King Harald's Saga
Snorri Sturluson
Good stuff Snorri! Western Europe in the 11th century was violent and action packed. Snorri captures this exceptionally well in the saga of King Harald. What I enjoy about this account is the writing style. It's witty, economical and sharp. While the stories of other sagas or even ancient epic poetry might be more enthralling, there is something about Snorri's writing style that makes him almost more enjoyable to read. I think it might be the fact that he moves the story along without repeating himself over and over again. I'm looking forward to trying to squeeze another Viking Saga in before New Year, though my night stand collection of books may prevent this from coming to fruition.
Showing posts with label Viking History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Viking History. Show all posts
Friday, November 8, 2019
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Song of the Vikings
Goodreads
Song of the Vikings: Snorri and the Making of Norse Myths
Nancy Marie Brown
I thoroughly appreciated this book. It's not as dry as reading commentaries on the sagas and not as dumbed down as some books on mythology that seem to be aimed at an adolescent audience. I love how Brown weaved the biography of Snorri Sturluson into the myths he compiled and created. I was expecting more myth and less biography. But, I think I prefer the approach that she took with the book.
She wades into the waters of how Tolkien and Gaiman have built onto mythology. I think she was less successful in this endeavor than in incorporating the Sturluson biography, but it is still an interesting approach to the myths.
Song of the Vikings: Snorri and the Making of Norse Myths
Nancy Marie Brown
I thoroughly appreciated this book. It's not as dry as reading commentaries on the sagas and not as dumbed down as some books on mythology that seem to be aimed at an adolescent audience. I love how Brown weaved the biography of Snorri Sturluson into the myths he compiled and created. I was expecting more myth and less biography. But, I think I prefer the approach that she took with the book.
She wades into the waters of how Tolkien and Gaiman have built onto mythology. I think she was less successful in this endeavor than in incorporating the Sturluson biography, but it is still an interesting approach to the myths.
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Norse Mythology - Gaiman
From Goodreads
Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman
Combining Gaiman and Norse Mythology into an incredibly digestible history is like combining chocolate and peanut butter. It's just enhanced by the other.
The Norse myths are fascinating and just different enough to grab your attention. Loki is the obvious choice of the most interesting god, but there are great characters everywhere. Utgarda-Loki, THiazi and his daughter, Baldur and the master builder are fascinating characters in their own right.
I don't want to see things in ancient tales that aren't there, but it's hard not to see similarities that seem so universal that point my head into directions that are probably erroneous and definitely heretical. Apples, why are there always apples? Mass catastrophe with only two survivors left to repopulate the world always seem to come up. Ragnarok is an odd eschatological view, but Baldur plays a bit of a Christlike role and comes back to life at the end of time. The death and the resurrection of a god brings about a rebirth that has a familiarity to it. My question at this juncture is whether Baldur takes on a Christlike flavor because of my personal vantage point, because there is something foundational about the god who dies and his resurrection causing renewal to the religious experience of humanity or because the later writers have woven, consciously or not, Christian motifs into Pagan mythology? The similarities between all of humanity's myths and their variations of each other have always fascinated me.
Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman
Combining Gaiman and Norse Mythology into an incredibly digestible history is like combining chocolate and peanut butter. It's just enhanced by the other.
The Norse myths are fascinating and just different enough to grab your attention. Loki is the obvious choice of the most interesting god, but there are great characters everywhere. Utgarda-Loki, THiazi and his daughter, Baldur and the master builder are fascinating characters in their own right.
I don't want to see things in ancient tales that aren't there, but it's hard not to see similarities that seem so universal that point my head into directions that are probably erroneous and definitely heretical. Apples, why are there always apples? Mass catastrophe with only two survivors left to repopulate the world always seem to come up. Ragnarok is an odd eschatological view, but Baldur plays a bit of a Christlike role and comes back to life at the end of time. The death and the resurrection of a god brings about a rebirth that has a familiarity to it. My question at this juncture is whether Baldur takes on a Christlike flavor because of my personal vantage point, because there is something foundational about the god who dies and his resurrection causing renewal to the religious experience of humanity or because the later writers have woven, consciously or not, Christian motifs into Pagan mythology? The similarities between all of humanity's myths and their variations of each other have always fascinated me.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
The Vinland Sagas
The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America
by Unknown
(From Goodreads)
I love this type of story/history. When the past and the future meet, the tension of the old and new creates an interesting dynamic. The Christianization of peoples always creates an intriguing folk version of the religion. For instance, Leif is tasked with the mission to bring Christianity to Greenland by the king because he is lucky. Or, when the man rises from the dead to foretell the future of his widow.
