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The Heroes of Asgard
A 19th-century re-telling, for children, of nine tales from Scandinavian mythology.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1870
156 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Annie Keary
113 booksAnnie Keary (Anna Maria Keary) (March 3, 1825 - March 3, 1879) was an English novelist.
She was born near Wetherby, Yorkshire, the daughter of an Irish clergyman. Two of her younger sisters are Eliza Keary and Maud Keary. She was the author of several children's books and novels, of which the best known is Castle Daly, an Irish story. She also wrote an Early Egyptian History (1861) and The Nation Around (1870). She died at Eastbourne. She is one of many 19th and 20th century poets and authors to be quoted in the classic Christian devotional "Daily Strength for Daily Needs", which was compiled by Mary W. Tileston.
She was born near Wetherby, Yorkshire, the daughter of an Irish clergyman. Two of her younger sisters are Eliza Keary and Maud Keary. She was the author of several children's books and novels, of which the best known is Castle Daly, an Irish story. She also wrote an Early Egyptian History (1861) and The Nation Around (1870). She died at Eastbourne. She is one of many 19th and 20th century poets and authors to be quoted in the classic Christian devotional "Daily Strength for Daily Needs", which was compiled by Mary W. Tileston.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 10, 2018
This is a facsimile reprint of an early 20th-century edition (the first edition was published in 1870). 2000 is my best guess as to the year I finally read it, but I actually got a remaindered copy for Christmas in 1983, having pointed it out to my wife as a gift I'd like. (As you can tell from this, I own enough unread books that they tend to sit around quite awhile before being read!) I'd never heard of the book before seeing it, but being of Swedish descent and interested in all things Scandinavian, my interest was piqued. My knowledge of the mythology was only cursory, so I was curious to read a retelling of the stories.
Like the much-better known Bronte sisters, Annie and Eliza Keary were Victorian clergyman's daughters, born in Yorkshire, and interested in writing; this book was the first of three they wrote together, though each had solo works as well. (Sadly, Annie also died relatively young, on her 54th birthday.) Neither of them were serious folklorists or students of medieval literature. But they lived at a time when the Romantic movement found much literary inspiration in the Middle Ages, and when English translations of Icelandic sagas and Germanic myths, by serious scholars of that milieu such as William Morris, were beginning to be available. No bibliography is provided here, so it's not clear what sources the sisters used; but it's reasonable to suppose that they had access to fairly accurate reproductions of the original mythology. (Many of the details agree with information I've run across in other places.) No indication is given of alternate versions of the myths; the intent is to synthesize and harmonize them into a cycle of retold stories. Though I haven't read Gaiman's work, Norse Mythology, the aim here is probably similar, except that he was writing for adults and the Keary sisters for (very literate) children.
Nine stories are included: "The Aesir," which serves as the origin story for the Germanic-Scandinavian pantheon; "How Thor Went to Jotunheim;" "Frey;" "The Wanderings of Freyja;" "Iduna's Apples;" "Baldur;""The Binding of Fenrir;" "The Punishment of Loki;" and "Ragnarok." These are probably sanitized some in the retellings; but the inherent violence, depiction of base as well as noble behavior, and overarching sense of doom and tragedy still come through. The last story is represented as a dream vision of Odin's, and the ending has a strong note of Christian exchatology, which would agree with the Keary sister's inclinations. However, it's probably not an invention of theirs; the same theme appears in another source I've read, and both apparently depend on Snorri Sturluson's 13th-century rendition of the myths in The Prose Edda, which I haven't actually read, but which I know has some Christian reinterpretation of the material. (It's been convincingly suggested that the worldview underlying the original mythology is cyclic, with the same events being expected to recur in eons-long temporal loops; although I personally believe that the indications of primitive monotheism in Sturluson's work reflects the originals.)
