Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend by Andy Orchard

There is much more to Norse myths than Wagnerian sopranos, and Orchard provides a reasonably priced survey of both the tales themselves and the characters who inhabited and created them. After an explanatory preface, a brief discussion on the nature of the sources, a short explanation of spelling and pronunciation conventions employed, and a list of illustrations come 187 pages of alphabetical entries ranging from one to several paragraphs. Topics covered include various sagas and other poetic and literary works, gods and heroes, real and mythical places, social and religious customs, literary practices and practitioners, and non-Norse historians of the Norse. Many entries have liberal quotations from the sagas or other literary or historical works. Entries are liberally cross-referenced. The writing is clear and accessible. Illustrations, which are black and white, include photographs and line drawings.

There is an extensive bibliography, with titles grouped into reference books and general sources, primary sources, translations of primary sources, and secondary sources. Each title in the bibliography has been assigned a unique number, which is referenced in the dictionary entries. Appendixes include lists of the names and titles of Odin, the ruler of the gods; the names of the principal dwarfs; the names of the giants; and the names of the troll wives, giantesses, and Valkyries. There is a separate index of authors and passages cited in the text.

This volume should work equally well for a reference librarian looking for a quick answer, or someone doing a report who needs more information. It is suitable for high-school and medium-to-large public libraries and most academic libraries with mythology collections.

- Booklist

• Condition: Good
• Seller Notes: “Overall good condition book and dust jacket. one small flaw in a page edge and very light foxing on some pages”
• Book Title: Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend
• Author: Andy Orchard
• Publisher: Orion UNKNO
• Special Attributes Ex-Library
• Publication Date: March, 1997
• Print Length: 223 Pages
• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Dimensions: 7.75 x 1 x 10.25 inches
• Item Weight: 10.6 Oz