Highly desirable, difficult to find, and excruciatingly costly to procure, Sigrid Valfells and James E. Cathey's introduction to Old Icelandic is the Holy Grail of Norse Studies. With a comprehensive phonological introduction, and thirty-five lessons - each of which addresses a particular grammatical topic, and provides a Vocabulary list, a textual selection in Old Icelandic, and a section of drills and translations - Old Icelandic is the ideal, single-volume introduction to this fascinating language.

Produced in association with the American-Scandinavian Foundation - generally known for the excellence of its work - it is perhaps unsurprising that this text remains one of the best resources out there for the beginning student of Old Icelandic / Old Norse. I have no wish to cast aspersions at E.V. Gordon's An Introduction to Old Norse, which, although outdated in its methodology, has its own virtues; but I find it mystifying that Oxford University Press has allowed Valfells and Cathey to slip out of print, while retaining Gordon's work in its current catalogue. I sincerely hope that the decision has nothing to do with Gordon's acknowledgment of J.R.R. Tolkien in his introductory comments... ( )