Old Norse-Icelandic Literature A Short Introduction (Paperback; )
Heather O'Donoghue's Old Norse-Icelandic Literature A Short Introduction (ISBN ). Heather O’Donoghue is Reader in Old Norse at Oxford University. She is regular contributor to the Times Literary Supplement. From runic inscriptions to sagas, this books introduces readers to the rich fictional and historical world of Old Norse-Icelandic literature. It describes and illustrates not only the deceptively novelistic narratives of the renowned family sagas, but also the strange brilliance of Eddaic and skaldic verse; with its vivid mythological, heroic or courtly settings, and the variety of other kinds of Old Norse poetry and storytelling. An introduction outlining the language and culture of the Viking age, when Iceland was first settled, helps readers to appreciate the background against which this literature developed. The book acts as an introduction not only to Old-Norse Icelandic literature, but also to its reception through the ages and its influence on literature written in English. The author shows how a whole range of writers from William Blake to Seamus Heaney have drawn on this body of work, and how it relates to English literature of earlier periods; even Hamlet appears in Old Norse texts. I am located in London and both post-delivery and collection are available. If interested in either of these two options, please feel free to contact me and ask for more information. Ad ID: Delivery Service Consumer Credit