Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs [Paperback]

Lindow's coverage, which is well-described in the subtitle, is not as complete in some areas. He does not try to match Simek on, say, Roman-era inscriptions, or Orchard on individual Icelandic sagas. In what he does cover, he is generally more comprehensive, and sometimes, I think, clearer (as on, say, the limited evidence for Norse religious practices). Lindow's discussions of methodologies and theories are informative, useful, and at times even entertaining. On this basis, it might well be a better book than the other two for beginners, although it should appeal to a more advanced readership as well.

The black and white illustrations are well-chosen, and most of them are clearly reproduced. Bibliographic notes to the articles are supplemented by a section of bibliographic essays (including Internet resources). Again, he provides less raw information than Simek and Orchard, but his presentation is better, and, and again, probably much more useful to a novice. (Mind you, I've been reading in the field since the middle 1960s, and took several relevant courses at UCLA, so I'm using a little imagination; but he tends to suggest books I then found helpful, and many I have wished had been available when I needed them.)

Those already familiar with some earlier popular works on Norse mythology will probably recognize the cover art (part of a reconstructed medieval tapestry), which, most notably, has long been used on the cover of H.R. Ellis Davidson's "Gods and Myths of Northern Europe" (Penguin). Ironically, as Lindow informs the reader (see caption, page 251), the consensus that it was intended to portray Odin, Thor, and Frey has been challenged in recent scholarship.

I was so excited to see one of my most favorite books Mythology of All Races Vol II Eddic by John Arnott Mac Cullouch suggested (nobody seems to cite it) along with an analysis of recent Eddic translations [though surprised to see no mention of the Blackwell/Thorpe Eddas Norronea Edition, and I was kind of hoping Lindow would have discussed the George Webbe-Dasent Prose Edda from the 1840's because its on my to buy list]. The research is very very solid and I think overall extremely accurate. Lindow also lists electronic sources and the need for quality control/media literacy when using the web. Its easy & accessible as a good general treatment with the bulk of the book being an alphabetical listing of gods, figures, stories, etc... I've already picked up things I have never thought about from the entries.

This works well as a beginner's text (like after the essential 5 starter books- Prose Edda, Poetic Edda, Sagas of the Icelanders, Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley Holland, and Gods & Myths of Northern Europe by HR Ellis Davidson, but before reading Simek's Dictionary of Northern Mythology cover to cover and looking up half the citations or delving into deep theory like Paul Bauschautz, Rosalie Wax, Carol Clover, or EOG Turville Petre) as well as a really nice supplement for experienced practitioners/Norse Mythology buffs (question is do the authors of new books on Norse Mythology know that outside of academia, probably 75% of book sales come from the Heathen/pagan community-LOL), though this book does not treat any one topic with extreme depth. It is an easy read, I finished it in just over 4 hours. For the hardcore citations with lore locations, I would stick with the Rudolf Simek, but this book is a really nice accessible addition to a Heathen or Norse Mythology library at all levels.

The reason I gave it 4 stars was not so much for the brevity, to
be complete in a work of this scope would be a 2000 page book at least, and the book does not portend to be greatly detailled, just a general survey and it does a great job at that, but because Lindow did not include a bibliography, only a brief review of literature, and I would very much have liked to look at the sources he used, especially because it seems like it was written as a starter text or a book to be used in a college class on European Mythology as something one would read over a few classes, or a general reference guide.