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The Saga of the Volsungs (Penguin Classics)
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Our Price: $11.20
You Save: $ 2.80 ( 20% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Author: Anonymous
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Average Customer Rating:
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The Saga of the Volsungs (Penguin Classics) Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 398
EAN: 9780140447385
ISBN: 0140447385
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 160
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
Dewey Decimal Number: 398
EAN: 9780140447385
ISBN: 0140447385
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 160
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
Editorial Review of The Saga of the Volsungs (Penguin Classics)
One of the great books of world literature--an unforgettable tale of jealousy, unrequited love, greed, and vengeance.
Based on Viking Age poems and composed in thirteenth-century Iceland, The Saga of the Volsungs combines mythology, legend, and sheer human drama in telling of the heroic deeds of Sigurd the dragon slayer, who acquires runic knowledge from one of Odin's Valkyries. Yet the saga is set in a very human world, incorporating oral memories of the fourth and fifth centuries, when Attila the Hun and other warriors fought on the northern frontiers of the Roman empire. In his illuminating Introduction Jesse L. Byock links the historical Huns, Burgundians, and Goths with the extraordinary events of this Icelandic saga. With its ill-fated Rhinegold, the sword reforged, and the magic ring of power, the saga resembles the Nibelungenlied and has been a primary source for such fantasy writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and for Richard Wagner's Ring cycle.
Translated with an Introduction, Notes, and Glossary by Jesse L. Byock.
Based on Viking Age poems and composed in thirteenth-century Iceland, The Saga of the Volsungs combines mythology, legend, and sheer human drama in telling of the heroic deeds of Sigurd the dragon slayer, who acquires runic knowledge from one of Odin's Valkyries. Yet the saga is set in a very human world, incorporating oral memories of the fourth and fifth centuries, when Attila the Hun and other warriors fought on the northern frontiers of the Roman empire. In his illuminating Introduction Jesse L. Byock links the historical Huns, Burgundians, and Goths with the extraordinary events of this Icelandic saga. With its ill-fated Rhinegold, the sword reforged, and the magic ring of power, the saga resembles the Nibelungenlied and has been a primary source for such fantasy writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and for Richard Wagner's Ring cycle.
Translated with an Introduction, Notes, and Glossary by Jesse L. Byock.
Customer Reviews of The Saga of the Volsungs (Penguin Classics)
Customer Rating: 
Review Summary: Reasonable translation, great work
Review: First, I would add that for serious students looking at this work, you are better off starting with Prof. Hollander's translation of the Poetic Edda. That work contains the surviving source material the saga author had access to in English translation. When compared to source material, one can see how the author toned down to some extent some of the mythic and magical aspects of the story.
This is one of the most important stories in Western culture, on a scale with the Illead and Beowulf.
I actually found Byock's translation readable and the introduction and notes were helpful. I don't think it can be a single source for understanding the story, however.
However, I would second the idea that facing page translation formats are probably better for the serious student, and often result in better translations from the original.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Siegfried Norse style
Review: This is not the best Viking Saga I've read but it is pretty good. It is almost essential reading (if you're into understanding Viking culture). At times the story is confusing, because their are so many actors in this drama. There are some rather shocking/grisly bits in it, but on the whole it is one of those timeless stories, and so much better than "Lord of the Rings" (which was obviously inspired by this Saga). I will read it again - of that I am quite sure.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Norse Dynasty
Review: "The Saga of the Volsungs" concern the epic tale of the Volsung family, from its patriarch Norse god Odin, through his decedents: Volsung himself, Sigmund and his sister Signy, their son Sigurd, and the tragic tale of his wife and children. If some of this saga seems familiar, it is because Sigurd is Siegfried in the German epic "Nibelungenlied". This is a really quick read, and I was surprised at how easy it is to understand. Don't get me wrong, it is still a challenge to read, you really have to concentrate on what is going on; but it is nowhere near as dense as Homer (no offence, I like "Iliad"; it was just a very tough read). The saga deals with the darker parts of human existence. The Volsungs have left behind a legacy of greed, murder, incest, and witchcraft. This saga was obviously composed in the pre-Christian era. The introduction at the beginning was very helpful. It provides background on the history of Europe at the time, and gives some possibilities about what real life families may have inspired the legends, as well as some information on previous translations. The notes and glossary in the back of the book are also helpful, and much appreciated. It is still a great read for anyone who likes fantasy and horror. It is also a great family soap opera.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Greatest Saga
Review: Epic, bloody and depressing. It's GREAT!!! Great fun for peoplewell versed and for the beginner. The classic root of the entire ring cycle myth. The Start of the Siegfried legend and inspiration for Wagner and Tolkien. Essential source material.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Great Translation
Review: Jesse Byock's translation of the Völsungasaga manages to be both faithful and readable (not as common a combination as you might think), and it strikes a nice balance in its use of only the most important footnotes (a little more than 100 over the course of the saga). These are usually etymological / onomastic in nature, which was very much to my liking. I would have preferred them to be actual footnotes rather than end notes, actually, but that's just a quibble about having to flip back and forth while reading. Not a big problem, really. The slim volume also packs a great deal of essential historical context into a small but excellent introduction. There's also a nice glossary of most of the proper nouns, and this connects the Anglicized spelling with the original Old Norse forms, which can be helpful for those readers unfamiliar with the orthography. A great edition of an Old Norse classic!
