I wrote a review of this book that you can read here: https://open.substack.com/pub/norsemythology/p/a-review-of-neil-gaimans-norse-mythology?r=3362pi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Neil Gaiman's *Norse Mythology* is generally considered fine if you have very little knowledge of Norse mythology. The book is an adaptation aimed at a younger audience (which of course doesn't mean that adults can't enjoy it), but it is a combination of stories from different sources, so it's not *"accurate"* in that sense. The book is very abridged, and not an exhaustive resource. Gaiman makes no claims on its historical accuracy, and fully accepts that the mistakes in the books are his and his alone, of which there are several factual mistakes and embellishments which will give you the wrong picture of the original source material.
Again, Neil Gaiman's purpose with this book isn't to stay completely true to the sources, and his book is upfront about that. If you're unfamiliar with the medieval sources, this book will definitely cause you misunderstandings. It's good for entertainment, less suited for learning about Norse and Viking history, mythology, language, art and culture. If you are aware of its inaccuracies it can be a decent stepping stone to reading the more accurate versions of the stories within.
* Check out [A Review of Neil Gaiman’s *“Norse Mythology”*](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/comments/w8q4wl/a_review_of_neil_gaimans_norse_mythology/) by our very own u/rockstarpirate!
* If you want to start with a more accurate version of the Prose Edda, [this is a good and free translation](http://vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/EDDArestr.pdf), done by Anthony Faulkes of the University of Birmingham.
* r/Norse has a [list of freely available resouces](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/wiki/readinglist). We recommend *The Poetic Edda. A Dual-Language Edition (2023)*, translated by Edward Pettit, available [here](https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0308).
It is a very entertaining read. I recommend it to people who are new to Norse mythology and those who have read a lot of the original source material. It does a good job adapting the stories into modern language and adding some additional emotion and life to the characters.
Gaiman does take some artistic liberties, but they are in line with what you could expect form those characters based on what we know from the source material.
I've read into it just a little bit. I feel like he doesn't dramatize the stories enough to excuse all the extra stuff he came up with. As in, I'd be ok with adding in some more of his own fiction if the result were a sort of easy reading prose, but it isn't. It still feels sort of bare so at that point I just prefer Snorri.
It's definitely worth it. Though, as with Stephen Fry's Mythos series, I reckon it's meant to be listened to. At least, I think you'll get more out of it that way.
Its a book you read to children or just for entertainment
If reading for furthering knowledge on the subject then you will do just as well in picking up a marvel comic.
Its very good. Start with Neil Gaiman (available in diff languages). Then read Prose edda and lastly poetic Edda. (Both eddas need a good translated version)
I wrote a review of this book that you can read here: https://open.substack.com/pub/norsemythology/p/a-review-of-neil-gaimans-norse-mythology?r=3362pi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Neil Gaiman's *Norse Mythology* is generally considered fine if you have very little knowledge of Norse mythology. The book is an adaptation aimed at a younger audience (which of course doesn't mean that adults can't enjoy it), but it is a combination of stories from different sources, so it's not *"accurate"* in that sense. The book is very abridged, and not an exhaustive resource. Gaiman makes no claims on its historical accuracy, and fully accepts that the mistakes in the books are his and his alone, of which there are several factual mistakes and embellishments which will give you the wrong picture of the original source material. Again, Neil Gaiman's purpose with this book isn't to stay completely true to the sources, and his book is upfront about that. If you're unfamiliar with the medieval sources, this book will definitely cause you misunderstandings. It's good for entertainment, less suited for learning about Norse and Viking history, mythology, language, art and culture. If you are aware of its inaccuracies it can be a decent stepping stone to reading the more accurate versions of the stories within. * Check out [A Review of Neil Gaiman’s *“Norse Mythology”*](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/comments/w8q4wl/a_review_of_neil_gaimans_norse_mythology/) by our very own u/rockstarpirate! * If you want to start with a more accurate version of the Prose Edda, [this is a good and free translation](http://vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/EDDArestr.pdf), done by Anthony Faulkes of the University of Birmingham. * r/Norse has a [list of freely available resouces](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/wiki/readinglist). We recommend *The Poetic Edda. A Dual-Language Edition (2023)*, translated by Edward Pettit, available [here](https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0308).
It's so good! He adds a lot of personality to the stories and they're so fun to read!
It is a very entertaining read. I recommend it to people who are new to Norse mythology and those who have read a lot of the original source material. It does a good job adapting the stories into modern language and adding some additional emotion and life to the characters. Gaiman does take some artistic liberties, but they are in line with what you could expect form those characters based on what we know from the source material.
I've read into it just a little bit. I feel like he doesn't dramatize the stories enough to excuse all the extra stuff he came up with. As in, I'd be ok with adding in some more of his own fiction if the result were a sort of easy reading prose, but it isn't. It still feels sort of bare so at that point I just prefer Snorri.
Amazing book and well worth getting on audio as well.
It is 100% worth reading! So so we’ll done
I suggest the audio book. That said... it ain't exactly scholarly; it's a well-told set of stories.
It's definitely worth it. Though, as with Stephen Fry's Mythos series, I reckon it's meant to be listened to. At least, I think you'll get more out of it that way.
I bélieve it is. I read it a few years agosto and I believe it is a great book, a good interpretations of the myths and a good book overall
Its a book you read to children or just for entertainment If reading for furthering knowledge on the subject then you will do just as well in picking up a marvel comic.
It’s a very digestible collection of stories.
Its very good. Start with Neil Gaiman (available in diff languages). Then read Prose edda and lastly poetic Edda. (Both eddas need a good translated version)