Read more
"This book examines translations of Icelandic sagas and the Victorian and Edwardian children's literature that they inspired, some of which are canonical while others are forgotten. It covers contributions from authors like William Morris, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Thomas Gray, Walter Scott, H. Rider Haggard, W.H. Auden, John Greenleef Whittier and more. In lavish volumes and modest schoolbooks, British and American writers claimed Nordic heritage and explored Nordic traditions. The sagas offered a rich and wide-ranging source for these authors: Volsunga saga's Sigurd the dragon slayer; King Olaf's saga includes the compelling theme of opposing Nordic Gods and Christianity; Frithiof provides a model of headstrong youth beset with unfair opposition and lost love; Grettir and Njal tell of men who accepted fate and met conflict and enemies unflichingly; Nordic women like Aslaug, Gudrida, Hallberga and Hervar exerted remarkable influence; and Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky provided Americans with a Nordic heritage of discovery."--
List of contents
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Part I. Contexts and Criticisms
1.¿English Translations
2.¿British Writers Celebrate the North
3.¿American Heritage
Part II. Nordic Sagas as Children's Literature
4.¿World Collections
5.¿European Collections
6.¿Books of Nordic Stories
7.¿Nordic Favorite Heroes
Part III. Schoolbooks
8.¿Wide-Ranging Schoolbooks
9.¿Schoolbooks of Nordic Sagas
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Velma Bourgeois Richmond is a professor emerita of English at Holy Names University, Oakland, California. She lives in Berkeley, California.
Summary
Examines translations of Icelandic sagas and the Victorian and Edwardian children’s literature that they inspired, some canonical, others forgotten. The book covers contributions from authors like William Morris, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Thomas Gray, Walter Scott, H. Rider Haggard, W.H. Auden, John Greenleef Whittier and more.
