A Handbook of Norse Mythology

by Karl Andreas Mortensen

From the world’s creation out of the earliest fog-country and fire-land to the final battle between the gods, this book paints a full and fascinating portrait of primitive Scandinavian lore. Its captivating tales recount the birth and ascendancy of the gods, with profiles of the chief deities and their associated omnipotent Odin, father of the gods; hammer-wielding Thor; Baldur, the beautiful and wise; and malicious Loki, the devil of the North.
In addition to its compelling legends, A Handbook of Norse Mythology chronicles ancient forms of worship and religious practices, relating the stories’ significance to everyday life. The book concludes with retellings of the grandest and most famous of the hero the Volsungs; the Helgi saga; Volund the smith; the Hjathningar; and Beowulf.
A familiarity with Norse mythology is essential to appreciating Scandinavian history and poetry, and this volume was used for generations in Scandinavian high schools and universities. First published in 1898, it remains a vital source not only of classic tales but also of accessible explanations of the legends’ historic relevance.

Genres: Mythology, Religion, Nonfiction, Historical, Reference, Paganism

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jim]

First published in 1898, Karl Mortensen's outline survey of Norse and Germanic mythology serves merely to whet the appetite. A Handbook of Norse Mythology is perhaps a useful guide to the sources of the various myths it covers, but it is best to tackle the original sources, which have the virtue of being far more interesting. Mortensen frequently quotes from "The Havamal," which is part of Snorri Sturluson's Poetic Edda, and which is perhaps, along with some of the sagas, the most striking expression of the Norse world view.

[Skallagrimsen]

Holds up quite well for a book on Norse mythology published in the 19th century.

[Belhor Crowley]

Very short. I was not satisfied.

[Alex]

"Have you heard that Thor challenged Christ to a holm-going (duel fought on a holmr, 'islet'), but Christ dared not contend with Thor?" Mythology has never been my thing but this book tying Christianity's spread with how some of the tales changed under that missionary control made this interesting.

Things I enjoyed learning:
"Odin's son goes to meet the worm"
The Wild Hunt is of northern invention
Berserk comes from shapeshifting anger in battle
Hel-hounds
Ymir's body becoming heaven and earth
Regeneration after Ragnarok
Yggdrasil, the tree of life
Odin pledging his eye for a drink from the well of wisdom

[SA]

So dated, not only from the concepts on which Mortensen is resting his arguments, but by the blatant privilege and casual misogyny.

[Wilhelmina]

Concise but packed full of information. It's a bit outdated in some respects, as it was first published in 1898 I think. It covers the very basics of history, mythology, practices, and provides summaries of some of the major sagas. It's well worth a read, even if it still uses terms like "savage" to describe a civilization.

Also, in the Digireads version, there were two sentences that lacked periods and atleast one word that was misspelled.

[Velvetink]

kindle

[Elaine]

Concise easy to read book of Mythology. History students will particularly enjoy.