From Asgard to Valhalla - by Heather O'Donoghue

About the Book

Norse mythology inhabits a universe of astonishing richness and arguably offers something for everyone. This text is unique in showing how these myths have impacted on and continue to resonate across the fields of literature, art, music and politics. Distinguishing the myths in their original form from a host of later accretions, the book tells the gripping story of how such strange and fragmentary material was seized and remodelled throughout the centuries: whether by the vèolkisch fantasies of the Third Reich or the modern-day cult appeal of Viking Metal.

Book Synopsis

From Asgard to Valhalla takes readers deep inside Odin's cavernous hall and tells of the adventures, tragedies and lessons of the Viking Gods. Here, Heather O'Donoghue skillfully uncovers both the history and legacy of these myths to provide the authoritative student text on Old Norse mythology.

From the magnificent tales of A Song of Ice and Fire and the supernatural wonders of Valkyries to Tolkien's Riders of Rohan and Marvel's mighty Thor, Norse mythology is a fundamental part of western culture. Drawing from a wealth of sources and scholarly debates, this fully-updated and expanded 2nd edition offers both an engaging survey of the Old Norse myths and an accessible introduction to how such strange and fragmentary material has been seized, repurposed and at times abused throughout the centuries. Notably, this important and timely study explores how Old Norse mythology has been - and continues to be - weaponized by far right movements across the world.

Containing 2 brand new chapters on post-medieval reception, 30 illustrations for a stronger visual context and pedagogical updates throughout to aid further study, this new edition of From Asgard to Valhalla: The Remarkable History of the Norse Myths is a vital resource for all students of Old Norse mythology.

About the Author

Heather O'Donoghue is Professor of Old Norse at University of Oxford, UK. Among others, she is the author of Old Norse Icelandic Literature: A Short Introduction (2004), English Poetry and Old Norse (2014) and Narrative in the Icelandic Family Saga (Bloomsbury Academic, 2021), among others. She has also broadcast with the BBC on the topic of the Norse Gods.