The Poetic Edda. Myths and Legends of Scandinavia

Can you already hear the song of the northern wind in the sails, the creak of the oars, and the clash of swords? The epic «The Poetic Edda» is one of the most important literary monuments of humanity and the great poetry of the Vikings with its own ethics and aesthetics. Uniting the main Scandinavian myths about the gods Odin, Thor, Loki, the ash Yggdrasil, and the world serpent Jörmungandr, the wolf Fenrir, and the dragon Fafnir, as well as about Valkyries, dwarves, and heroes of the Germanic-Scandinavian epic Sigurd, Brynhild, Gunnar, it serves as a sort of DNA code of Scandinavian and, broader, Germanic culture, embedded in the large organism of Western civilization. The distinctive heroes, plots, and the unique, cohesive and harsh world of the «Edda» have inspired and continue to inspire creativity around the world: from the legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien and the universe of George R.R. Martin to Marvel comics and the series «Vikings».
The text is published in a classic translation by Andrey Korsun and is accompanied by comments from the outstanding Scandinavianist Mikhail Steblin-Kamensky, which provide keys to the text. The publication opens with an introductory article by historian-medievalist Aron Gurevich on the images, style, and sources of the «Poetic Edda».
Mesmerizing, like the visions of the seeress völva, the illustrations by contemporary artist hekkil allow one to feel the harsh epic spirit of the «Edda» songs while maintaining an atmosphere of mystery and a sense of the ancient text's encryption.
This colorful collectible edition, bound in artificial leather, with gold foil embossing and colored page edges with a stylized ornament, will not leave indifferent lovers of beautiful and unusual book finds. It will adorn a bookshelf, bedside table, and a large family library.
For the modern reader, this anthology text is a wonderfully preserved bridge, thrown across the mist of time and space, connecting us with an era so distant and legendary that it has long since become a cultural myth. The songs of the «Edda» not only allow us to see the world through the eyes of the ancient Scandinavians, their everyday life, customs, and gods, but also offer their own answers to eternal philosophical questions about fate and free will, about where to find resilience in the face of trials and how to live a worthy life.
Happy sailing on the dragon boats through the literary waves, and may the wind always be at your back!