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Andy Orchard
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Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend Hardcover – January 1, 1997

by Andy Orchard (Author)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
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Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend
Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend
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Did you know that the word "brag" is associated with a Norse god of eloquence? Or that "berserk" originally referred to fierce warriors who put themselves in pre-battle frenzies to overcome their fears? Hundreds of intriguing and valuable insights shed light on a world that for over a thousand years ruled Northern Europe and inspired a literature ranging from the poems of the Vikings to contemporary novels by Tolkien.
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  1. Print length
    223 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    UNKNO
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1997
  5. Dimensions
    7.75 x 1 x 10.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0304345202
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0304345205
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

There is much more to Norse myths than Wagnerian sopranos, and Orchard provides a reasonably priced survey of both the tales themselves and the characters who inhabited and created them. After an explanatory preface, a brief discussion on the nature of the sources, a short explanation of spelling and pronunciation conventions employed, and a list of illustrations come 187 pages of alphabetical entries ranging from one to several paragraphs. Topics covered include various sagas and other poetic and literary works, gods and heroes, real and mythical places, social and religious customs, literary practices and practitioners, and non-Norse historians of the Norse. Many entries have liberal quotations from the sagas or other literary or historical works. Entries are liberally cross-referenced. The writing is clear and accessible. Illustrations, which are black and white, include photographs and line drawings.

There is an extensive bibliography, with titles grouped into reference books and general sources, primary sources, translations of primary sources, and secondary sources. Each title in the bibliography has been assigned a unique number, which is referenced in the dictionary entries. Appendixes include lists of the names and titles of Odin, the ruler of the gods; the names of the principal dwarfs; the names of the giants; and the names of the troll wives, giantesses, and Valkyries. There is a separate index of authors and passages cited in the text.

This volume should work equally well for a reference librarian looking for a quick answer, or someone doing a report who needs more information. It is suitable for high-school and medium-to-large public libraries and most academic libraries with mythology collections.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ UNKNO; First Edition (January 1, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 223 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0304345202
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0304345205
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 1 x 10.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings

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Andy Orchard

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Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
4 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Abrubacca
5.0 out of 5 stars I did not know how useful I would find this book
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
I did not know how useful I would find this book. Encyclopedic volumes often spread my focus instead of concentrate it. But in this case, I find a "dictionary" extremely useful. The entries are clear, detailed, and sources are well referenced. So you know whether the facts are coming from the 13th Century interpretation of old stories or actual earlier sources. This is, as all dictionaries, not a book you are going to sit down and read cover-to-cover in a few days. I recommend digesting it in small sips, a couple pages a day, and keeping close by some of the classics of Nordic mythology and legend.
2 people found this helpful
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Ian M. Slater
5.0 out of 5 stars Ian Myles Slater on: Other Formats, Alternate Title
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2003
This first-rate compiliation is now (2003) available, under the slightly different title of "Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend," as a mass-market paperback (which I have reviewed at length), in addition to the trade paperback and hardcover editions listed under the titles of "Dictionary..." and "Cassell Dictionary...". If all of these are available through Amazon, purchasers will probably want to compare prices, and consider the durability of the various formats. Another factor some will want to consider is that the original hardcover edition (and I believe the trade edition) contained about forty illustrations, which were omitted from the mass-market edition.

Since the mass-market paperback is the edition in print, however, I strongly suggest checking that page before ordering. And if you are already familiar with the volume, and definitely want the larger format, you probably don't need my advice.
10 people found this helpful
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Patrick L. Buck
5.0 out of 5 stars a fine work in the field
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2004
Note: search under author's name for new paperback edition under a slightly different title.
The Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend by Andy Orchard, published in 1997 by Cassell, ISBN 0 304 34520 2, is also excellent. Despite the title, it also has entries on terms from non-Norse areas of the Germanic world. It is a somewhat larger book in terms of page size, and very nearly gives the impression of being a coffee table book. It is very attractive and is illustrated, howbeit not lavishly, with black and white photos. However, it is only 223 pages in length. It also has bibliographical information after the individual entries, but these are coded and you have to look them up in the back.
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