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The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion
£11.20
The Viking Spirit is an introduction to Norse mythology like no other. As you’d expect from Daniel McCoy, the creator of the enduringly popular website Norse Mythology for Smart People, it’s written to scholarly standards, but in a simple, clear, and entertaining style that’s easy to understand and a pleasure to read. It includes gripping retellings of no less than 34 epic Norse myths – more than any other book in the field – while also providing an equally comprehensive overview of the fascinating Viking religion of which Norse mythology was a part. You’ll learn about the Vikings’ gods and goddesses, their concept of fate, their views on the afterlife, their moral code, how they thought the universe was structured, how they practiced their religion, the role that magic played in their lives, and much more. With its inclusion of the latest groundbreaking research in the field, The Viking Spirit is the ultimate introduction to the timeless splendor of Norse mythology and religion for the 21st Century.
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Additional information
| Publisher | 1st edition (1 Jun. 2016), CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 317 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1533393036 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1533393036 |
| Dimensions | 15.24 x 1.83 x 22.86 cm |
by Just Some Woman
There is, all too often, a tendancy in books on the mythology of past peoples, to adopt a rather knowing tone, as if talking about foolish beliefs, and, just as often, in a ‘voice’ that one might adopt when speaking to a small child.
Daniel McCoy is guilty of neither of these things. He writes well on a subject that he is so plainly expert in. In a properly scholarly way, he gives all his sources. I find myself constantly saying “oh, of course!” as he reveals one interesting fact after another.
I have been a regular visitor to his excellent website for some time, and can recommend that as highly as this book.
by Steve
An easily overlooked book but as a Norse Pagan I found it very informative. It really does a great job of explaining the mythology and life of our ancestors.
by Alarna Fowler
Really fun read ???? Very informative, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Viking culture!
by Nick bowen
I have long been a fan of he Viking but like most people didn’t really read anything about them. I saw this book just by chance online and when I read the reviews I thought “why not”. So when the kids were in bed I finally would read for an hour or two hoping that maybe I would learn something. All I can say is by day two I could not wait for my kids to go to bed and do dig deeper into this fantastic book. What a journey it takes you on. I do realise I need to read more to understand more but now that I finished the book after two weeks. I honestly can say this book is the best thing for any Starter or novice. It wiriten beautifully and is not over powering with its choice of words. Please buy this book and I hope you to enjoy it as much as I did
by anthony o’donnell
This was the first book I bought and read on the history of the Vikings and Norse mythology and while at times it could be a bit of a slog (perhaps that’s due to my being a layman) the parts that captivated my interest such as the section on shamanism, Viking funerals etc I found my concentration levels spike and was glued to the chapter(s). The section this book truly shines is the retelling of the Norse mythology stories, not once did I get bored and I am currently on my second read through. Dan McCoy does an awesome job of retelling these old prose/poetic Eddas in a way that engages and interests me thoroughly, sone of these stories are actually quite comical, the end of “The mead of poetry” had me chuckling a little along with other of the stories outlining what a little A-hole Loki can be.
Fantastic book.
by Wordsmith
This is a really well-researched, bold and evocative coverage of Norse culture and mythology. It gives you much more than the bare bones. Lots of solid information in an appealingly readable format. One or two passages may challenge your sensibilities, but appropriately so. Thoroughly recommended.
by Alexandra Gruian
Good introductory book for those unfamiliar with Norse mythology, very good points about the moral principles and values embraced by the Vikings, and useful comments about their origins and evolution in time (especially in relation to Christianity). I was a bit disappointed about the reteling of the myths, since they were often retold in no more than a couple of pages. However, thinking back, I should have expected this since this book is rather an overview of the most important myths and not a collection of myths as they were passed down by medieval authors.
by AlexithymicDream
The book is divided into two parts – one examining the cultural beliefs of the Vikings, from their concepts of honour to their beliefs about magic and the parts of the self/soul, and their religious and mythological concepts; the other re-tells the Norse myths themselves.
McCoy has an excellent way of making the sources accessible and engaging – I struggled to put the book down. He highlights with clarity how he has gathered information from various sources, and succinctly explains how trustworthy these sources are and how likely they are to be influenced by the Christianisation of the Vikings. He has a keen, critical eye.
The book itself is easy to digest for newcomers and I am sure has plenty of useful information for those who are familiar with the subject as well. In the re-telling of each myth, McCoy outlines the sources from which the myth derives, and any differences between the different versions.