Given the decline of reading ability on the part of most modern kids compared to their 19th-century peers, I think the reading level of the vocabulary here would be over most of their heads; and I'm not sure the stories would interest them. Obviously, this isn't a work that would be useful for the academic study of the original myths, either. It would be of most interest to adults who are already curious about the stories for their own sake, and want a simple retelling that bypasses a scholarly apparatus and just gives a rough idea of the outlines and flavor of the tales. Being such an adult reader, I found the storytelling adequate enough; and the book is a quick read.
For those interested in the history of book illustration, and knowledgeable about the styles of different artists in that field, the reproductions of C. E. Brock's 18 watercolor plates, and his numerous smaller black-and-white drawings, would really enhance this edition. (I enjoyed these myself, but am not a connoisseur of such things nor an expert on the different styles.)
Like the much-better known Bronte sisters, Annie and Eliza Keary were Victorian clergyman's daughters, born in Yorkshire, and interested in writing; this book was the first of three they wrote together, though each had solo works as well. (Sadly, Annie also died relatively young, on her 54th birthday.) Neither of them were serious folklorists or students of medieval literature. But they lived at a time when the Romantic movement found much literary inspiration in the Middle Ages, and when English translations of Icelandic sagas and Germanic myths, by serious scholars of that milieu such as William Morris, were beginning to be available. No bibliography is provided here, so it's not clear what sources the sisters used; but it's reasonable to suppose that they had access to fairly accurate reproductions of the original mythology. (Many of the details agree with information I've run across in other places.) No indication is given of alternate versions of the myths; the intent is to synthesize and harmonize them into a cycle of retold stories. Though I haven't read Gaiman's work, Norse Mythology, the aim here is probably similar, except that he was writing for adults and the Keary sisters for (very literate) children.
Nine stories are included: "The Aesir," which serves as the origin story for the Germanic-Scandinavian pantheon; "How Thor Went to Jotunheim;" "Frey;" "The Wanderings of Freyja;" "Iduna's Apples;" "Baldur;""The Binding of Fenrir;" "The Punishment of Loki;" and "Ragnarok." These are probably sanitized some in the retellings; but the inherent violence, depiction of base as well as noble behavior, and overarching sense of doom and tragedy still come through. The last story is represented as a dream vision of Odin's, and the ending has a strong note of Christian exchatology, which would agree with the Keary sister's inclinations. However, it's probably not an invention of theirs; the same theme appears in another source I've read, and both apparently depend on Snorri Sturluson's 13th-century rendition of the myths in The Prose Edda, which I haven't actually read, but which I know has some Christian reinterpretation of the material. (It's been convincingly suggested that the worldview underlying the original mythology is cyclic, with the same events being expected to recur in eons-long temporal loops; although I personally believe that the indications of primitive monotheism in Sturluson's work reflects the originals.)
Given the decline of reading ability on the part of most modern kids compared to their 19th-century peers, I think the reading level of the vocabulary here would be over most of their heads; and I'm not sure the stories would interest them. Obviously, this isn't a work that would be useful for the academic study of the original myths, either. It would be of most interest to adults who are already curious about the stories for their own sake, and want a simple retelling that bypasses a scholarly apparatus and just gives a rough idea of the outlines and flavor of the tales. Being such an adult reader, I found the storytelling adequate enough; and the book is a quick read.
For those interested in the history of book illustration, and knowledgeable about the styles of different artists in that field, the reproductions of C. E. Brock's 18 watercolor plates, and his numerous smaller black-and-white drawings, would really enhance this edition. (I enjoyed these myself, but am not a connoisseur of such things nor an expert on the different styles.)
April 9, 2015
I have to shelve this as a tale retold because having read the Edda and some of the myths behind this edition it just isn't the same. It's sort of fun how they've made these into children's tales with Odin the noble King and Loki the Wicked demon and Frey the Ever-Kind... And Disney dwarves and silly little flower-elves. It makes me kind of laugh and kind of cry inside. It was just too simple and one-dimensional. Even as a child I don't think I'd have liked it much. I always preferred the original Grimm tales and tales where the good did ill deeds and the evil could do good and there were equal parts cruelty and goodness in the world. Here the gods are all ever-good, except the women are weak, and none of them do any of the selfish and quite horrible things they do in the original myths. Even the evil is evil in a sort of banal way. The wolves are evil for evil's sake in the Eddas too, but they are a sort of force of nature, the ever-present darkness - here they seem childish, a parody of themselves. Everyone marries for love and lives happily in a grove somewhere and silly stupid evil creatures are under ground.
