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  • Norse Mythology

  • Captivating Stories of the Gods, Sagas and Heroes
  • By: Matt Clayton
  • Narrated by: JD Kelly
  • Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

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Norse Mythology

By: Matt Clayton
Narrated by: JD Kelly
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Summary

This audiobook gives an overview of Norse mythology, telling some of the stories of the gods, giants and other creatures of that lost era before history began.

Though the world came to know of the Norse and their legends through Roman interaction at about the time of Christ, most of what we came to know were handed-down from folk tales gathered by native writers like Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179 - 1241). This was from a time when the Norse had already been converted to Christianity. Some of what Sturluson wrote was clearly influenced by Christian beliefs of the time. As with all sources, we have to assume at least a little bit of bias was involved. The age of belief in the Norse gods had ended. We can only guess how much of those old beliefs were left out because they may have been incompatible with the new beliefs of Christendom. Sturluson gathered the tales in a work now known as the Prose Edda.

Several anonymous writers of the pre-Christian era created poems which have collected in what is now called the Poetic Edda. These pre-date Sturluson's work and thus are far more likely to give us insights into the thinking and attitudes of the early Norse people.

Danish scholar Saxo Grammaticus gave us a Latin language version of Danish history, Gesta Danorum, written in the twelfth century. But even earlier, we have more matter-of-fact writing of Roman historian Tacitus in the first century, discussing the tribes of the region they called Germania.

As with most stories, it's best to start at the beginning. And as with any story of gods, we start with the Norse version of creation.

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©2016 Matt Clayton (P)2016 Matt Clayton
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about Norse Mythology

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  • Overall
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Absolutely Amazing

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The author has re-told the stories of the gods of Asgard, calling on his own love and understanding of the myths to bring them to life with wit, style, and deep affection. Listening to these stories aloud to your children/grandchildren or friends or anyone you could get to sit still and listen would be a profound pleasure and create a deep connection.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The Norse

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Never realized Norse myths as complex as they are. Providing a prologue of background, then going into standalone stories based on the original mythology but told with this author's touch, makes for a lovely book.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good Effort By The Author

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The author seems to put a lot of passion and effort into this subject/book. I found it to be wonderfully organized and written in a way that makes you not want to put the book down. I recommend this for any library and plan to reread it many more times.

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A Great Addition

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This is a great collection of Norse mythology. The stories have the perfect balance of adventure, drama, and humor. Mythology gathers some best stories produced by mankind, in all cultures. The Norse have some of the most exciting, entertaining, imaginative stories in the world. Concise, clear, easy to follow storytelling makes these stories excel. A truly wonderful book.

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Good For All

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This is a great book for anyone interested in a quick overview of Norse myths. It was an easy and enjoyable read that I had trouble putting down. The author really brings the characters to life in a relatable, easy to digest way. If you're looking to study Norse myths, this isn't for you, but if you'd like a great coffee table reader that has more meat than most, give this a try.

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Short and comprehensive

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I'm a fan of Viking themed movies and series but short on knowledge of the mythology that figures so prominently in these stories. Author’s engaging book painlessly brought me up to speed on the mind-bending adventures of Odin and company.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good Enough

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Personally, I would have preferred a more dramatic and less fairy tallish retelling of the myths, but that's just my tastes. This book is still excellent, and the author prose is as charming as ever. In a way, I think this book would have been perfect if it had come out illustrated, like the original Stardust. But I guess you can't have everything you wish.

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Exactly What I Want

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These stories are well-known to readers of mythology, but the author puts his touch on them. It's easy to imagine him reading them to us in his lyrical voice. Ever want to know how Thor got his hammer? Interested in the story of Odin? These stories will fill you in an easy to read and accessible way.

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Fast and Easy

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This was a very fast and easy read. It was nice to hear the stories in another version. I enjoy how he writes and I had fun imagining what was happening. I also like the small humor that pops in every now and then. I've been a fan of Norse mythology so this book was up my alley.

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Interesting Details

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I became interested in listening to this book because I love the show Vikings. It helped me understand their beliefs and why they loved sharing these special myths. There is a lot of humor that was unexpected, as well as lessons learned. I'm also fascinated by how these myths came about, and the idea of giants. I didn't realize they were such a part of their myths. The ending was really cool.

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