Legends of the Norse Kings brings together two epic medieval sagas of brave kings and fierce dragons, perilous journeys and deadly battles, tales of love, magic and destiny. The two sagas in this book date from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries. The Saga of King Ragnar Goatskin recounts the adventures of the famous Danish ruler who fought a dragon to win a princess's hand in marriage. The Dream of King Alfdan retells the legend of the heroic King who rescued princess Ragnild and her brother Guthorm and whose dream, of a son who would rule all of Norway, comes true. These stories of Norse kings are beautifully retold by the renowned storyteller Isabel Wyatt, drawing on the sagas recorded by the historian Saxo Grammaticus and other Scandinavian writers of the Middle Ages.

The world of the Norse people was rich in poetry, legend and song. Whenever there was a feast to greet guests, to celebrate weddings or the safe return of voyagers, the bards were called upon to tell stories and sing songs. Norse Myths and Viking Legends brings together three epic sagas – 'The Saga of King Ragnar Goatskin', 'The Dream of King Alfdan' and 'Thorkill of Iceland' – alongside other dramatic tales in this exciting collection of stories. These thrilling tales of war and love, power and cunning, magic and destiny are artfully retold by renowned storyteller Isabel Wyatt. The book will be particularly useful for those teaching Norse mythology in Steiner-Waldorf Class 4 (age 9–10). Previously published as three books: Thorkill of Iceland, Legends of the Norse Kings and Norse Hero Tales, and now in a single magnificent volume.

Written in consultation with leading academics.

Millions love the hit television show Vikings—but how many fans know that its main character, Ragnar, is based on an actual Viking king whose ambitious and terrifying exploits have been legend since the ninth century AD? As fierce, cunning, and determined as the character he inspired, King Ragnar Lodbrok is perhaps most famous for his sacking of Paris in 845 AD. He is also widely regarded to be among the first Viking leaders to target the riches of the British Isles not simply for plunder, but also for Danish settlement. The Legend of Ragnar Lodbrok presents fascinating translations of ninth, twelfth, and thirteenth-century writings—including sagas, poems, and historical accounts—that describe, in vivid detail, the adventures of Ragnar, his sons, and his formidable wives, Lagertha the Shieldmaiden and Princess Aslaug. These absorbing convergences of fact and Norse mythology include a new translation of The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok; a new translation of The Tale of Ragnar’s Sons; The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the single most important source for English history during the early Middle ages; Krákumál, a famous twelfth-century poem thought to be Ragnar’s death song; and the Gesta Danorum, a patriotic work that describes the origin of Lagertha and her relationship with Ragnar. Whether Ragnar was a single man of a thousand deeds or an amalgam of heroes may never be proven, but The Legend of Ragnar Lodbrok offers thrilling insight into his brutal, unforgettable world.

The Caldecott medal-winning d'Aulaires once again captivate their young audience with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Norse legends, telling stories of Odin the All-father, Thor the Thunder-god and the theft of his hammer, Loki the mischievous god of the Jotun Race, and Ragnarokk, the destiny of the gods. Children meet Bragi, the god of poetry, and the famous Valkyrie maidens, among other gods, goddesses, heroes, and giants. Illustrations throughout depict the wondrous other world of Norse folklore and its fantastical Northern landscape.

A collection of sagas about the Norwegian kings.

A history of the Norwegian kings.