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Norse & Icelandic Sagas books:
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Viking Language 1 and 2 by Jesse L. Byock. Here's the first one:
https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Language-Learn-Norse-Icelandic/dp/1480216445
You can get audio recordings for the lessons on Amazon or iTunes as well.
The courses are by far the most modernized, user-friendly courses available. A close second would be 'A New Introduction to Old Norse,' which can be purchased here:
https://acmrs.org/publications/catalog/new-introduction-old-norse-part-i-ii-and-iii-discount-set
The quality varies a lot, some of them (like for example Egil's Saga or Njal's Saga) are nothing short of masterpieces of medieval literature. Others are quite forgettable. If you are interested but don't feel like spending the 300$ price of the full package, a good chunk of it (I'd say roughly 20%) is included in this collection. The translators are the same as in the complete collection, and IMO it's an overall well done volume, especially for its price.
To me, this looks more like a phrase book than anything else. Which could certainly supplement your other studies, but I don’t love phrase books myself.
I took a crack at old Norse a while ago (I only stupore because I lost my study buddy) and I liked this
https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Language-Learn-Norse-Icelandic/dp/1480216445
I use memrise as an instrument to build some vocab. When I have collected enough pretty words I'll raid this guy's book for me grammars:
http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Language-Learn-Norse-Icelandic/dp/1480216445/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Yes, the Prose Edda translated by Anthony Faulkes and Volsunga Saga translated by Finch are the main supplemental primary readings I would recommend.
As to secondary sources, some good books are Turville-Petre's "Myth and Religion of the North" (super-expensive but a good library should have it), and anything by Margaret Clunies-Ross, Tom Dubois, or Rudy Simek.
Havamal is my favorite. It reminds me so much of the advice my grandfather gave me (and indeed part of my book is the Cowboy Havamal.
I think the translation of the Prose Edda by Anthony Faulkes is really good. So I don't think there's the same hole to fill there, since my issue with the other translations of the Poetic Edda was their readability and that's not a problem with Faulkes' Prose Edda.
Also, last time I checked this was weirdly not on the reading list:
The vast majority of Norse myths come from two books that are surprisingly accessible to modern audiences if you have a good translation. And as it so happens, they are also pretty cheap!
My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1).
> Also, I’m told the stories of the pantheon involve…
I think it might help you to give these stories a read for yourself, specifically from the source texts. My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1). Give those a read and I’d be interested to hear whether you are inspired to update your theory.
Loki is a particularly intriguing character who may be a hypostasis of Odin according to one theory, may be one of Odin’s brothers who assisted in the creation of mankind according to another, and may be related to common-class folklore about a tricky hero who upsets the order imposed by nobility according to yet another. It’s unclear why he is portrayed as a helpful character and friend to the other gods in certain myths, and as a downright murderous villain in others. I’m personally pretty skeptical about the idea that he could be adapted from Jesus, but far be it from me to discourage out-of-the-box thinking :)
My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1). Both come in hardcover.
The vast majority of Norse myths come from two books that are surprisingly accessible to modern audiences if you have a good translation. And as it so happens, they are also pretty cheap!
My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1).
This Poetic Edda and this Prose Edda
The Poetic Edda translated by Carolyne Larrington, 2014 and the Prose Edda translated by Anthony Faulkes, 1995 ;)
The vast majority of Norse mythology (including all of the myths you will ever encounter in popular media) is contained in two books: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.
The Poetic Edda is a collection of poetry about gods and heroes that was largely composed during the pagan era. The Prose Edda is a medieval scholarly work that recounts ancient myths in an effort to educate people on the references found in pagan poetry. You can read modern retellings, but these invariably alter the source material in ways the original composers of the ancient poetry did not intend. I highly recommend reading the actual sources rather than any modern retellings. Specifically:
This version of the Poetic Edda and this version of the Prose Edda.
You’re graduating, friend. Time to read the two books all these stories actually came from:
Well you're asking in r/norsemythology so I'm going to recommend you get him the two main sources of Norse Mythology: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.
C'était souvent, d'après les sagas, des « nobles », mais toujours les deuxièmes, ceux qui n'héritait pas du domaine familial, ou qui s'en trouvent écarté parce que c'est des troudfions (typiquement ils butent un autre noblion, ou un employé, ou...), ou quelque chose dans le genre, et souvent le roi du Danemark est un antagoniste dans l'histoire. Les « vrais » nobles consolidaient leurs avoir avec des fermes et des terres agricoles.
Si ça t'intéresse Penguin ont une édition commentée des sagas, qui n'est pas trop dispendieux. Il y en a aussi un certain nombre dans Folio 2€, mais c'est des livres de ~100 pages max avec une seule saga.
IMO the best Prose Edda you can buy is also available for free here: http://vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/EDDArestr.pdf
It's the Faulkes translation from 1995. If you want to buy a hard copy, you can do that here: https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163
The translation by Professor Crawford is very readable. I also recommend professor Crawford’s you tube channel.
May The Gods Be With You.
Al
In the UK, Penguin Classics do a good compilation called Sagas of the Icelanders
It includes some of the most important ones, like Egil’s saga and the Laxdaela saga, as well as the two that cover Greenland & Vinland.
The Icelandic sagas specifically are fascinating, as they cover disputes with landowners & farmers etc. It’s not just about royal families like most surviving literature from that era
Its fine, tho Anthony Faulkes' Prose Edda is a more complete edition by including Háttatal.
Carolyne Larrington's translation of the Poetic Edda, the 2nd edition, is a solid translation with notes.
Have you seen this one?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624668356/
I'd never heard of it before, but I know of this guy. He's a linguist and professor of Nordic studies. He seriously knows his stuff.
This here is actually the exact version I had to read in high school. Each page spread has the Old English on the left and the modern English on the right, which is incredible for seeing how words changed over time. But yes, definitely check it out.
Out of curiosity, are you aware of a good resource for Icelandic pronunciation? I like reading translations of the sagas once in a while (and recently picked up a copy of 'Sagas of the Icelanders' so I'm currently working through that - damn thing is bigger than a bible) and I'm fairly sure that I butcher people and place names far more than Chris Hemsworth ever did.
For Runes I used Viking Language 1: Learn Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas
And I recommend Njal’s Saga, Egil’s Saga, or The Saga of the Volsungs as places to start.
Also be sure to check out Dr. Jackson Crawford’s YouTube channel for discussions on both topics.
Jackson Crawford is always good.
For further reading Asatru for Beginners by Dr Mathias Nordvig is great. He's got a PHD in Norse Mythology and he's native Danish. He was actually raised Heathen. Very good book.
Dr Jackson Crawford is an excellent source. I follow him on YouTube and have a copy of his book, The Wanderer's Havamal . Excellent work and an easy read. I also follow The Wisdom of Odin on YouTube.
Jackson Crawford's translations are pretty well regarded and generally considered one of the go-tos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1624663567/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_suksFb1FY2CC5
Also go and check out r/heathenry for some good resources as well!
Yeah the Poetic Edda translated by Lee Hollander and I for sure will, I’ll probably dump it in a google doc and upload it for free, just wanna get through it originally first and then “re-translate it” in my spare time as a passion project
Edit: Found it on amazon