Review Summary: Reasonable translation, great work
Review: First, I would add that for serious students looking at this work, you are better off starting with Prof. Hollander's translation of the Poetic Edda. That work contains the surviving source material the saga author had access to in English translation. When compared to source material, one can see how the author toned down to some extent some of the mythic and magical aspects of the story.
This is one of the most important stories in Western culture, on a scale with the Illead and Beowulf.
I actually found Byock's translation readable and the introduction and notes were helpful. I don't think it can be a single source for understanding the story, however.
However, I would second the idea that facing page translation formats are probably better for the serious student, and often result in better translations from the original.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Siegfried Norse style
Review: This is not the best Viking Saga I've read but it is pretty good. It is almost essential reading (if you're into understanding Viking culture). At times the story is confusing, because their are so many actors in this drama. There are some rather shocking/grisly bits in it, but on the whole it is one of those timeless stories, and so much better than "Lord of the Rings" (which was obviously inspired by this Saga). I will read it again - of that I am quite sure.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Norse Dynasty
Review: "The Saga of the Volsungs" concern the epic tale of the Volsung family, from its patriarch Norse god Odin, through his decedents: Volsung himself, Sigmund and his sister Signy, their son Sigurd, and the tragic tale of his wife and children. If some of this saga seems familiar, it is because Sigurd is Siegfried in the German epic "Nibelungenlied". This is a really quick read, and I was surprised at how easy it is to understand. Don't get me wrong, it is still a challenge to read, you really have to concentrate on what is going on; but it is nowhere near as dense as Homer (no offence, I like "Iliad"; it was just a very tough read). The saga deals with the darker parts of human existence. The Volsungs have left behind a legacy of greed, murder, incest, and witchcraft. This saga was obviously composed in the pre-Christian era. The introduction at the beginning was very helpful. It provides background on the history of Europe at the time, and gives some possibilities about what real life families may have inspired the legends, as well as some information on previous translations. The notes and glossary in the back of the book are also helpful, and much appreciated. It is still a great read for anyone who likes fantasy and horror. It is also a great family soap opera.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Greatest Saga
Review: Epic, bloody and depressing. It's GREAT!!! Great fun for peoplewell versed and for the beginner. The classic root of the entire ring cycle myth. The Start of the Siegfried legend and inspiration for Wagner and Tolkien. Essential source material.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Great Translation
Review: Jesse Byock's translation of the Völsungasaga manages to be both faithful and readable (not as common a combination as you might think), and it strikes a nice balance in its use of only the most important footnotes (a little more than 100 over the course of the saga). These are usually etymological / onomastic in nature, which was very much to my liking. I would have preferred them to be actual footnotes rather than end notes, actually, but that's just a quibble about having to flip back and forth while reading. Not a big problem, really. The slim volume also packs a great deal of essential historical context into a small but excellent introduction. There's also a nice glossary of most of the proper nouns, and this connects the Anglicized spelling with the original Old Norse forms, which can be helpful for those readers unfamiliar with the orthography. A great edition of an Old Norse classic!