Rating: 
Summary: An elegant translation, simple and economical
Review: Jesse Byock's translation of the Saga of the Volsungs is a wonderful book. Elegant yet simple, Byock has taken care to tell the story as directly and concisely as possible. Many older translations of this text rely on flowery prose to bring the story of Sigurd the Dragonslayer to life. But Byock takes care to present the tale accurately, allowing the text to speak for itself. The introduction to the text, while setting the stage for the story, also provides a look at some of the contemporary adaptations of the Sigurd story, such as Richard Wagner's ring cycle. All lovers of literature will find this translation worthwhile, but readers of fantasy fiction (particularly Tolkien), and those interested in Viking literature will find this to be a must have item!
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Summary: Ian Myles Slater on: An Outstanding Rendering
Review: Jesse L. Byock's translation of the Old Icelandic "Volsunga Saga" -- a prose version of older stories, some surviving in Old Norse poems, including events going back at least to the fall of the Roman Empire -- is the most readily available English-language version, and in my opinion is one of the best -- arguably, the best, period.
"Volsunga Saga," the story of the ancestors and deeds of Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer, his murder, and the following vengeance, has been translated into English a number of times; a reflection in part of its own qualities as a story, in part of the celebrity of Wagner's "Ring" cycle, portions of which are, rather loosely, based upon it, as well as other Norse and German versions, and Wagner's own notions of what Germanic myths should have been.
The Saga differs from the "Nibelungenlied" in more than details, and in being in Old Icelandic prose rather than Middle High German verse; the Icelandic narrative is rich in a sense of personal honor offended, and legal precepts followed or ignored, in places where the German account is very much concerned with the outer signs of rank and feudal hierarchy. Both are equally reflective of reality; but different realities.
William Morris worked up a fine-sounding English version with the assistance of the Icelandic scholar Eirikr Magnusson, first published in 1870; it had a long-lasting paperback edition from Collier Books, beginning in 1962 (also published in a British edition as a Collier-Mac). That version had a good introduction by Robert W. Gutman, but lacked the corrections supplied by Magnusson, and incorporated in May Morris' edition of her father's "Collected Works" in 1911. Morris and Magnusson had the happy thought of including older versions of the story from the "Poetic Edda' (or "Elder Edda"), not then readily available in English translation; particularly those old poems barely summarized in the prose account, or omitted. Unfortunately, as "The Story of the Volungs and the Niblungs; With Certain Songs from the Elder Edda," with or without "Volsunga Saga," as the main or subtitle, it tends to be confused with Morris' own epic poem, "The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs."
Morris was not happy with Wagner's treatment of the story (or with the way it overshadowed his epic); but his translation has been linked to it in edition after edition. I love this version, and wouldn't give up my copy. But the language of the translation, although often beautiful, is rather alien to modern readers. Between Morris' actual mistakes, improvement in text editions, and advances in Icelandic studies, it hardly meets modern standards of reliability. And Morris' style suggests that the sagas' language is highly wrought, when, by all accounts, the style is notably sparse and severe.
In 1930, the American-Scandinavian Foundation published a new translation by Margaret Schlauch, which instead of Eddic poems included "Ragnar Lodbrok's Saga" and the poem "Krakumal," which follow "Volsunga" in the unique parchment manuscript, and were clearly designed to be part of the same story. (A practice which should have been followed by others, in my view.) It was simpler in style, although not really idiomatic. This was followed in 1965 by R.G. Finch's edition of the Icelandic text with facing translation, and then by George K. Anderson's translation with other supplementary material in 1982 (which I have examined, but not read with care). There were also translations of excerpts, some very appealing, including those by Jacqueline Simpson in "Beowulf and Its Analogues" (1971). Finally, in 2000, there was another bilingual edition for serious students, edited and translated by Kaaren Grimstad (published in Germany; not seen).
Of those older translations that I have seen, I think that Finch's was the most readable, although perhaps a little flat after Morris. There was certain clutter of notes and variant readings on the pages, but the English was clear. Schlauch's should have been easier reading than Morris' version, but eccentric page layout often made it hard to figure out who was speaking to whom at first glance. Unfortunately, the Schlauch, Finch, Anderson, and Grimstad translations all have something else in common: they are out of print.
So, for most purposes, is the venerable Morris; there *is* a premium-priced edition available on Amazon.co.uk (which doesn't seem aimed at the curious reader). The various digital editions being offered also may all be this well-out-of-copyright translation; the Kessinger edition follows an 1888 printing, with a long-obsolete introduction.
But Jesse L. Byock's "The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer" is in print. Fortunately, it *is* a very readable translation, with extremely useful notes, and, having compared it to Morris & Magnusson, Schlauch, and Finch, I am inclined to trust Byock's work, as well as enjoy it. I have found it, in fact, the most easy to follow, while Byock's notes seem reflect a concern for precision in language.
Originally published by the University of California Press in 1990, it was soon issued in paperback with a cover based on an eleventh-century Swedish rune stone depicting the slaying of the dragon Fafnir (on eye-catching red). It was later picked up in Penguin Classics, with a cover showing a detail of a twelfth-century woodcarving of Sigurd and the dwarf Regin reforging the sword Gram. The Penguin edition of 1999 is a little smaller in format, but the two are otherwise identical. (Years ago I used the wider margins of my 1990 copy for notes, and cross-references to other translations; which proved handy in preparing this review.) The UC Press edition has more recently (2002) been reissued, with a rather nineteenth-century romantic version of Vikings at sea; an attractive cover, but not as relevant to the contents. (Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca also offer a 1992 Hisarlik Press edition, which appears to have a migration-age shield on the cover.)
