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The Poetic Edda
from: University of Texas Press
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 839.61
EAN: 9780292764996
Edition: 2nd Revisd
ISBN: 0292764995
Label: University of Texas Press
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 375
Publication Date: 1986
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Studio: University of Texas Press
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Editorial Review:
"...the translation may indeed be regarded as the crowning achievement of a great scholar."
—Scandinavian-American Bulletin
The Poetic Edda comprises a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual verse holding an important place in Nordic culture, literature, and heritage. Its tales of strife and death form a repository, in poetic form, of Norse mythology and heroic lore, embodying both the ethical views and the cultural life of the North during the late heathen and early Christian times.
Collected by an unidentified Icelander, probably during the twelfth or thirteenth century, The Poetic Edda was rediscovered in Iceland in the seventeenth century by Danish scholars. Even then its value as poetry, as a source of historical information, and as a collection of entertaining stories was recognized. This meticulous translation succeeds in reproducing the verse patterns, the rhythm, the mood, and the dignity of the original in a revision that Scandinavian Studies says "may well grace anyone's bookshelf."
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Great poetry
It is impossible to translate poetry accurately from one language to another. We may be able to translate the sentences literally, but we will miss the subtleties of the form, and the way words are chosen for secondary meanings. Alternatively, we can attempt to emulate the form of the original, making it harder to understand in modern English.
Hollander does the latter. This is necessarily a compromise. However, it is as good a rendering of the poetic form as one could get, while still ... Read More
Rating:  - The Best, for the Serious Seeker.
This is wonderful translation of an even better text.
This is a translation of the Poetic Edda that attempts to keep every potent inch of it. For those looking for an easy read, its not. But this never should attempt to be an 'easy read' in the first place. That isn't the goal of the Poetic Edda. If you want to lazily learn about Norse Mtyhs, there are a lot of other options out there.
"The Norse Myths" by Kevin-Crossley-Holland, for example. Easy to read, easy to understand, very accessible ... Read More
Rating: - The only reason this is four stars is that Old Norse takes years to learn
This is not a book for beginners in Old Norse literature. It is, based on my own studies in the area, the best English translation of the Poetic nature of the original.
Yes, you will need to have a full grasp of English to read it (and references available if not).
Yes, it is not a sanitary version which will attempt to ease the reader into the subject matter.
However it treats the old Latin and old Norse versions of the Poetic Edda with sensitivity and is well footnoted is areas of difficulty. ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent if you want the rhythm and sound
Old Norse poetry is based on two strong beats per half line, usually alliterated:
"he STOLE the SWORD || SALly had SOUGHT"
This is the original sound of proto-Germanic verse, and it appears in many important poems, including the Eddas and Beowulf. Unfortunately, it's a hard style of verse to capture in modern English. Our language's sound and rhythm are different, and we are quickly annoyed by sustained alliteration.
This poses a challenge for students of Old Norse and Old English: ... Read More
Rating:  - The Poetic Edda
I got this translation as my first copy of the Poetic Edda, and I would not recommend it to a beginner. At first I thought it was because I was unfamiliar with the poems that I had so much difficulty understanding it.
I got Larrington's translation, and it is much more readable for a beginner. Nevertheless, I find myself missing the poetic attempts of Ms. Hollander, and especially the footnote, rather than endnote, format.
I give her credit for making the poetic attempt, and I like the format, ... Read More
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