Tales of Valhalla: Norse Myths and Legends

Most readers are very familiar with the Greek and Roman myths and legends. They are widely taught in schools. Norse myths and legends have not been as well known, but in the last few years, largely thanks to the books of Rick Riordan and the very popular Thor movies, the Norse myths and legends are becoming quite popular, especially with the younger set. This book has a terrific, detailed introduction of these wonderful stories and the pantheon of characters in them. Authors Martyn Whittock and Hannah Whittock have clearly done their homework and have a wonderful understanding of the stories. The authors have studied the Prose Edda and the Poetica Edda, thought to have been written by Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic chieftain, in the 1400s. Their writing is vivid and lively, and they really transport readers to another time and place filled with magic and mayhem and miscreants and monsters. The larger section of the book is devoted to myths — stories that are religious in nature and explain the origins of things — and a smaller section that covers the legends — stories that explain historical events and characters. This book is a great addition to any library, personal or public.