The Saga of the Volsungs (Legends from the Ancient North)

The Saga of the Volsungs is a series of interconnected poems written in thirteenth century Iceland by an anonymous author, telling the tale of the hero Sigurd the Dragon Slayer and his magic ring of power. This handsome edition, part of Penguin's Tales of the Ancient North series, was translated by Jesse L. Byock, who has also provided an informative Introduction and extensive Notes. Most people will immediately recognize that The Saga of the Volsungs was an inspiration for some of the works of Richard Wagner and J.R.R. Tolkien. But there is more to savor in these poems than just the dragons and heroes, magic rings and fabulous swords, which the names Wagner and Tolkien will bring to mind. Sigurd's tale is a great adventure, and Byock's masterful translation and helpful Notes illuminate it and add even more power and drama. Most of all, Sigurd's adventure depicts the tumultuous and beautiful world of the ancient Norse in all its magnificence, exactly as did Wagner in his greatest operas and Tolkien in his Lord of the Rings and Silmarillion.

I like Norse mythology. This fits right in.

Jesse Byock produces a wonderful prose translation of the Volsungsaga. Great complementary explanatory notes make this an easy and thoroughly enjoyable read. For those who revel in the stories of old, or those who might want to see how Wagner took this myth and compressed it... I would say this story should be on everyone's reading list. Few, if any, of the stories of the north are this easy and yet so rewarding to pick up and read... Also this particular edition... Beautiful. Just beautiful... I might just have to pick up the other "Legends from the ancient North" despite the fact that I have all of the extant texts in other translations...

I had to read this book for a class I took on Vikings and I loved it! So much happens and there is so much to be learned about Viking culture in the narrative. This story is full of strong women, love triangles, brotherhood, death, heroes, and the occasional god. It was quite the adventure.

Great translation. With minimal discussion the saga is explained in the context of the society at the time.

Required reading for anyone interested in Wagner, in Tolkien or in the viking era.

The Saga of the Volsungs is a great tale, fascinating, often alarming to read. I have known of Sigurd, the slayer of Fafnir, for a long time, from my reading of The Elder Edda and books like Myths of the Norsemen, now I am glad to have finally read the tale which tells of his life from birth to death. It is the amount of violence in the tale which made it alarming to me. I found it moving, too, particularly when it told of how fate conspired to keep Sigurd and Brynhild, who truly loved eachother, apart. I liked the moments of magic in the tale, as when Odin intervenes in events in his human form, as a tall, one eyed man with a beard. It was interesting to read of how Sigurd slew the dragon, Fafnir, the deed which brought him fame, for one thing, it was clear how it influenced the tale of Turin Turambar and the slaying of the dragon, Glaurung, in The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. The tale is a high tragedy, and well worth reading. The Introduction and Notes by its translator, Jesse L. Byock, are interesting, revealing the history and myth behind the tale, and how it came to influence William Morris and J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ring cycle of operas by Richard Wagner.

Very good quality !

Arrived exactly when I expected it. A good look into the story of the Volsungs for anyone interested in beginning to read the sagas.

Tout petit livre qui est super pour suivre les aventures des Sig. Un morceau de mythologie nordique.

Best modern English publication of the saga with notes and glossary. Always hard to know with publication of old texts/books, so many cheap/poor versions out there... also received it sooner than expected !

Nice but slight, read one of the public domain translations before you get a copy, it’s a tiny sketchy story… excellent edition though!