Our Fathers' Godsaga: Retold for the Young

Viktor Rydberg, William P. Reaves

iUniverse, 2003 - Juvenile Fiction - 224 pages

An epic introduction to Norse mythology for students of all ages.

Based on the research of the 19th century Swedish poet and scholar, Viktor Rydberg, Our Fathers' Godsaga retells the mythology of Northern Europe in chronological order from Creation to Ragnarök.

These are tales told by Vikings, epic tales of gods and giants, elves and dwarves, and of how their interaction and wars affect the first generations of human beings in the North. Based on a comprehensive examination of the source material, including the Icelandic Eddas and Sagas, this is likely the way Germanic mythology looked at the end of the heathen era.

Many will recognize themes found here in J.R.R. Tolkien's Silmarillion, particularly the tale of the elf-smith Völund and his quest for revenge against the Aesir, first detailed by Rydberg in his comprehensive Investigations into Germanic Mythology, 1886.

This is an original translation of Viktor Rydberg's Fädernas Gudasaga, his own retelling of the complete Norse mythic epic, first published in 1887, and many times since. The text includes a complete catalog of mythic names & the original artwork, from the 1911 German translation, by renowned children's artist John Bauer (1882-1918).

This classic Swedish text appears in English now for the first time.

Contents

• THE WORLDS CREATION: 1
• The Primal Beings: 2
• The Underworld Bors Sons The Primeval Artists Odins SelfSacrifice: 3
• The Destruction of the FrostGiants The Outpost by Hvergelmir: 4
• The Creation of the World Continues: 5
• The WorldMill: 7
• The Creation of the World Concluded: 9
• THE PRIMEVAL AGE OF PEACE: 11
• The Creation of Man: 13
• Heimdall the Culture Bringer: 14
• Heimdalls Holy Runes: 17
• TheAesir: 18
• Thor and Egils Friendship The Ivaldi Family: 26
• Cover Art by August Malmström 18291901: 28
• THE AGE OF SIN AND DISCORD: 29
• The Giants Want to Test Thors Strength: 31
• Thors Journey to the Giant Hymir: 35
• Thors Campaign against the Giant Geirrod: 39
• Thors Hammer Stolen: 42
• How Asgard Got Its Wall and Odin his Horse: 44
• Competition Between the Primeval Smiths: 46
• The Iron Hammer Proven: 47
• Odin rides out to test Sleipnir: 49
• The Mead in Byrgirs Well Odin at Fjalars: 52
• The Judgment on Völunds Artwork: 56
• The Attempt to Appease Völund The Flight of Ivaldis Sons: 57
• The First FimbulWinter The Children in the Fields of Immortality Völunds Sword of Revenge: 61
• Loki lures Idun from Asgard: 63
• BaldurDead: 65
• The Climax of the FimbulWinter The Migration of Tribes from the North SkjöldBorgar and Halfdan: 70
• Völunds Later Fate and Death: 75
• OdSvipdag and Freyja: 79
• Wake Groa Wake Mother: 81
• Halfdans Campaign to the North Egils Death: 87
• Svipdag Obtains the Sword of Revenge Halfdans Death: 91
• Svipdag Comes to Asgard His Journey to Baldur: 96
• Freyja greets Svipdag: 99
• Frey Proposes to Gerd: 102
• The Break Between the Aesir and the Vanir: 109
• The World War The Vanir Take Asgard: 112
• The World War in Midgard Haddings Adventures as a Youth: 118
• The End of the World War: 125
• Freyja with Svipdag on Singastein: 131
• The Norns The Judgment on the Dead The Places of Bliss and Punishment: 141
• Mound Dwellers: 148
• Ragnarök The Regeneration of the World: 150
• Odin speaks with Mimirs Head: 153
• Catalogue of Mythological Names with Supplemental Information: 157

Bibliographic information

• Title: Our Fathers' Godsaga: Retold for the Young
• Authors: Viktor Rydberg, William P. Reaves
• Translated by: William P. Reaves
• Publisher: iUniverse, 2003
• ISBN: 0595299784, 9780595299782
• Length: 224 pages
• Subjects: Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General; Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / Norse