From Asgard to Valhalla : the remarkable history of the Norse myths / Heather O'Donoghue.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

O'Donoghue, Heather.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mythology, Norse--History.

Mythology, Norse.

Mythology, Norse--Influence.

History.

Physical Description:

vii, 224 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : I. B. Tauris, [2007]

Summary:

Whether it be Thor's powerful hammer, the mysterious valkyries, the palatial home of the gods - Asgard - or ravenous wolves and fierce elemental giants, the Norse myths are packed with vivid incident. This is the first book to show how the Norse myths have resonated from era to era: from Viking-age stories of ice and fire to the epic poetry of "Beowulf"; and from Wagner's "Ring" to Marvel Comics' "Mighty Thor," Heather O'Donoghue considers the wider contexts of Norse mythology, including its origins, medieval expression and reception in post-medieval societies right up to the present. "From Asgard to Valhalla" is a book that will intrigue and delight anyone with an interest in how the Norse myths have so profoundly shaped the western cultural heritage.

Contents:

Part 1 The Earliest Sources of Old Norse Mythology 9

1 Creation and Cosmos 11

2 Gods and Giants 23

3 Heroes and Humans 50

4 Afterlife and Apocalypse 68

Part 2 The Reception of Norse Myth 83

5 The Viking Legacy 85

6 Romantic Revolutions 103

7 The Rise of Racism 128

8 Contemporary Myths 163.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9781845113575

1845113578

OCLC:

78989589