaced by a brief explanation of its place in the Norse world. Whether you are discovering the sagas for the first time or returning to an old favorite, this volume offers a clean, respectful, and vivid experience of one of humanity’s great literary treasures. Part of Timeless Classics.