I did like the pictures though :)
And certainly would have as a child. The braids alone...
And I guess it is better than nothing.
I did like the pictures though :)
And certainly would have as a child. The braids alone...
And I guess it is better than nothing.
July 25, 2021
A collection of stories from the Elder (poetic) and Younger (prose) Edda, presented for school children. I'm guessing the intended audience is somewhere the region of 8-12. With that in mind, I thought it was okay, but still a little lack-lustre. I mainly read it because I have 1932 reprint of the 1905 edition, which was handed down to me from my grandmother, who was presumably responsible, as a young girl, for the colouring-in of some of the illustrations...
My primary complaints about the book are that it is boring, which seems tantamount to an accomplishment of sorts given the source material; and that it has been rather ham-fistedly Christianised and sanitised by protracted soaking in bleach, which may go some way to explaining my first complaint... It's hardly surprising, given the culture in which it was written and the audience for whom it was intended, but the characters are denuded of nuance and their interactions with each other and the world suffer as a consequence.
Possibly a fun story-book for younger children, but I'd not go out of your way to track this one down unless you're specifically looking for old books that will probably tell you more about the cultural climate in which they were written than they will about the source material...
My primary complaints about the book are that it is boring, which seems tantamount to an accomplishment of sorts given the source material; and that it has been rather ham-fistedly Christianised and sanitised by protracted soaking in bleach, which may go some way to explaining my first complaint... It's hardly surprising, given the culture in which it was written and the audience for whom it was intended, but the characters are denuded of nuance and their interactions with each other and the world suffer as a consequence.
Possibly a fun story-book for younger children, but I'd not go out of your way to track this one down unless you're specifically looking for old books that will probably tell you more about the cultural climate in which they were written than they will about the source material...
June 22, 2010
Classic! Makes me want to have children, so that I may read these fantastic stories to them over and over.
July 26, 2015
A rich mythology, at times confusing and begging a second read though always rewarding.
November 15, 2017
Originally written in 1857 and entitled The Heroes of Asgardby children's writer Annie Keary and her sister, poet Eliza Keary, the book is an all-ages version of the most well-known tales of Odin, Thor, Loki and the other Aesir and Vanir. The facsimile edition, retitled Tales of Norse Mythology, includes wonderful illustrations by C.E. Brock. Brock completed his work for the stories in 1930, a compilation of line art and paintings. The work is beautiful, although none of it is in color in the 2013 edition.
The Keary sisters do a wonderful job, acting as narrator in the retelling of the myths about how Asgard came to be, Odin commanding the little people and placing them where they would, hopefully, stay out of trouble, Thor & Loki's adventures into Jotunheim, Frey teaching the elves about nature and growing things before he falls in love with a giantess, Idun being tricked out of her magical apples that keeps the gods young, Odin exiling Loki's children: Hel, Fenrir and Jormungand, Freyja's wanderings, bifrost, ragnarok and much more.
Though wonderfully told, the stories have been cleaned up compared to most other versions of the Norse myths. The dwarves are overlooked in the making of Thor's mighty weapons and belt, for instance. The Aesir are all relatively nice and, with the exception of Loki (who is really an Aesir to begin with), there is no petty jealousy or actions between the gods, the battle between the Vanir and Aeisr is not mentioned. The stories have been "Disneyfied." Still, this is a great introductory to Norse mythology that is easily readable by pre-teens and still written in a manner that will entice adults.
The Keary sisters do a wonderful job, acting as narrator in the retelling of the myths about how Asgard came to be, Odin commanding the little people and placing them where they would, hopefully, stay out of trouble, Thor & Loki's adventures into Jotunheim, Frey teaching the elves about nature and growing things before he falls in love with a giantess, Idun being tricked out of her magical apples that keeps the gods young, Odin exiling Loki's children: Hel, Fenrir and Jormungand, Freyja's wanderings, bifrost, ragnarok and much more.
Though wonderfully told, the stories have been cleaned up compared to most other versions of the Norse myths. The dwarves are overlooked in the making of Thor's mighty weapons and belt, for instance. The Aesir are all relatively nice and, with the exception of Loki (who is really an Aesir to begin with), there is no petty jealousy or actions between the gods, the battle between the Vanir and Aeisr is not mentioned. The stories have been "Disneyfied." Still, this is a great introductory to Norse mythology that is easily readable by pre-teens and still written in a manner that will entice adults.
July 28, 2023
This is a short book that I am able to finish in a day.
Couple of things:
1. This book is a summary of all the tales of the Norse Mythology, so it is best that you have to know what the story of the Norse Mythology is first before reading this book. Good thing that I already read the Norse myth couple of years ago starting from the creation until the end (Ragnarok). Book might have explained who the characters are, but it will be too confusing for new readers who are not aware of the characters from the Norse myth.
2. I tried and pushed hard to finish the book since I am already aware of the stories after my initial reading with the Norse myth online. Additionally, some of the sentences are missing punctuations which kinda made it harder for me to comprehend what was actually being described (had to read it twice to understand what was being depicted) and I think this is only an issue because English is my second language, that’s why I rely too much on correct grammar and punctuations.
3. Feels like the whole book was translated word per word, that’s why some of the sentences are way off with their structure (again, I feel like this is just me having to switch to my English comprehension skills).
4. The images are very nice. I like the style of it looking like a wood carved art.
Couple of things:
1. This book is a summary of all the tales of the Norse Mythology, so it is best that you have to know what the story of the Norse Mythology is first before reading this book. Good thing that I already read the Norse myth couple of years ago starting from the creation until the end (Ragnarok). Book might have explained who the characters are, but it will be too confusing for new readers who are not aware of the characters from the Norse myth.
2. I tried and pushed hard to finish the book since I am already aware of the stories after my initial reading with the Norse myth online. Additionally, some of the sentences are missing punctuations which kinda made it harder for me to comprehend what was actually being described (had to read it twice to understand what was being depicted) and I think this is only an issue because English is my second language, that’s why I rely too much on correct grammar and punctuations.
3. Feels like the whole book was translated word per word, that’s why some of the sentences are way off with their structure (again, I feel like this is just me having to switch to my English comprehension skills).
4. The images are very nice. I like the style of it looking like a wood carved art.
January 10, 2023
Part of the English Literature Series
When they wrote the Edda (12thC Norse poem collection) (13thC Norse poem collection compiled by Snorri Sturluson, Containing Norse myths, poems, and a treatise on poetry) they were not aware of English. However, there is no excuse for the later translations.
If you want to know the gods and their story, but have no time to cut through exotic lengthy prose, then this is the book for you. The stories are straight forwarded and have a contemporary feel. Still, they are of the time and place they should be and not superimposed in today's century.
The illustrations add a dimension to the stories. Being in a sketch form adds to your imagination and helps explain some concepts.
After the introduction the chapters are:
Odin
How Thor went to Jötunheim
Frey's Wooing
The Wanderings of Freyja
Inûna's Apples
Baldur's Death
The Binding of Fenrir
Next is
Glossary of Harder words,
Notes,
Glossary of Proper Names,
Questions,
Subjects for Essays,
Helps to further Study,
The version I am reviewing is 1924 MACMILLIAN AND Co., Limited
St. Martins's Street London. The first edition was in 1905. I have other versions by the same person; some have radical differences however this version has always been my favorite.
When they wrote the Edda (12thC Norse poem collection) (13thC Norse poem collection compiled by Snorri Sturluson, Containing Norse myths, poems, and a treatise on poetry) they were not aware of English. However, there is no excuse for the later translations.
