The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún: Pre- and Reviews - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kuruharan · 05-21-2009, 09:03 PM

...from the perspective of somebody who is an utter novice when it comes to Norse mythology.

As a general rule I don't enjoy poetry very much (I know, I'm an insufferable cretin) so I have to admit that I was approaching this book more as a learning opportunity. It didn't take long, though, before I really started enjoying myself. There truly is a vigor in these verses that I was not expecting that carried me away to the "unnamed North"...at least for awhile. Once familiar historical places and personages started to be mentioned my historically geared brain started taking over. I do seem to be in something of a minority in having enjoyed the Lay of the Volsungs more than the Lay of Gudrun as I enjoyed the epic sweep of time and characters the first encompassed.

I did notice a number of parallels or at least similarities with the Turin story, particularly with the slaying of Fafnir and the dwarf Andvari's ransom...particularly with some of the earliest versions of the Turin story.

I echo Aiwendil's sentiments about the general all-round awesomeness of the commentaries.

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-28-2009, 12:14 AM

There is an online review on Global Comment, written by David King, a member of the Tolkien Society who may be known to some Barrow-Downers from Oxonmoot. As a scholar of Viking and Anglo-Saxon studies, he is knowledgeable on the subject, and his positive review is based on more than "mere" Tolkien fanship.

Will Stukeley · 06-01-2009, 01:59 PM

I have just opened the super deluxe offering of the 'Legend', which comes at £100 less than 'The Children of Hurin' super deluxe.

Choice of leathers is superior to 'The Children of Hurin'. The clamshell case looks expensive and the book leather feels better than a top quality Gucci handbag.

This time they've use proper marbled endpapers (they were fake last time) and the text block has rounded corners to match the binding.

The whole thing has the feel of the best of old bindings.

Complaints? The gold stamping could have been cleaned better (residual goldleaf at the edges of lettering), and the clamshell case is a bit tight.

Too damn nice to read so I'm waiting the paperback release too!

05-21-2009, 09:03 PM	#1
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,593	My own personal take... ...from the perspective of somebody who is an utter novice when it comes to Norse mythology. As a general rule I don't enjoy poetry very much (I know, I'm an insufferable cretin) so I have to admit that I was approaching this book more as a learning opportunity. It didn't take long, though, before I really started enjoying myself. There truly is a vigor in these verses that I was not expecting that carried me away to the "unnamed North"...at least for awhile. Once familiar historical places and personages started to be mentioned my historically geared brain started taking over. I do seem to be in something of a minority in having enjoyed the Lay of the Volsungs more than the Lay of Gudrun as I enjoyed the epic sweep of time and characters the first encompassed. I did notice a number of parallels or at least similarities with the Turin story, particularly with the slaying of Fafnir and the dwarf Andvari's ransom...particularly with some of the earliest versions of the Turin story. I echo Aiwendil's sentiments about the general all-round awesomeness of the commentaries. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

05-28-2009, 12:14 AM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	There is an online review on Global Comment, written by David King, a member of the Tolkien Society who may be known to some Barrow-Downers from Oxonmoot. As a scholar of Viking and Anglo-Saxon studies, he is knowledgeable on the subject, and his positive review is based on more than "mere" Tolkien fanship. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

06-01-2009, 01:59 PM	#3
Will Stukeley Newly Deceased Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Glastonbury, Somerset, United Kingdom Posts: 1	Back to the Binding (never mind the text, feel the leather)! I have just opened the super deluxe offering of the 'Legend', which comes at £100 less than 'The Children of Hurin' super deluxe. Choice of leathers is superior to 'The Children of Hurin'. The clamshell case looks expensive and the book leather feels better than a top quality Gucci handbag. This time they've use proper marbled endpapers (they were fake last time) and the text block has rounded corners to match the binding. The whole thing has the feel of the best of old bindings. Complaints? The gold stamping could have been cleaned better (residual goldleaf at the edges of lettering), and the clamshell case is a bit tight. Too damn nice to read so I'm waiting the paperback release too!