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The CHILDREN of ODIN: The Book of Northern Myths
Padraic Colum (1881 - 1972) was an Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer and collector of folklore and was one of the leading figures of the Celtic Revival. In his retelling of these Norse myths and legends he speaks directly to children. So good and colourful was his retelling of these Norse Myths and Legends, that the storytellers at Marvel were quick to realise their value and create a series of illustrated comics and graphic novels for the younger generations. In more recent, digital times, the creators of many of today’s online Viking games use this volume as a point of reference.
A long, long time ago, before the dawn of time, somewhere to the North, lay the realm of Asgard. Therein dwelt the Norse gods and goddesses of old who were wise, beautiful and kind. They lived in peace and harmony, untouched by evil and iniquity - until the day the Giants from Jotunheim cast envious eyes upon them and their kingdom....
This volume is an excellent retelling of the Norse sagas about Odin, Freya, Thor, Loki, and other gods and goddesses, whom the Vikings believed lived in Asgard, back in the murky clouds of pre-history. It is quite literally a version of northern mythology retold for children which has enthralled the young, and the young at heart, for countless generations. Enthralling because, while Greek and Roman mythology is interesting, Norse legend seems to have a special place in the Western European psyche, probably because so many Europeans have a Viking ancestor somewhere in their lineage.
These stories are filled with the rich narrative of the storyteller, the flashing of colour, beauty and truth against the foreboding, lurking dark of the underworld. They are brought to life with excellent illustrations by the renowned artist Willy Pogany (1882 – 1955).
This book was especially republished to raise funds for charities. 33% of the net from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF the children’s charity.
A long, long time ago, before the dawn of time, somewhere to the North, lay the realm of Asgard. Therein dwelt the Norse gods and goddesses of old who were wise, beautiful and kind. They lived in peace and harmony, untouched by evil and iniquity - until the day the Giants from Jotunheim cast envious eyes upon them and their kingdom....
This volume is an excellent retelling of the Norse sagas about Odin, Freya, Thor, Loki, and other gods and goddesses, whom the Vikings believed lived in Asgard, back in the murky clouds of pre-history. It is quite literally a version of northern mythology retold for children which has enthralled the young, and the young at heart, for countless generations. Enthralling because, while Greek and Roman mythology is interesting, Norse legend seems to have a special place in the Western European psyche, probably because so many Europeans have a Viking ancestor somewhere in their lineage.
These stories are filled with the rich narrative of the storyteller, the flashing of colour, beauty and truth against the foreboding, lurking dark of the underworld. They are brought to life with excellent illustrations by the renowned artist Willy Pogany (1882 – 1955).
This book was especially republished to raise funds for charities. 33% of the net from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF the children’s charity.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 27, 2020
Most of the stories I've read them before in Neil gaiman 's book( norse mythology) but in this book the order and some little events are different and some of the stories are new to me , specially the final chapters about heroes , i really enjoy it 💃❤
July 24, 2025
The Children of Odin; The Book of Northern Myths. - Illustrated by Willy Pogany
"These ancient stories from Northern Europe, which make up one of the great myth cycles of Western civilization, spring to life in The Children of Odin. This classic volume [was] first published in 1920." p. 4 My edition is from Project Gutenberg
I read this because Ursula LeGuin mentioned it as one of her favorite books growing up; this was in the Introduction to her first novel: Rocannon's World.
"Instead of drawing on my own unconscious, I borrowed from legend. It didn't make very much difference in this case, because I had heard Norse myths before I could read, and read The Children of Odin and later the Eddas many, many times, so that that mythos was a shaping influence on both my conscious and unconscious mind (which is why I hate Wagner). I'm not really sorry I borrowed from the Norse; it certainly did them no harm,; but still, Odin in an impermasuit—it's a bit silly..." "Introduction to Rocannon's World" in The Language of the Night s. 126
She had apparently formed her main character on Odin. This surprised me. I came to the Norse myths via the Eddas and the Icelandic sagas. The Odin there is not an action hero. Dismal and stern, occasionally wrathful, not a lot of laughs. Well, Odin's not a lot of laughs in this book either but he is more "human". The myths here are otherwise tossed about, the narrative thread is far from straight. Still we do get context and a more moving story which builds to the climax of Ragnarök. And, truth be told, the narrative in the Eddas is not reader friendly.
