Norse Mythology: The Myths & Legends of the Nordic Gods

by Arthur Cotterell

Editorial Reviews Product Description An A-Z of the mythical figures of the Nordic culture, detailing characters, locations and sites of interest, significant events, stories and symbols.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, History, Reference, Folklore

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Arthur Cotterell, former Principal of Kingston College in London, has spent many years combining senior educational management with historical research. He is the respected author of more than thirty books, and is now writing on the Chinese empire, from the history of which he considers one can learn as much about leadership as from Ashridge or Harvard.

Reviews

[Marthese Formosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the only book I got from a charity shop in Tarxien which I am not even sure if it's still open. I spotted it immediately and my mum was there with me, so it's definitely been 6 or 7 years. Finally got around to reading it this year!

The tag says short-under 100 pages, but it definitely feels like a mammoth of a book because it's an encyclopedia after all. It's a good comprehensive A to Z encyclopedia on Norse mythology. I like it because it also compares some of the entries with other mythologies, giving a world context. There are many painting and artifacts that illustrate the entries. Since I read it one page after the other rather than just as a reference when I want to search something, there were of course many repetition especially of myths since they involve multiple people, gods and places and artifacts but I could see that the editor wanted to add new things to the entries. There were also family trees which where useful though I had nearly learned them by heart by the time I arrived there.

I learned a lot of new things thanks to this book.

[Willow Redd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was on a theme shelf at my local library (for No-Shave November, because beards) and it's been something I've been wanting to do more research on for some time (Norse Mythology, not No-Shave).

A great overview of Norse Mythology listed alphabetically like any good encyclopedia with focus pages on Norse Heroes, the Valkyries, Rings of Power, Tragic Lovers, and of course Ragnarok. Many of the stories shared in each character section repeat just because the character mentioned was only in one myth and the story is covered in the entries for others involved in the story (the entry for Fafnir covers the same incidence covered in the entry for Siegfried, for example). Still a well researched collection that works perfectly as a jumping off point for anyone interested in the old Norse tales.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norse Mythology, to me, is by far the most interesting of all mythology (except maybe the Incan or the Mayan). It is easy to see how Norse mythology influenced the early German and Danish fairy tales.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there was a lot more in depth stuff about the ice giants, but other than that, this is a good book!

If anyone could recommend a book that is more about ice giants, I would be grateful!

[Novels and Neckties - Kira Murasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this to freshen up my memory of some nordic tales, but turns out in my memory some where a bit more fast paced then they are in the book. still it was a quick and enjoyable read.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

More an encyclopedia than anything else, though there are scattered (very brief) essays on Norse gods/myths and Nordic topics with some interesting information I haven't found in other places: for example, the Domhring.

Cotterell takes a wider scope of "Norse" than most, going beyond the Scandanavian and Icelandic regulars; but the brevity of the material in general limits the impact of that.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've learned enough to be familiar with gods but it seems to me like I'm missing something. The illustrations are very nice and the layout is easy going. I recommend this for anyone who is interested in a beginners knowledge about the Norse gods.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful stories coupled with stunning illustrations of all styles. This is a "must-have" for anyone interested in mythology.

[Hengest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for beginners to the subject. Very easygoing and some excellent artwork.

[Hengest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for beginners to the subject. Very easygoing and some excellent artwork.

[Tosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very organized with labeled entries and beautiful artwork.

[Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

الاساطير الاسكندنافية
كتاب تربوي مبسط عن الاساطير الاسكندنافية...الهة الشمال والحكايات المرتبطة بهم من عمالقة وابطال وعالم اسطوري.