As far as the Sagas go this one is famous because they discover some part of America. This compilation probably wouldn't be as widely read if Vinland was located in Greenland. That said, the stories really revolve around discovery, settlement and colonization and is less about famous battles and feuding. The feuding merely serves as a backdrop for the main characters to get started in their parts. Some of the best parts are the Icelandic poetry that the translation often goes into with a funny way of segueing... and then Thorstein said this little diddy and cut off the woman's head. I guess his poetry really killed...
by Unknown
(From Goodreads)
I love this type of story/history. When the past and the future meet, the tension of the old and new creates an interesting dynamic. The Christianization of peoples always creates an intriguing folk version of the religion. For instance, Leif is tasked with the mission to bring Christianity to Greenland by the king because he is lucky. Or, when the man rises from the dead to foretell the future of his widow.
As far as the Sagas go this one is famous because they discover some part of America. This compilation probably wouldn't be as widely read if Vinland was located in Greenland. That said, the stories really revolve around discovery, settlement and colonization and is less about famous battles and feuding. The feuding merely serves as a backdrop for the main characters to get started in their parts. Some of the best parts are the Icelandic poetry that the translation often goes into with a funny way of segueing... and then Thorstein said this little diddy and cut off the woman's head. I guess his poetry really killed...
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Treasure of Norse Mythology
Goodreads review
This was a halfway decent mythology book. I think, however, it was aimed at children and she almost talked down to those readers! In fact, it was a children's book and I somehow missed that when I picked it up. I guess I needed the talking down to, huh?
This was a halfway decent mythology book. I think, however, it was aimed at children and she almost talked down to those readers! In fact, it was a children's book and I somehow missed that when I picked it up. I guess I needed the talking down to, huh?
Monday, June 4, 2018
Early Kings of Norway
Goodreads review:
As far as historical accounts go tis one seems to tick all the boxes: it's informative. Uh, yeah. After that, it's a pretty dry history of some juicy historical stuff. Maybe I'm overawed by History Channel's Vikings. That's a distinct possibility. But somehow this reads more like Leviticus/Numbers rather than the Orkneyinga/Volsungs Saga.
As far as historical accounts go tis one seems to tick all the boxes: it's informative. Uh, yeah. After that, it's a pretty dry history of some juicy historical stuff. Maybe I'm overawed by History Channel's Vikings. That's a distinct possibility. But somehow this reads more like Leviticus/Numbers rather than the Orkneyinga/Volsungs Saga.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Reading List
(Originally Written April 1, 2009 in the Journal)
Books to Explore
Viking History
Heimskringla (History of the Kings of Norway) - Snorri Sturluson
Voltaire
The Fables of Reason: A study of Voltaire's contes philosophiques - Roger Pearson
La Religion de Voltaire - Rene Pomeau
D'Arouet a Voltaire- Rene Pomeau
Voltaire & English Literature, Studies on Voltaire and the 18th Century
Voltaire en toutes lettres
Voltaire: A biography - Haydn Mason
Voltaire - Haydn Mason
Voltaire dans ses Contes - Jacques Van den Heuvel
Disabled Powers: A Reading of Voltaire's Contes - Robin Howells
Complete Works (Oxford: Voltaire Foundation) - Voltaire
Existentialism
Soren Kierkegaard
Jean-Paul Sartre
Martin Heidegger
Karl Jaspers
Paul Tillich
Other Books
Personal Knowledge - Michael Polanyi
Lectures on the Religious Thought of S. Kierkegaard - E.O. Geisman
Kierkegaard - Walter Lowrie
A Short Life of Kierkegaard - Walter Lowrie
Something about Kierkegaard - David Swanson
What is Existentialism - William Barrett
An Introduction to contemporary German Philosophy - Werner Brock
Existentialism - Guido Ruggiero
The Future of Mankind - Karl Jaspers
Books to Explore
Viking History
Heimskringla (History of the Kings of Norway) - Snorri Sturluson
Voltaire
The Fables of Reason: A study of Voltaire's contes philosophiques - Roger Pearson
La Religion de Voltaire - Rene Pomeau
D'Arouet a Voltaire- Rene Pomeau
Voltaire & English Literature, Studies on Voltaire and the 18th Century
Voltaire en toutes lettres
Voltaire: A biography - Haydn Mason
Voltaire - Haydn Mason
Voltaire dans ses Contes - Jacques Van den Heuvel
Disabled Powers: A Reading of Voltaire's Contes - Robin Howells
Complete Works (Oxford: Voltaire Foundation) - Voltaire
Existentialism
Soren Kierkegaard
Jean-Paul Sartre
Martin Heidegger
Karl Jaspers
Paul Tillich
Other Books
Personal Knowledge - Michael Polanyi
Lectures on the Religious Thought of S. Kierkegaard - E.O. Geisman
Kierkegaard - Walter Lowrie
A Short Life of Kierkegaard - Walter Lowrie
Something about Kierkegaard - David Swanson
What is Existentialism - William Barrett
An Introduction to contemporary German Philosophy - Werner Brock
Existentialism - Guido Ruggiero
The Future of Mankind - Karl Jaspers
Friday, February 24, 2006
Recovery in England & Germany
(Originally written February 24, 2006 in Book 24)
Class Notes
Recovery and Revival
Western Europe AD 1000 - 1200
Early Middle Ages (AD 500 - 1000)
-Decentralized Government
-Spain: Visigoths
-Gaul: Franks: The highpoint of Frankish kings is Charlemagne; A.D. 800
-Feudalistic government
-Feudalism is threatened by the Scandinavian tribes at the end of the reign of Charlemagne
-Scandinavian tribes convert similarly to the Germanic tribes
-Germanic kings worked hard to consolidate large "kingdoms" through feudalism. After generations of consolidating the Scandinavian invasion causes everyone to break ties to their lords and defend their lords and defend their own land. This causes further political instability and more decentralized of government.
-The Danes (Scandinavian) caused serious problems in Anglo-Saxon Britain. The Norsemen set up a strong kingdom in Normandy (Northern France). Britain suffers constant invasion from the Danes and Normans.
-The Scandinavians completely destroy the stability that Charlemagne created.
Political Recovery of England
End to invasion
-Norse/Viking
Alfred the Great of Wessex
- consolidating rule and fighting vikings 879-896
- brings scholars from the Carolingians
Edgar (959-975)
-Unified Anglo-Saxon monarchy
- Centralization of government, reestablishes stability by conquering the Vikings
Harold Bluetooth
Swein Forkbeard conquered England in 1014, son Cnut followed him in 1016
Last Anglo-Saxon king: Edward the Confessor
-William the Conquerer, a Norman conquered Britain in 1066
Political Recovery of Germany
Political recovery stems from an economic revival (which coincides with the miniature ice age lifting and important technological advancement)
End of Invasions
-Magnus (Hungarian)
Otto I
- Battle of Zechfeld, 955
- Supported missions to Scandinavia and Slavs
- Anskar, bishop of Bremen and Hamburg
- Strong alliance with bishops and abbots
- New bishoprics (diocese) along eastern border: gave bishops authority to collect revenues and call men to arms.
- Bishops in this area answered to the German king.
In 962 the Pope crowns Otto I as the first Holy Roman Emperor since Charlemagne.
Charlemagne's Empire Post-Death
Divided between Charles (France), Lothar, and Louis (Germany)
France expands westward, Germany eastward and squeeze out the Lothar Kingdom.
Class Notes
Recovery and Revival
Western Europe AD 1000 - 1200
Early Middle Ages (AD 500 - 1000)
-Decentralized Government
-Spain: Visigoths
-Gaul: Franks: The highpoint of Frankish kings is Charlemagne; A.D. 800
-Feudalistic government
-Feudalism is threatened by the Scandinavian tribes at the end of the reign of Charlemagne
-Scandinavian tribes convert similarly to the Germanic tribes
-Germanic kings worked hard to consolidate large "kingdoms" through feudalism. After generations of consolidating the Scandinavian invasion causes everyone to break ties to their lords and defend their lords and defend their own land. This causes further political instability and more decentralized of government.
-The Danes (Scandinavian) caused serious problems in Anglo-Saxon Britain. The Norsemen set up a strong kingdom in Normandy (Northern France). Britain suffers constant invasion from the Danes and Normans.
-The Scandinavians completely destroy the stability that Charlemagne created.
Political Recovery of England
End to invasion
-Norse/Viking
Alfred the Great of Wessex
- consolidating rule and fighting vikings 879-896
- brings scholars from the Carolingians
Edgar (959-975)
-Unified Anglo-Saxon monarchy
- Centralization of government, reestablishes stability by conquering the Vikings
Harold Bluetooth
Swein Forkbeard conquered England in 1014, son Cnut followed him in 1016
Last Anglo-Saxon king: Edward the Confessor
-William the Conquerer, a Norman conquered Britain in 1066
Political Recovery of Germany
Political recovery stems from an economic revival (which coincides with the miniature ice age lifting and important technological advancement)
End of Invasions
-Magnus (Hungarian)
Otto I
- Battle of Zechfeld, 955
- Supported missions to Scandinavia and Slavs
- Anskar, bishop of Bremen and Hamburg
- Strong alliance with bishops and abbots
- New bishoprics (diocese) along eastern border: gave bishops authority to collect revenues and call men to arms.
- Bishops in this area answered to the German king.
In 962 the Pope crowns Otto I as the first Holy Roman Emperor since Charlemagne.
Charlemagne's Empire Post-Death
Divided between Charles (France), Lothar, and Louis (Germany)
France expands westward, Germany eastward and squeeze out the Lothar Kingdom.
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