Iduna and her apples: How Loki put the gods in danger:
"...Thor would not have strength enough to raise and fling his thunderbolts." p. 30
Thunderbolts, eh? Mjölnir regarded as lightning?
Sif's golden hair: how Loki wrought mischief in Asgard:
"Although they were beautiful and friendly the Vanir had no thought of making the world more beautiful or more happy. In that way they differed from the Æsir who had such a thought." p. 38
Hmmm... The Vanir, as I recall, were the older goddesses, and gods, who were already in place in the north when the hard-nosed patriarchal Æsir arrived and subdued them.
"On the earth below there were other beings—the dainty Elves, who danced and fluttered about, attending to the trees and flowers and grasses. The Vanir were permitted to rule over the Elves." p. 38
These are not the elves of Professor Tolkien.
"...below the earth, in caves and hollows, there was another race, the Dwarfs or Gnomes, little, twisted creatures, who were both wicked and ugly, but who were the best craftsmen in the world." p. 38
How Frey won Gerda, the giant maiden, and how he lost his magic sword:
"It was well for Skirnir that he had in his belt Frey's magic sword. Its edge slew and its gleam frighted the monstrous beasts." p. 62
A magic sword that gleams; and not only when orcs are near...
"Then he came to a wall of fire. No other horse but his mighty horse could go through it. Skirnir rode through the fire and came to the dale in which was Gymer's dwelling."
This is exactly how Sigurd later found Brynhild.
PART II
Odin wins for men the magic mead:
"'I will save you,'" Odin said. He went to her. He took her hands and held them. He kissed her on the mouth. All the marks of ill favor went from her. She was no longer bent, but tall and shapely. p. 98
Odin, the Eldest of the Gods, and Gunnlöd, the beautiful Giant maiden. She gave him the three jars of the Magic Mead and she told him she would go out of the cavern with him. Three days passed and still they were together. p. 99
I presume she came out of the cave no longer a maiden.
And Gunnlöd, who had tasted a little of the Magic Mead, wandered through the world singing of the beauty and the might of Odin, and of her love for him. p. 99 I doubt that this pleased Frigg.
The sword Gram and the dragon Fafnir:
"Regin, the cunning smith, came into the smithy. He stood by the wall and he watched Sigurd. His back was bent; his hair fell over his eyes that were all fiery, and he looked like a beast that runs behind the hedges." p. 203
What beast runs behind the hedges? Hedgehog? Fox? Still, it is a frightening image.
Brynhild in the house of flame:
"...he gazed long upon her. Beautiful was her face, but stern; like the face of one who subdues but may not be subdued. Beautiful and strong were her arms and her hands. Her mouth was proud, and over her closed eyes there were strong and beautiful brows. p 238
This is Sigurd gazing on Brynhild. This was published in 1920 when women were seldom seen in these lights.
How Brynhild was won for Gunnar:
"He went within the Hall and he saw one with a bow in her hands shooting at a mark. She turned to him, and he saw a beautiful and stern face, with coils of wondrous, bright-gleaming hair and eyes that were like stars in an unventured-in sea." p. 248
Sigurd has been enchanted to forget Brynhild, he beholds her disguised as Gunnar.
The death of Sigurd:
"She made a dish of madness for Guttorm—serpent's venom and wolf's flesh mixed—" p. 254
Brynhild gives this to Guttorm for him to poison Sigurd. Vengence is mine says the (former) valkerie.
The Twilight of the Gods:
"Four of the younger Gods stood on the highest of the world's peaks; they were Vidar and Vali, the sons of Odin, and Modi and Magni, the sons of Thor." p. 261
Not a single goddess; the final victory of the patriarchy.
The Twilight of the Gods:
"Deep in a wood two of human kind were left; the fire of Surtur did not touch them; they slept, and when they wakened the world was green and beautiful again. These two fed on the dews of the morning; a woman and a man they were. Lif and Lifthrasir." (Life and Lover of Life) p. 262
Not, in my opinion, quite as fine as in The Poetic Edda. From Völuspá:
"Now do I see the earth anew
Rise all green from the waves again;
The cataracts fall, and the eagle flies,
And fish he catches beneath the cliffs.
...
Then fields unsowed bear ripened fruit,
All ills grow better, and Baldr comes back..."
"These ancient stories from Northern Europe, which make up one of the great myth cycles of Western civilization, spring to life in The Children of Odin. This classic volume [was] first published in 1920." p. 4 My edition is from Project Gutenberg
I read this because Ursula LeGuin mentioned it as one of her favorite books growing up; this was in the Introduction to her first novel: Rocannon's World.
"Instead of drawing on my own unconscious, I borrowed from legend. It didn't make very much difference in this case, because I had heard Norse myths before I could read, and read The Children of Odin and later the Eddas many, many times, so that that mythos was a shaping influence on both my conscious and unconscious mind (which is why I hate Wagner). I'm not really sorry I borrowed from the Norse; it certainly did them no harm,; but still, Odin in an impermasuit—it's a bit silly..." "Introduction to Rocannon's World" in The Language of the Night s. 126
She had apparently formed her main character on Odin. This surprised me. I came to the Norse myths via the Eddas and the Icelandic sagas. The Odin there is not an action hero. Dismal and stern, occasionally wrathful, not a lot of laughs. Well, Odin's not a lot of laughs in this book either but he is more "human". The myths here are otherwise tossed about, the narrative thread is far from straight. Still we do get context and a more moving story which builds to the climax of Ragnarök. And, truth be told, the narrative in the Eddas is not reader friendly.
Iduna and her apples: How Loki put the gods in danger:
"...Thor would not have strength enough to raise and fling his thunderbolts." p. 30
Thunderbolts, eh? Mjölnir regarded as lightning?
Sif's golden hair: how Loki wrought mischief in Asgard:
"Although they were beautiful and friendly the Vanir had no thought of making the world more beautiful or more happy. In that way they differed from the Æsir who had such a thought." p. 38
Hmmm... The Vanir, as I recall, were the older goddesses, and gods, who were already in place in the north when the hard-nosed patriarchal Æsir arrived and subdued them.
"On the earth below there were other beings—the dainty Elves, who danced and fluttered about, attending to the trees and flowers and grasses. The Vanir were permitted to rule over the Elves." p. 38
These are not the elves of Professor Tolkien.
"...below the earth, in caves and hollows, there was another race, the Dwarfs or Gnomes, little, twisted creatures, who were both wicked and ugly, but who were the best craftsmen in the world." p. 38
How Frey won Gerda, the giant maiden, and how he lost his magic sword:
"It was well for Skirnir that he had in his belt Frey's magic sword. Its edge slew and its gleam frighted the monstrous beasts." p. 62
A magic sword that gleams; and not only when orcs are near...
"Then he came to a wall of fire. No other horse but his mighty horse could go through it. Skirnir rode through the fire and came to the dale in which was Gymer's dwelling."
This is exactly how Sigurd later found Brynhild.
PART II
Odin wins for men the magic mead:
"'I will save you,'" Odin said. He went to her. He took her hands and held them. He kissed her on the mouth. All the marks of ill favor went from her. She was no longer bent, but tall and shapely. p. 98
Odin, the Eldest of the Gods, and Gunnlöd, the beautiful Giant maiden. She gave him the three jars of the Magic Mead and she told him she would go out of the cavern with him. Three days passed and still they were together. p. 99
I presume she came out of the cave no longer a maiden.
And Gunnlöd, who had tasted a little of the Magic Mead, wandered through the world singing of the beauty and the might of Odin, and of her love for him. p. 99 I doubt that this pleased Frigg.
The sword Gram and the dragon Fafnir:
"Regin, the cunning smith, came into the smithy. He stood by the wall and he watched Sigurd. His back was bent; his hair fell over his eyes that were all fiery, and he looked like a beast that runs behind the hedges." p. 203
What beast runs behind the hedges? Hedgehog? Fox? Still, it is a frightening image.