If you want to know the gods and their story, but have no time to cut through exotic lengthy prose, then this is the book for you. The stories are straight forwarded and have a contemporary feel. Still, they are of the time and place they should be and not superimposed in today's century.
The illustrations add a dimension to the stories. Being in a sketch form adds to your imagination and helps explain some concepts.
After the introduction the chapters are:
Odin
How Thor went to Jötunheim
Frey's Wooing
The Wanderings of Freyja
Inûna's Apples
Baldur's Death
The Binding of Fenrir
Next is
Glossary of Harder words,
Notes,
Glossary of Proper Names,
Questions,
Subjects for Essays,
Helps to further Study,
The version I am reviewing is 1924 MACMILLIAN AND Co., Limited
St. Martins's Street London. The first edition was in 1905. I have other versions by the same person; some have radical differences however this version has always been my favorite.
August 6, 2025
It presents itself as a gateway to Norse mythology for young readers but it is a Victorian-era moral filter that distorts the rawness of true paganism and the original tales. It tries to make the myth palatable to Christian sensibilities by stripping away what makes Norse cosmology compelling: fatalism, moral ambiguity and an embrace of chaos and honor. It's sanitized and more fitting for a Sunday sermon. It even reads like the bible, it's in the prose itself like it's sermonizing. To be fair, the book reflects its time, to domesticate the wild and make the foreign familiar. But for readers seeking true Norse myth, you wont find it here.
July 31, 2020
This is a delightful read on so many levels. Part mythology, part exegesis, part excursion into a history and people so bastardized as to be unrecognizable now. I learned quite a bit about how the Norse became the Norse. Strongly suggested to scholars, researchers, people looking for story elements (myself being one), and people looking for a good, fun read.
Don't let the discussions of the myths bog you down. Read them, they're as entertaining and enlightening as the myths themselves.
Don't let the discussions of the myths bog you down. Read them, they're as entertaining and enlightening as the myths themselves.
January 9, 2019
I wanted to get to know the mythologies and stories of my Viking heritage and this book did the trick! Thor Goes to Jutunheim will always be my favorite Norse tale, and and this version does the trick.
Skol!
Skol!
June 6, 2019
Super similar to Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology (which I expected), but also had some surprising differences and omissions--there's no story of mjolnir in here, or Slepnir, but there's stories about Freya which I definitely hadn't heard before. Very interesting.
November 9, 2018
I loved the stories
Read
October 30, 2019I...don't know how this ended up as "read" when I thought I was still reading?
Most important of points- this is NOT a Kindle edition! THis is the 1924 hardback!
This is important to me :)
Most important of points- this is NOT a Kindle edition! THis is the 1924 hardback!
This is important to me :)
June 9, 2021
I really enjoyed the myth re-tellings. One or two I had never read before, so that was a real treat.
December 11, 2022
Wasn't a bad book, some of the stories were very repetitive.
August 24, 2025
Fun but difficult and dry at the same time. Clearly whoever wrote this didn’t have much passion for immersing you into the story.
April 9, 2015
"Tales of Mythology" by A & E Keary is a retelling of the myths of Norse mythology. Discover epic heroes, dastardly villains, and larger than life monsters.
Well, that's a pretty lame summary, but that's essentially all this book is. I shelved this as "imaginative retelling," but I'm still not quite sure if this is a retelling. I think what my problem with this little book was had to do with a few things:
1. Very tiny book. Not the complete stories. Much more condensed versions of the stories. So events often felt abrupt.
2. Unknown to me, this book was actually written in 1857, so what you get is typical Victorian literature...and not the good Victorian literature. This was very dry and not fun. Norse mythology is fun! This was not fun! I was bored more than anything.
On the plus side this book was written by two sisters, which I found interesting considering this is about Norse tales, and usually men tend to write about the mythology. And also gorgeous illustrations in this book. The opening chapter pages are pretty, and then the beginning of every chapter features historiated initials which were cute. And then at the very end of each chapter there was some sort of image as well.
The illustrations don't save this book though. Ultimately, incredibly dull and boring, which Norse mythology shouldn't be. I don't recommend this at all.
Well, that's a pretty lame summary, but that's essentially all this book is. I shelved this as "imaginative retelling," but I'm still not quite sure if this is a retelling. I think what my problem with this little book was had to do with a few things:
1. Very tiny book. Not the complete stories. Much more condensed versions of the stories. So events often felt abrupt.
2. Unknown to me, this book was actually written in 1857, so what you get is typical Victorian literature...and not the good Victorian literature. This was very dry and not fun. Norse mythology is fun! This was not fun! I was bored more than anything.
On the plus side this book was written by two sisters, which I found interesting considering this is about Norse tales, and usually men tend to write about the mythology. And also gorgeous illustrations in this book. The opening chapter pages are pretty, and then the beginning of every chapter features historiated initials which were cute. And then at the very end of each chapter there was some sort of image as well.
The illustrations don't save this book though. Ultimately, incredibly dull and boring, which Norse mythology shouldn't be. I don't recommend this at all.
Want to read
March 6, 2014In my dim and distant past ...
whatever/however
I shall have another look, thankee Brazilliant!
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41283
TALES FROM SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY
BY A. & E. KEARY
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY HUARD
New York
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.
1909
Opening:
CHAPTER I.
THE ÆSIR.
PART I. A GIANT—A COW—AND A HERO.
In the beginning of ages there lived a cow, whose breath was sweet, and whose milk was bitter. This cow was called Audhumla, and she lived all by herself on a frosty, misty plain, where there was nothing to be seen but heaps of snow and ice piled strangely over one another. Far away to the north it was night, far away to the south it was day; but all around where Audhumla lay a cold, grey twilight reigned. By-and-by a giant came out of the dark north, and lay down upon the ice near Audhumla. "You must let me drink of your milk," said the giant to the cow; and though her milk was bitter, he liked it well, and for him it was certainly good enough.
whatever/however
I shall have another look, thankee Brazilliant!
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41283
TALES FROM SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY
BY A. & E. KEARY
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY HUARD
New York
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.
1909
Opening:
CHAPTER I.
THE ÆSIR.
PART I. A GIANT—A COW—AND A HERO.
In the beginning of ages there lived a cow, whose breath was sweet, and whose milk was bitter. This cow was called Audhumla, and she lived all by herself on a frosty, misty plain, where there was nothing to be seen but heaps of snow and ice piled strangely over one another. Far away to the north it was night, far away to the south it was day; but all around where Audhumla lay a cold, grey twilight reigned. By-and-by a giant came out of the dark north, and lay down upon the ice near Audhumla. "You must let me drink of your milk," said the giant to the cow; and though her milk was bitter, he liked it well, and for him it was certainly good enough.
April 22, 2013
These tales are great. I really liked the way these authors translated these stories, making them easier to read. Pretty good now, as I am sure it was in 1857 when it was first published as Heroes of Asgard.
November 18, 2010
This is a children's book from the 19th century, but I loved it. Pure and simple. I just like the old illustrations and the straightforward text.
January 8, 2012
This is where the pictures came from that were in my schoolbooks. The stories were entertaining enough to my 7 year old brother.
March 2, 2013
A good introductory book.
May 27, 2014
Good, but too brief. Doesn't properly disentangle competing narrations/sources/ethnonyms.
June 16, 2014
Beautifully told stories in a beautiful edition of the book. I love this sort of thing.
February 16, 2016
very good book tells all about Norse mythology and how Asgard was built a page turner, This book has the dark side of Loki and the light side of Thor
Read
February 18, 2018Originally written and titled as "Heros of Asgard" in 1857 with some not so well known stories if Norse mythology. For that reason I liked it. But the style was dry and boring.
Usually in cases like this I put a book like this in my "trade in" pile but I love the illustrations and the border that is on every page.
Usually in cases like this I put a book like this in my "trade in" pile but I love the illustrations and the border that is on every page.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews