The Saga of the Volsungs

by Jesse Byock (Contributor), Petra Borner (Illustrations)

Part of a new series Legends from the Ancient North, The Saga of the Volsungs is one of the classic books that influenced JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. "They summoned their friends, readied their horses, and prepared their helmets, shields, swords, coats of mail". (J.R.R). Tolkien spent much of his life studying, translating and teaching the great epic stories of northern Europe, filled with heroes, dragons, trolls, dwarves and magic. He was hugely influential for his advocacy of Beowulf as a great work of literature and, even if he had never written The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, would be recognised today as a significant figure in the rediscovery of these extraordinary tales. Legends from the Ancient North brings together from Penguin Classics five of the key works behind Tolkien's fiction. They are startling, brutal, strange pieces of writing, with an elemental power brilliantly preserved in these translations. They plunge the reader into a world of treachery, quests, chivalry, trials of strength. They are the most ancient narratives that exist from northern Europe and bring us as near as we will ever get to the origins of the magical landscape of Middle-earth (Midgard) which Tolkien remade in the 20th century.

ebook

Published November 7, 2013

Reviews

[Veerle Peene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to have read one of the original sagas of norse mythology, especially since it inspired so much modern literature! (think Tolkien etc)

To read this you need a lot of concentration as there are SO MANY names and characters, and in true old norse fashion all the names look alike (yay). But it is definitely worth it, if only for the vibes of it.

So to me it was definitely worth it, just because of the renowned reputation. So i’m glad my course made me read this book. Especially cause I would have probably never read it otherwise.

[Ariel Stepanovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Saga of the Volsungs, translated by Jesse L. Byock, is one of those books that feels essential if you have a serious interest in Norse mythology, legendary history, or the world surrounding the Eddas.

The saga follows generations of the Völsung family, but Sigurd the dragon slayer is naturally at the heart of it. There is everything you could want from an old Norse legend: Odin appearing at pivotal moments, prophecy, cursed treasure, vengeance, betrayal, shapeshifting, valkyries, legendary swords, doomed love, and, of course, Fafnir. Yet underneath all of the supernatural elements is a surprisingly human story about honor, loyalty, greed, family, and the consequences of choices that echo across generations.

What I especially appreciated about Jesse Byock’s translation is how readable it is. He doesn’t make the saga feel unnecessarily archaic or bury the story beneath overly elaborate language. It still feels ancient and distinctly Norse, but I never felt as though I had to fight the translation in order to understand what was happening. His introduction and notes were also incredibly helpful for putting the saga into its historical and cultural context.

I also loved seeing stories and characters I already knew from Norse mythology woven together into a larger narrative. Sigurd, Brynhild, Odin, the sword Gram, Fafnir, and the cursed gold all take on greater weight when experienced as pieces of the same tragic family saga rather than isolated myths.

And tragic is definitely the word for it. This is not a story where heroic deeds guarantee happy endings. Fate hangs over almost everyone. Victories have consequences, families destroy themselves through vengeance, and even the greatest heroes cannot necessarily escape what has been set in motion. That fatalistic quality was probably one of my favorite aspects of the entire saga.

It is also fascinating to see just how deeply the Völsung tradition influenced later fantasy and literature. You can recognize pieces that would eventually echo through Tolkien and other works, but reading the saga itself makes you appreciate how much older, stranger, and darker the original tradition is.

This isn’t a modern fantasy novel, and I wouldn’t recommend approaching it expecting one. The storytelling can be abrupt, generations pass quickly, characters sometimes appear and disappear with little warning, and the sheer number of names can require some concentration. But once I adjusted to the saga style, I loved it.

For anyone studying Norse mythology beyond the surface level, I think this is absolutely worth reading. It feels less like reading about Norse legend and more like stepping directly into one of the great surviving legendary traditions of the North.

5/5. Dark, brutal, mythic, tragic, and absolutely worth reading.

[Maria Stallmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh - interesting insight into the storytelling of that time and the historical context (indeed, the introduction was the best part of the book!), but a bit far-fetched and silly. Yes, yes, it’s a saga, it’s supposed to be mythical, but this just wasn’t really for me.

[Space Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great ancient primary source for norse mythology.
Questionable morals aside, it was a gripping, even if somewhat absurd in places, drama from times of old. Great notes and explanations come with this translation.

[Jessie Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, if tragic, saga that moves from the mythic to the legendary. As such, a worthy study if not my favorite narrative.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good translation of a kickass story

[Karina Delcheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and excellently translated - a gripping and exciting story, told in a way that keeps the storyline true but transmits in a digestible for modern readers way.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banger