The Nibelungenlied (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780486414140)

An epic tale of heroism and treachery, romance and revenge, The Nibelungenlied -- perhaps best known as the source for Wagner's Ring cycle -- has entertained readers for centuries. This prose translation of the ancient poem offers a gripping account of the downfall of a royal house, the Burgundians, of Nibelungen.
Written by an unknown poet at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, this saga draws on legends from Scandinavian and German literature. The first half recounts the life and death of Sifrid (Siegfried), the dragon-slaying superman who possesses a magic treasure and whose matchless bravery and strength can only be undone through betrayal. In the second half, Sifrid's noble queen Kriemhilde carries out a year-long quest for vengeance, destroying not only thousands of her countrymen but all of her kinsmen as well. This fine translation will appeal to all lovers of epics and tales in the chivalric tradition, as well as to students of Germanic and Scandinavian literature.