The new cover of the UC Press edition also mentions Tolkien and "Lord of the Rings," along with Wagner (and why did they need to wait for Peter Jackson?). Tolkien's parallels to "Volsunga Saga" are clear, although mingled with other sources, and an abundance of Tolkien's own invention. Tolkien, unlike Wagner, could read the sources in their original forms, but he created anew, instead of purporting to retell. The points of contact range from aspects of "The Silmarillion" (mainly Hurin and Turin, where they are mixed with material from the Finnish "Kalevala," but also Beren's wolf-form, and a dragon's curse / prophecy) to the (off-stage) reforging of Narsil / Anduril in "Lord of the Rings." The clearest example is Tolkien's recasting of Sigurd's conversations with Fafnir into the chats with Smaug in "The Hobbit" -- the implicit contrast between Bilbo and Sigurd adds to the comedy for those fortunate enough to know both. (And, yes there is that business of the Ring, and its Curse. As Tolkien said, they are much the same; all of the rings involved are round and shining.)
Rating: 
Summary: better choice available
Review: My original review still stands. I am amending it in the following manner:There are better translations and better introduction volumes. I would recommend Kaaren Grimstad's translation from the Icelandic text. It has benefit of being a duo language volume with the old Norse and English translation side by side and the introduction is WAY better than Byock's. Further, the translation seems smoother and more correct from the Norse. It maybe a little bit difficult to acquire but Grimstad is the volume to work with for both advanced and beginning students of this saga. It includes genealogy charts and notes. Get Byock used if you can.
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Summary: Visceral...
Review: The Saga of the Volsungs is rooted in dark myths and thoughts. It is more fun than the _Niebulunglied_ which is a courtly epic with all its conventions where as, the Volsung Saga is the heart of the matter -- Filled with violence, blood and terror. For fans of the Icelandic epics the Volsung may prove disappointing because it does not have the wealth of detail nor dialogue that Njal's or Egil's Sagas contain. What the Volsung does have is a primal force of events that seem at times puzzling to the more modern reader who is used to internal dialogue and much exposition. Take into account that the Volsung is a compiled mythic saga as opposed to societal saga of Iceland then you start getting a feel for things. The Volsung is inhabited by the Norse gods, magic is common and so is a level of violence that one does not usually see in literature today e.g., a mother who for the sake of vengeance kills her two children -- more coldly than Medea. The Volsung is short and an easy read. You, the reader, need to provide the more developed framework of the society for which the Volsung sings to -- there are no extended descriptions or long, lyriical passages. Because of this the introduction is handy to have and so is a working knowledge of Norse myth and symbolic signifiers from that mythology. One of the faults of this volume is that index of characters is not as clear as could be -- confusing when characters can share very similiar names. Also, clearer explanantion about the discontinuities in the narrative might have been more helpful for the beginning reader to work out the complexities. Overall, not as fun as some of the Icelandic sagas with their more coherent narrative and dialogue structure but the Volsung has a visceral charm that reminds one of dark woods and dark gods. A must have for the mythology and saga junkie. If you are a Wagner fan the deep moments of the Ring Cycle will find you in familiar territory.
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Summary: Fascinating! This is the REAL THING!
Review: The Saga of the Volsungs is the Norse epic upon which Wagner's Ring Cycle is based. Many authors have claimed The Saga of the Vulsungs as "their own" ... !Now here is your chance to read it as close to source as possible---without learning Old Norse! (World famous historian, Jesse Byock, has done all the work for you!)
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating! This is the REAL THING!
Review: The Saga of the Volsungs is the Norse epic upon which Wagner's Ring Cycle is based. Many authors have claimed The Saga of the Vulsungs as "their own" ... !Now here is your chance to read it as close to source as possible---without learning Old Norse! (World famous historian, Jesse Byock, has done all the work for you!)
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Summary: One of the Best Viking Sagas
Review: This is one of the best Viking Sagas. It is more Pagan than other Sagas so it may be older than the others. Short, easy to read. It is a more violent one of the Sagas. A good translation.
Wyatt Kaldenberg
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Viking Sagas
Review: This is one of the best Viking Sagas. It is more Pagan than other Sagas so it may be older than the others. Short, easy to read. It is a more violent one of the Sagas. A good translation.
Wyatt Kaldenberg
Rating:
Summary: Saga of the Volsungs
Review: This is one of the few Viking sagas that probably has more roots in mythology than actual history, but its one of the most entertaining ones also. Includes appearances by Odin, Valkyries and a dragon along with all the usual inter tribal "politics" of heads getting cracked by swords and axes.
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Summary: Major Source
Review: This is one of the most important of the ancient Norse-Germanic sources. It is unfortunate for English readers, however, that the Thidrekssaga is not available in English, because it treats the same material in a far more detailed and believable form. For those of you who read German, look for the Thidrekssaga on Amazon.de. It is published by Reichl Verlag.
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