Brynhild in the house of flame:
"...he gazed long upon her. Beautiful was her face, but stern; like the face of one who subdues but may not be subdued. Beautiful and strong were her arms and her hands. Her mouth was proud, and over her closed eyes there were strong and beautiful brows. p 238
This is Sigurd gazing on Brynhild. This was published in 1920 when women were seldom seen in these lights.
How Brynhild was won for Gunnar:
"He went within the Hall and he saw one with a bow in her hands shooting at a mark. She turned to him, and he saw a beautiful and stern face, with coils of wondrous, bright-gleaming hair and eyes that were like stars in an unventured-in sea." p. 248
Sigurd has been enchanted to forget Brynhild, he beholds her disguised as Gunnar.
The death of Sigurd:
"She made a dish of madness for Guttorm—serpent's venom and wolf's flesh mixed—" p. 254
Brynhild gives this to Guttorm for him to poison Sigurd. Vengence is mine says the (former) valkerie.
The Twilight of the Gods:
"Four of the younger Gods stood on the highest of the world's peaks; they were Vidar and Vali, the sons of Odin, and Modi and Magni, the sons of Thor." p. 261
Not a single goddess; the final victory of the patriarchy.
The Twilight of the Gods:
"Deep in a wood two of human kind were left; the fire of Surtur did not touch them; they slept, and when they wakened the world was green and beautiful again. These two fed on the dews of the morning; a woman and a man they were. Lif and Lifthrasir." (Life and Lover of Life) p. 262
Not, in my opinion, quite as fine as in The Poetic Edda. From Völuspá:
"Now do I see the earth anew
Rise all green from the waves again;
The cataracts fall, and the eagle flies,
And fish he catches beneath the cliffs.
...
Then fields unsowed bear ripened fruit,
All ills grow better, and Baldr comes back..."
October 8, 2020
When I finished this book I discovered there are many books in this series about the Northern Myths. I am very anxious to read all of them. It is very interesting to see how much of this culture is slumbering beneath our European habits, likes and dislikes. We are all Vikings one way or the other.
January 29, 2024
Highly over romanticized version of the Norse myths.
July 15, 2025
This is the best book ever! As specially for grade 4.
April 27, 2023
“Children of Odin”
Audiobook format.
Fantastic. Kept my interest and attention until the end. Well written (translated) in a typical adventure fantasy style where one can read it many times and still be awed by its literary richness and beauty. The characters are developed so well that the reader genuinely cares for them and is saddened when something bad happens to them in the story.
From a scholastic perspective, this Norse mythology shares many themes with other myths and religions of the world. For example, the biblical story of Adam and Eve, the Great Flood story, Greek mythology the punishment of Prometheus, Zeus’s lightning bolts to Odin’s spear, the underworld story, Poseidon and Jormungandr, the all-seeing eye to Odin’s acquisition of knowledge, even the fairy tale of the Sleeping Beauty can be ‘found’ in this myth, and many more.
Joseph Campbell refers to this concept of similar themes in myths around the world as monomyth or universal consciousness.
I highly recommend this book. It is entertaining and captivating.
Audiobook format.
Fantastic. Kept my interest and attention until the end. Well written (translated) in a typical adventure fantasy style where one can read it many times and still be awed by its literary richness and beauty. The characters are developed so well that the reader genuinely cares for them and is saddened when something bad happens to them in the story.
From a scholastic perspective, this Norse mythology shares many themes with other myths and religions of the world. For example, the biblical story of Adam and Eve, the Great Flood story, Greek mythology the punishment of Prometheus, Zeus’s lightning bolts to Odin’s spear, the underworld story, Poseidon and Jormungandr, the all-seeing eye to Odin’s acquisition of knowledge, even the fairy tale of the Sleeping Beauty can be ‘found’ in this myth, and many more.
Joseph Campbell refers to this concept of similar themes in myths around the world as monomyth or universal consciousness.
I highly recommend this book. It is entertaining and captivating.
September 28, 2022
I listened to an audiobook version of this book. It covers more stories than Neil Gaiman's version and acts as an introduction to the major Norse myths. The style is a little stilted, so I think listening to it helped make it more engaging. It is a short read and perhaps more aimed at a younger audience.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews