I heard that some people were actually working through this reading list, so let me add a few: -"The Viking Diaspora" by Judith Jesch. Superb overall look at the Viking Age and Viking culture. -"The Viking Discovery of America" by Ingstad and Ingstad. Great look at the subject by the discoverers of the L'Anse aux Meadows site. -"Witchcraft and Magic in the Nordic Middle Ages" by Stephen A. Mitchell. The most authoritative scholarly look at Norse magic. -"Laws of Early Iceland: Grágás" by Dennis, Foote, and Perkins. In two volumes, the complete translation of the earliest Icelandic laws. -"Indo-European Language and Culture" by Benjamin W. Fortson IV. The best starting point for anyone interested in the deep roots of the Norse (and English) language and/or the Indo-European roots of Norse myth.
I had to revisit this page as I remember from years ago a reference to a book that was called something like Flattejarbok but I am having difficulties in locating this so I may be mistaken and perhaps it is just part of some other publication? I have looked through my copy of Heimskringla to see if it's mentioned there but no luck. Do you, please, have any information on this or maybe my memory isn't correct?
Thanks I have a volume titled The Vinland Sagas that I was recommended that apparently cover that. I was told after this comment was posted but thanks for your help.
Dr. Crawford, I'm a huge fan. I know it's not your particular area of expertise, but would you ever consider making some videos on topics of Old English or other Germanic languages?
@JacksonCrawford , you ought to talk to your publisher about doing an audiobook of for example Havamal or the Poetic Edda. After all, the point of proper poetry is to speak/hear the alliterations. 😊👍🏼
Thanks for this useful information. I'm in the UK and have a good outlet, which is where I sourced your books and the Ibn Fadlan that you recommended. I think Saxo Grammaticus is my next procurement and my library is on the increase.
Thank you so much for this perfect awesome video! My comment was heard and made into a video, thank you 😊 You are truly my favorite channel and I really aspire to be you one day. I wish I could be your apprentice and you could just teach me everything. Vikings, Runic, Old Norse, Norwegian, etc. are my most beloved topics and I’m so happy it’s growing in popularity. I’m so obsessed about these topics and quite knowledgeable and well grounded with these topics..... I just wish there were more people I could talk to about it; like you. Please be my mentor 🤞🏼 Much love from a native Minnesotan / Iowa State student 🇳🇴
I have three Icelandic saga books from Penguin Classics. They are great to have around, since well because of one of the facebook pages I run. I do have your book in my Amazon cart still, one of these days I will be actually purchasing it.
Really pleased to see Turville-Petre on the list. He donated a room to one of the libraries here in Oxford. It's a beatiful and well-stocked room, and was a real help when I took a course on Old Norse as part of my undergrad.
I recently bought "The Viking Age" by Kirsten Wolf. It's not too bad, it doesn't go into a lot of detail about things but it will give you a good overview of the Norse culture and give you a base from which you can research more in depth.
I have some of those books you mentioned. I started with History of the Vikings by Gwin Jones, The Old Norse reader by E.V. Gordon and Hilda R. Ellis Davidsons' Myth and legends of the North. Also love The Viking by Tre Tryckare big reference book out of print and hard to find but used copies are available. Excellent pictures of archeological finds and reproductions of Viking life and goods based on those finds. Hope this adds to someone's reading list I am 49 and have been a Viking enthusiast and historian since childhood. Your videos are excellent and have helped change some of the misconceptions I had for years about the Vikings especially the myths and symbols. I would be very interested in any Finnish similarities to Viking culture I rarely see Finland included with most Norse history.
I got to read the sagas of Icelanders when I was at Umass Amherst (about 5 years ago), and I found it to be really interesting. It was kind of confusing at times, so it was really nice to talk with my professor and classmates to discuss the sagas in detail. I really miss being at the university and your videos are filling that void in my life. Thank you professor Crawford!
An interesting aspect of Mr. Crawford's work online is that I have gone back over my collection of Norse related books... I am a Norse reenactor in the SCA, studying and researching for the last 50+ years... Crawford mentions the intrusion of archaic language in some translations and how it can essentially destroy the way the sagas are read. So I looked and yes, the use of "thee" and "thy" sort of thing does mess with the feeling of the poems... I very much appreciate the concept of the sagas being equivalent in some ways to rap or hip hop today. The alliteration vs rhyme is significant, I believe. We are taught these are "poems" in school so we expect iambic pentameter or something. It makes more sense that the skalds used a drum for the beat and alliteration to carry the story. Understanding the mind set of the Old Norse is easier if we are studying the literature with a real understanding of the cultural norms and similarities to modern societal sub-groups and memes. A case in point is when a modern mythology book describes Tyr as "a minor war god".... yikes.
Tbh skalds were extremely complicated in structure, almost a kind of hermetic poetry (in the modern literature sense of the term, not in the esoteric sense).
What’s the best book for learning old Norse? Viking Language 1 Learn Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas or A New Introduction to Old Norse: I Grammar: 1? Thank you so much Dr. Crawford
Jackson, I'm a huge fan. I just got your translation of the Poetic Edda. It far surpassed my expectations. My wife loves when I read it to her, especially that cowboy Havamal. Quick question, will you be writing a compilation of the norse sagas? I'm very interested in reading them all in contemporary English.
Faulkes and Barnes are great, I'm currently using them for my course, the trouble is, sometimes they forget to list everything in the glossary which makes it especially difficult to translate so many idiomatic phrases.
I've been reading "A History of Old Norse Poetry and Poetics" by Margaret Clunies Ross. It may be too academic for casual reading but it is packed with interesting information, for those who are really into this stuff. Especially those interested in poetic forms.
I keep asking for your books, for my birthday and for Christmas. This time, at least, I got *Tales of Norse Mythology by Helen A Gueber* published via _Sterling Publishing Inc._ was hoping this was at least one of the books on your recommendation list. Guess not. I suppose I'll have to send this video out ahead of next time.
Young adults and kids: The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer Literally the book that got me interested in the mythology, the text that started it all. Sure to affect millions of kids in the future as well.
Hi, Dr. Crawford, I'm sorry if I seem rude in anyway, but I want to know if you think that the book Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman is a good book for getting more into Norse mythology?
Hi everyone, looking for a suggestion, after I've bought something like 30% of the books the Professor recommended here. I would like to acquire "the Saga of Thidrek of Bern", but I can't find the 1988 version translated by Edward R. Haymes that Professor Crawford suggested in a couple of his books (Poetic Edda and Volsungs for sure). It seems that it's an old edition that you can only find in libraries or universities, but as I don't live in the US, I have zero chance to get it. Online I've only found "The Saga of Didrik of Bern: with The Dwarf King Laurin" translated by Ian Cumpstey. Would someone here reccomend this edition?
What is a good Mystery book - mystery like Peroit ? Something in English. Not to dark although murder is dark. Written by a Scandinavian / Norwegian. Thanks.
Any recommendation for the poetic edda in old norse? I can only find it online, and the way the text is standardized isn't what I'm used to (ö instead of ǫ).
Hi J! Is there a way to buy your books, signed by you? (Perhaps from your local favorit bookstore, that is willing to send package to Scandinavian?) Hugs & sunshine 🌞 N
I heard that some people were actually working through this reading list, so let me add a few:
-"The Viking Diaspora" by Judith Jesch. Superb overall look at the Viking Age and Viking culture.
-"The Viking Discovery of America" by Ingstad and Ingstad. Great look at the subject by the discoverers of the L'Anse aux Meadows site.
-"Witchcraft and Magic in the Nordic Middle Ages" by Stephen A. Mitchell. The most authoritative scholarly look at Norse magic.
-"Laws of Early Iceland: Grágás" by Dennis, Foote, and Perkins. In two volumes, the complete translation of the earliest Icelandic laws.
-"Indo-European Language and Culture" by Benjamin W. Fortson IV. The best starting point for anyone interested in the deep roots of the Norse (and English) language and/or the Indo-European roots of Norse myth.
Could you expand on your disagreements with Penguins choice of published authors
I had to revisit this page as I remember from years ago a reference to a book that was called something like Flattejarbok but I am having difficulties in locating this so I may be mistaken and perhaps it is just part of some other publication? I have looked through my copy of Heimskringla to see if it's mentioned there but no luck. Do you, please, have any information on this or maybe my memory isn't correct?
I think this may be "Flateyjarbók" which is also called the Codex Flateyensis. I hope this is helpful.
Thanks I have a volume titled The Vinland Sagas that I was recommended that apparently cover that. I was told after this comment was posted but thanks for your help.
Cool, then thank you for the Vinland Sagas reference, I'll have to check that out myself.
Time to go pillage some bookstores
abunniinsocks AAAAAHHHHH!!!! *sounds war-horn* LET'S TAKE ALL THOSE SAXONS BOOKS AND THEIR DICTIONARIES FOR OURSELVES!!!
Good one.
I really walked out with what I wanted. No ine even stopped me. Or asked me to pay.
Dr. Crawford marches up the mountains in a suit and tie to give us these videos. Glad to to be a Patron of this content.
Thank you Dr. Crawford. Very much appreciated.
Dr. Crawford, I'm a huge fan. I know it's not your particular area of expertise, but would you ever consider making some videos on topics of Old English or other Germanic languages?
man,you are interesting you know?
So many books that I don't think I will ever finish them all before going to Hel.
Send me one for my birthday
For Faroese, I'd recommend Faroese - An Overview and Reference Grammar by Thráinsson, Petersen, Jacobsen and Hansen. 1. ed 2004, 2. ed 2012
Well, I got my reading list worked out for this summer.
why not a jol reading list?
Hamza Changazi Sammme! I’ve already made quite a collection but now I will be for sure adding all these recommended books
How'd that go?
Why is this guy in the mountains with a suit 😂😂 great video btw.
Like a true Norwegian no rules bind them very wild spirits
It’s for his dating profile 😜
He’s a professor
Bc he is a God damn thug, thats why...
@megfeitosa9838 Also this reason lmao.
@JacksonCrawford , you ought to talk to your publisher about doing an audiobook of for example Havamal or the Poetic Edda. After all, the point of proper poetry is to speak/hear the alliterations. 😊👍🏼
Thanks for this useful information. I'm in the UK and have a good outlet, which is where I sourced your books and the Ibn Fadlan that you recommended. I think Saxo Grammaticus is my next procurement and my library is on the increase.
Thank you so much for this perfect awesome video! My comment was heard and made into a video, thank you 😊
You are truly my favorite channel and I really aspire to be you one day. I wish I could be your apprentice and you could just teach me everything. Vikings, Runic, Old Norse, Norwegian, etc. are my most beloved topics and I’m so happy it’s growing in popularity. I’m so obsessed about these topics and quite knowledgeable and well grounded with these topics..... I just wish there were more people I could talk to about it; like you.
Please be my mentor 🤞🏼
Much love from a native Minnesotan / Iowa State student 🇳🇴
For some reason I can picture you with a bolo tie to go with the hat and the background. Another terrific video!
I do believe in some of his older videos, when he was in California, he wore a bolo tie. Probably as a nod to his Rocky Mountains origins.
Thanks professor!
I know what I plan on acquiring and reading this winter😄
Thanks for the detailed list of references.
This is the video I have been needing. Thankyou. I also laughed far too hard about your description of shirtless vikings. Loved it.
I have three Icelandic saga books from Penguin Classics. They are great to have around, since well because of one of the facebook pages I run. I do have your book in my Amazon cart still, one of these days I will be actually purchasing it.
Really pleased to see Turville-Petre on the list. He donated a room to one of the libraries here in Oxford. It's a beatiful and well-stocked room, and was a real help when I took a course on Old Norse as part of my undergrad.
Thanks Dr. Crawford. Fantastic video.
Dr. Crawford's books are on my Christmas list.
Very helpful to the beginner! I have your "Poetic Edda" but was wondering what else is a must.
I've got some of these but I thank you for the language recommendations!
I recently bought "The Viking Age" by Kirsten Wolf. It's not too bad, it doesn't go into a lot of detail about things but it will give you a good overview of the Norse culture and give you a base from which you can research more in depth.
I just bought all Jackson Crawford books they are amazing. He is like king James of Norse mythology. Thanks Dr.
I have some of those books you mentioned. I started with History of the Vikings by Gwin Jones, The Old Norse reader by E.V. Gordon and Hilda R. Ellis Davidsons' Myth and legends of the North. Also love The Viking by Tre Tryckare big reference book out of print and hard to find but used copies are available. Excellent pictures of archeological finds and reproductions of Viking life and goods based on those finds. Hope this adds to someone's reading list I am 49 and have been a Viking enthusiast and historian since childhood. Your videos are excellent and have helped change some of the misconceptions I had for years about the Vikings especially the myths and symbols. I would be very interested in any Finnish similarities to Viking culture I rarely see Finland included with most Norse history.
I got to read the sagas of Icelanders when I was at Umass Amherst (about 5 years ago), and I found it to be really interesting. It was kind of confusing at times, so it was really nice to talk with my professor and classmates to discuss the sagas in detail. I really miss being at the university and your videos are filling that void in my life. Thank you professor Crawford!
I downloaded your audio books on i tunes really good stuff i listen to a chapter or two everyday driving to work or just laying down going to bed
Thank you 😎 your videos have helped me a lot.
THANK YOU
Great information! Thank you
An interesting aspect of Mr. Crawford's work online is that I have gone back over my collection of Norse related books... I am a Norse reenactor in the SCA, studying and researching for the last 50+ years... Crawford mentions the intrusion of archaic language in some translations and how it can essentially destroy the way the sagas are read. So I looked and yes, the use of "thee" and "thy" sort of thing does mess with the feeling of the poems... I very much appreciate the concept of the sagas being equivalent in some ways to rap or hip hop today. The alliteration vs rhyme is significant, I believe. We are taught these are "poems" in school so we expect iambic pentameter or something. It makes more sense that the skalds used a drum for the beat and alliteration to carry the story. Understanding the mind set of the Old Norse is easier if we are studying the literature with a real understanding of the cultural norms and similarities to modern societal sub-groups and memes. A case in point is when a modern mythology book describes Tyr as "a minor war god".... yikes.
Tbh skalds were extremely complicated in structure, almost a kind of hermetic poetry (in the modern literature sense of the term, not in the esoteric sense).
Another element to consider is that these compositions were the product of the elites of these groups, make no mistake about it.
D'Aulaire's Norse Gods & Giants is a great children's book.
Norse Gods and Giants maybe the greatest children’s book in existence. (Later it was published with the name D’Aulaire’s Book of Norse Myths.)
Yesss I also read d’aulaires Greek myths which is also great for young readers
Thank you for producing this video. I appreciate your incite especially on the publisher.
What’s the best book for learning old Norse?
Viking Language 1 Learn Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas or A New Introduction to Old Norse: I Grammar: 1? Thank you so much Dr. Crawford
Surprised your mountains aren't covered in snow yet. Most of ours up here in Montana got a nice fall covering so far.
Jackson, I'm a huge fan. I just got your translation of the Poetic Edda. It far surpassed my expectations. My wife loves when I read it to her, especially that cowboy Havamal. Quick question, will you be writing a compilation of the norse sagas? I'm very interested in reading them all in contemporary English.
Faulkes and Barnes are great, I'm currently using them for my course, the trouble is, sometimes they forget to list everything in the glossary which makes it especially difficult to translate so many idiomatic phrases.
I've been reading "A History of Old Norse Poetry and Poetics" by Margaret Clunies Ross. It may be too academic for casual reading but it is packed with interesting information, for those who are really into this stuff. Especially those interested in poetic forms.
Excellent video.
My favorite yt channel :) Love to listen to you, I'd be happy to buy audio book if you would narrate one of your books someday.
I keep asking for your books, for my birthday and for Christmas.
This time, at least, I got *Tales of Norse Mythology by Helen A Gueber* published via _Sterling Publishing Inc._ was hoping this was at least one of the books on your recommendation list. Guess not. I suppose I'll have to send this video out ahead of next time.
Young adults and kids: The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
Literally the book that got me interested in the mythology, the text that started it all. Sure to affect millions of kids in the future as well.
Thank you so much! I guess I got my reading list all done ;)
Hi, Dr. Crawford, I'm sorry if I seem rude in anyway, but I want to know if you think that the book Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman is a good book for getting more into Norse mythology?
czcams.com/video/XNpjOTu9I5E/video.html
Dr. Crawford, do you have an opinion on the author Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson and her books?
Hello Amazon, my old friend...
This helped me so much. Thanks Teach lol 👍
Hi everyone, looking for a suggestion, after I've bought something like 30% of the books the Professor recommended here. I would like to acquire "the Saga of Thidrek of Bern", but I can't find the 1988 version translated by Edward R. Haymes that Professor Crawford suggested in a couple of his books (Poetic Edda and Volsungs for sure). It seems that it's an old edition that you can only find in libraries or universities, but as I don't live in the US, I have zero chance to get it. Online I've only found "The Saga of Didrik of Bern: with The Dwarf King Laurin" translated by Ian Cumpstey. Would someone here reccomend this edition?
Thank you !!
What is a good Mystery book - mystery like Peroit ? Something in English. Not to dark although murder is dark. Written by a Scandinavian / Norwegian. Thanks.
Is there a good edition with a side by side translation with the old Norse text and notes for more academic purposes?
Would you recommend H. R. Ellis Davidson's books? Such as Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe
Wasn’t there a recommendation for a book on runes?
Thank you for this.
Hi. Thanks for recommendations.
Do you consider any edition of the Poetic Edda better than others? If so, which?
Any recommendation for the poetic edda in old norse? I can only find it online, and the way the text is standardized isn't what I'm used to (ö instead of ǫ).
What are some works you are working on publishing translations for now?
Hi J! Is there a way to buy your books, signed by you? (Perhaps from your local favorit bookstore, that is willing to send package to Scandinavian?) Hugs & sunshine 🌞 N
What may the Old Norse have used instead of “angel”?
You look like the Norwegian side of my family. Last name Thorsen. Skol! 🤠
Does anyone know what island Loki was bound on
Edit: that was hard to write
Young Lokean Hlesey
My wallet isn't happy about this video, by my brain is.
does Carolyne Larrington poetic edda has that more notations that its a better buy than jacksons crawford's
do you speak Norwegian? love your youtube channel
So, what I got out of the end of this video was that Oxford University Press is nothing more than a vanity press. Lol. Jk. 😛
Myth and religion of the north is like 140 buck 💀💀💀
I watched this with just one eye and one ear, but did I just see a huge list without Snorre Sturlason?
Nope, he's at 2:12 in the video- Dr. Crawford recommends the Anthony Faulkes translation of his Prose Edda.