The Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781478140566)

The best, most powerful recounting of the Norse myths by the master storyteller, Padraic Colum. Filled with drama, intrigue, humor and adventure, this collection of tales begins with the building of Asgard, home of the gods, and ends with the final battle of Ragnarok when the world is deluged in water and made anew. In between we meet Iduna and her golden apples, Freya of the ill-gotten necklace, Odin the Wanderer, Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, the mischievous, clever but vindictive Loki, and the whole Norse pantheon from giants to dwarves. For richness, cultural wealth and sheer grandeur the Norse myths stand alone and unique in the world-and this edition for children has yet to be bettered.

Padraic Colum, award winning author, poet and dramatist was part of the Irish literary revival before coming to live in America. Willy Pagany worked on many of Colums' books, complementing them with numerous elegant line drawings and illustrations.

This edition has been freshly typeset and edited for clarity, with footnotes added for unusual words the contemporary child might not know. A brief biography is included in the back, telling of Colum's life in Ireland and his arrival in the land of hope, America.