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Pocket Havamal
Have you ever been out talking with someone and knew there was a perfect Havamal quote for the situation but you just couldn't remember it exactly? Ever been inspired out in nature and felt the urge to read the words of Odin? If so, the Pocket Havamal is for you! This Pocket Sized book includes the entire Benjamin Thorpe translation of the Havamal The Sayings of the High One. *This is the 2nd edition of the Amazon Best Seller, with a brand new design and completely reformatted interior. ** This is a SMALL paperback book that fits in your pocket for easy take along use.
51 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2017
613 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Sæmundr fróði
27 books8 followersSæmundur Sigfússon (or Sæmundur fróði) (Sæmundur the Learned) (1056–1133) was an Icelandic priest and scholar. Sæmundur is known to have studied abroad. Previously it has generally been held that he studied in France, but modern scholars rather believe his studies were carried out in Franconia. In Iceland he founded a long-lived school at Oddi. He was a member of the Oddaverjar clan and had the son Loftur Sæmundsson.
Sæmundur wrote a work, probably in Latin, on the history of Norwegian kings. The work is now lost but was used as a source by later authors, including Snorri Sturluson. The poem Nóregs konungatal summarizes Sæmundur's work. The authorship of the Poetic Edda, or, more plausibly, just the editor's role in the compilation, was traditionally attributed to Sæmundur but is not accepted today.
In Icelandic folklore, Sæmundur is a larger-than-life character who repeatedly tricks the Devil into doing his bidding. For example, in one famous story Sæmundur made a pact with the Devil that the Devil should bring him home to Iceland from Europe on the back of a seal. Sæmundur escaped a diabolical end when, on arrival, he hit the seal on the head with the Bible, killing it, and stepping safely ashore.
[Source: Wikipedia]
Sæmundur wrote a work, probably in Latin, on the history of Norwegian kings. The work is now lost but was used as a source by later authors, including Snorri Sturluson. The poem Nóregs konungatal summarizes Sæmundur's work. The authorship of the Poetic Edda, or, more plausibly, just the editor's role in the compilation, was traditionally attributed to Sæmundur but is not accepted today.
In Icelandic folklore, Sæmundur is a larger-than-life character who repeatedly tricks the Devil into doing his bidding. For example, in one famous story Sæmundur made a pact with the Devil that the Devil should bring him home to Iceland from Europe on the back of a seal. Sæmundur escaped a diabolical end when, on arrival, he hit the seal on the head with the Bible, killing it, and stepping safely ashore.
[Source: Wikipedia]
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 13, 2020
Kind of an unwieldy translation, but I enjoyed what I could grasp.
November 23, 2017
old Norse wisdom and myth combined in an epic poem
August 3, 2023
Terrible Translation of Havamal
If you want what appears to be a no-effort automated translation that often results in nonsensical text…then this is the garbage version of Havamal that you’ve been looking for!
For example, let’s take two literal verses from this atrocity:
30. For a gazing-stock no man shall have another, although he come a stranger to his house. Many a one thinks himself wise, if he is not questioned, and can sit in a dry habit.
31. Clever thinks himself the guest who jeers a guest, if he takes to flight. Knows it not certainly he who prates at meat, whether he babbles among foes.
If you’d rather read something in the actual English language that conveys meaning using the radical idea of using words organized into sentences, with notes on the forms of the poetry, thoughtful translation choices that come from study and textual analysis, then consider instead the Havamal translations from actual Old Norse experts, academics and authors such as Larrington, Crawford, Hollander, Bellows, Kvilhaug, and Dronke at least.
For an easy and clear translation for readers new to the Poetic Edda and to the Havamal in particular, check out Crawford’s Wanderer’s Havamal.
If you got this Pocket Havamal version for free and actually spent the time to try to read it, you’ve been charged way too much.
If you want what appears to be a no-effort automated translation that often results in nonsensical text…then this is the garbage version of Havamal that you’ve been looking for!
For example, let’s take two literal verses from this atrocity:
30. For a gazing-stock no man shall have another, although he come a stranger to his house. Many a one thinks himself wise, if he is not questioned, and can sit in a dry habit.
31. Clever thinks himself the guest who jeers a guest, if he takes to flight. Knows it not certainly he who prates at meat, whether he babbles among foes.
If you’d rather read something in the actual English language that conveys meaning using the radical idea of using words organized into sentences, with notes on the forms of the poetry, thoughtful translation choices that come from study and textual analysis, then consider instead the Havamal translations from actual Old Norse experts, academics and authors such as Larrington, Crawford, Hollander, Bellows, Kvilhaug, and Dronke at least.
For an easy and clear translation for readers new to the Poetic Edda and to the Havamal in particular, check out Crawford’s Wanderer’s Havamal.
If you got this Pocket Havamal version for free and actually spent the time to try to read it, you’ve been charged way too much.
September 3, 2022
Plentiful of interesting advice.
I didn't know that existed wisdom books like the proverbs on the islandic tradition.
The advice explains some things about the culture:
- They liked to drink beer
- There were wanderers and indigents looking for food
- They had respect for the silence on the meetings, so they also had meetings where they evaluate the trustworthiness of their friends.
