Norse Myths: From Thor and Loki to Tolkien and Game of Thrones

An exciting introduction to the vivid, cruel, and loud world of Scandinavian myths and their legacy—from Tolkien to “Game of Thrones.”

Scandinavian myths feature the infamous gods of the Vikings—from the mighty Aesir led by Einir and the mysterious Vanir, down to Thor and the mythological cosmos where they dwell. Excerpts from legends bring the myth world to life—from the creation of the world to Ragnarok, the foretold end of the world by an army of monsters and Loki, and everything in between: complete problems in the relationships between gods and giants, failed adventures of human heroes and heroines, their family feuds, revenge, marriages, and murders, as well as interactions between gods and mortals.

Photographs and drawings show a range of Norwegian places, objects, and characters—from Viking ship burials to dragons on stones with hands.

Professor Carolyn Larrington explains the origins of Scandinavian myths in pre-Christian Scandinavia and Iceland, and their survival in archaeological artifacts and written sources—from Old Norse sagas and poems to less approving descriptions by medieval Christian writers. She traces their influence in the work of Wagner, William Morris, and J. R. R. Tolkien, and even in “Game of Thrones” with the resurrection of “Fhimbulvetr,” or the “Mighty Winter.”