Description
By Snorri Sturluson. Translated by Rasmus B. Anderson. Enter the mythic world of the Vikings and discover the ancient legends, gods, and heroic traditions of the Norse world.
In The Prose Edda, Icelandic scholar and historian Snorri Sturluson preserves the great myths and heroic traditions of the Scandinavian peoples in one of the most important literary works of the medieval world. Written in the thirteenth century, The Prose Edda remains one of the principal sources for much of what is known today about Norse mythology, the gods of Asgard, and the legendary cosmology inherited from the Viking Age.
Originally composed in part as a guide to the art of traditional Norse poetry, The Prose Edda preserves the myths, legends, kennings, and poetic conventions that lay behind the works of the skalds. Through Snorri’s explanations and narratives, traditions reaching back centuries were recorded at a time when knowledge of the old mythology was beginning to fade.
This classic translation by Rasmus B. Anderson helped introduce English-speaking audiences to the richness and grandeur of Snorri’s work and the Old Norse literature and mythology it preserves.
More than a collection of myths, The Prose Edda stands as one of the foundational texts for the study of Norse mythology and an invaluable source for the legends, poetic traditions, and worldview of medieval Scandinavia. Its influence can still be seen in modern fantasy literature, mythology studies, and popular culture.
This carefully restored edition revives a timeless masterpiece for a new generation of readers. Essential for students, historians, mythology enthusiasts, and lovers of epic literature, The Prose Edda remains a gateway into the heroic and mysterious world of the Norse gods and the rich imaginative traditions of medieval Scandinavia.
About the author: Snorri Sturluson (1179–1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet, politician, and scholar regarded as one of the most important writers of medieval Scandinavia. He authored The Prose Edda and other major works preserving Norse mythology, heroic legend, and early Scandinavian history for future generations.
About the translator: Rasmus B. Anderson (1846–1936) was a Norwegian-American scholar, diplomat, and author devoted to promoting Scandinavian history, literature, and culture in the United States. He translated and published important Old Norse and Icelandic texts, helping introduce English-speaking readers to Norse mythology, literature, and history.