- They talk about be careful to talk secretly with married women, so they had problems with infidelities, surely because they traveled.
- Also they had fear of the women, you can say "misogyny" but is not so easy, because they don't recommend any violent measure to control the situation. They fear the women as untrustworthy. But they know that one of the possible reasons of an untrustworthy woman is that a woman can find another richer or stronger man, putting on risk the life of his husband if he takes violent measures (is a speculation), so the only sage choice is to be careful.
Really interesting book.
I didn't know that existed wisdom books like the proverbs on the islandic tradition.
The advice explains some things about the culture:
- They liked to drink beer
- There were wanderers and indigents looking for food
- They had respect for the silence on the meetings, so they also had meetings where they evaluate the trustworthiness of their friends.
- They talk about be careful to talk secretly with married women, so they had problems with infidelities, surely because they traveled.
- Also they had fear of the women, you can say "misogyny" but is not so easy, because they don't recommend any violent measure to control the situation. They fear the women as untrustworthy. But they know that one of the possible reasons of an untrustworthy woman is that a woman can find another richer or stronger man, putting on risk the life of his husband if he takes violent measures (is a speculation), so the only sage choice is to be careful.
Really interesting book.
December 4, 2017
Some solid sayings/quotes, but not much depth. Very quick read, but still should be interesting to people with an interest in Norse history/literature.
September 18, 2023
It was fun to read really.I expected a slug of a reading but it was a breeze.I might re-read it sometime in the future.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 because I find it hard to recommend.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 because I find it hard to recommend.
November 14, 2021
So very wise and timely
The wisdom in this little book blew me away. Basic, good human nature from a culture that we are taught wasn't classically that way. Worth the read!
The wisdom in this little book blew me away. Basic, good human nature from a culture that we are taught wasn't classically that way. Worth the read!
May 12, 2020
ترجمهاش سخت بود. مجبور بودم از یک ترجمه انگلیسی دیگه برای فهمش استفاده کنم. گاهی کلا جملات در این و ترجمه دیگر کلا متفاوت بود. ولی به هر حال خوب بود ارزش خواندن را داشت. من برای اون یک بند معروفش خواندمش که میگه
Cattle die, kindred die,
we ourselves also die,
but the fair fame never dies of him who has earned it.
بند ۷۶ ام کتاب
Cattle die, kindred die,
we ourselves also die,
but the fair fame never dies of him who has earned it.
بند ۷۶ ام کتاب
January 2, 2021
Pretty intereting read for people in love with Norse mythology. They are wise words, lessons mixed with myth. I especially like this verse:
"Moderately wise should each one be, but never over- wise. His destiny let know no man beforehand; his mind will be freest from’ care."
Old English words make it hard for general reader.
"Moderately wise should each one be, but never over- wise. His destiny let know no man beforehand; his mind will be freest from’ care."
Old English words make it hard for general reader.
June 3, 2018
Handy pocket sized edition of English translation of "Sayings of the High one", also known as Odin.
Well laid out collection of sayings, though they are translated from Old Norse into English so at ti,es you have to use a little brain power to get to the meaning.
Well laid out collection of sayings, though they are translated from Old Norse into English so at ti,es you have to use a little brain power to get to the meaning.
February 27, 2019
Pretty awesome aphorisms from a bygone age. I was mostly familiar with classical era aphorisms but these were pretty cool spins on the same idea. Not all of them are applicable to us, like when to you know, kill a guy, but a lot of them are pretty neat.
August 16, 2024
Beautiful Read.
This book is pretty good. Remember that this is a translation of a poetic book. I'm not an expert, but it seems as if it is Old English, which reads a lot differently than Modern English on either side of the Atlantic.
This book is pretty good. Remember that this is a translation of a poetic book. I'm not an expert, but it seems as if it is Old English, which reads a lot differently than Modern English on either side of the Atlantic.
November 22, 2018
just some good lessons, nothing spectacular
February 25, 2019
difficult to understand due to he old english.
April 17, 2020
A nice little book for reference.
May 27, 2021
Words of wisdom.
A classic book of timeless wisdom. Short, sweet, and a pleasure to read... I definitely recommend reading this anytime for a quick Norse pick-me-up.
A classic book of timeless wisdom. Short, sweet, and a pleasure to read... I definitely recommend reading this anytime for a quick Norse pick-me-up.
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February 4, 2022I travel with mine all the time. I read it whenever I need to be inspired.
October 24, 2022
A good form-factor to carry around in a bag/purse, but better translations can be had. Useful to carry as a reminder or something to have on-hand.
March 1, 2023
best translation of the Havamal frl
September 11, 2024
Ho voluto iniziare il mio cammino nel paganesimo nordico dall'Havamal, più breve e forse più "semplice" rispetto all'Edda.
Mi è piaciuto moltissimo, l'ho trovato illuminante e profondo in molti passaggi.
Mi è piaciuto moltissimo, l'ho trovato illuminante e profondo in molti passaggi.
February 20, 2018
Insightful collection of Viking proverbs. My favorite: “Don’t even look at a man who is worth less than you.”
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews