Saemund Sigfusson (1056–1133)

The heroic section is like an expanded universe for my favourite saga of all time - the Volsung Saga. I'd been wondering what happened to Helgi and this book of traditional poems tells me that, plus a bunch of other tantalising details not contained in the saga. Despite being translated from old Norse poetry it is surprisingly readable.

From the mythological section I've developed a theory: I'm utterly convinced that Odin and Loki were lovers! Sounds bizarre but I swear the text supports it - they were actually blood brothers (not father and adopted son), when accusations of homosexuality are flying around neither of them denies it, Loki enjoys cross-dressing and switching genders, and they both practise traditionally-feminine types of magic. Case closed.

On a more serious note, it's somewhat surprising to see how accepting of disabilities the Vikings apparently were. There's a whole passage about how everyone is useful regardless of disability and most of the gods are maimed in some way or another. Tyr is one-handed, Odin lost an eye, Hod is blind, and at one point it's suggested that Heimdall traded his hearing for better vision (although at another point it's stated he has super-human hearing, so who knows).

Absolutely recommended for any lover of Viking mythology, as it's one of the extremely few original sources.… (altro)

[This rating and review refers to the Bellows translation, volume 1.]
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book - I think I had overlooked it heretofore because I obtained it late and it's a Dover edition, split into two volumes. But of all the translations of the Edda that I have (and I've comparatively read all six over the last couple of weeks) this is my new favorite. It reads easiest of all, scans wonderfully in mostly modern English and is wonderfully annotated. If you really want to understand the Poetic Edda, start here.… (altro)

[This rating and review refers to the Terry translation.]
This had been my favorite translation until my latest read through off my Eddas, and still ranks right up there. It's accurate, and it mostly scans like poetry should, keeping not only the sense but the feel of the original. A nice introduction and some endnotes on each poem. My only real complaint here is the lack of stanza numbering, or rather, the stanza numbers being referenced as a range at the top of the page. It can make comparative reading a bit of a chore. But still one of the best.… (altro)