The Poetic Edda

Rating:
Summary: True to form
Review: This is an excellent translation of the poetic eddas which form the basis for what we currently know about Nordic mythology. The author maintains the structure of the original and mmakes a genuine attempt at alliteration in modern english. A previous reviewer noted a problem with some of the vocabulary being unfamiliar and indeciferable, but that is the beauty of this translation, it attempts to use germanic and older english constructions to give one the feel of the original. All the vocabulary used that is not contemporary can be found glossed at the back of the book or should be available in a quality dictionary like the OED. If you are interested in Nordic culture then this is the book you want for a translation of the poetic eddas (it is also an excellent crutch for those studying old norse and making an attempt to read the eddas in the original).