De Edda

Berding, FransProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 269K words
Chapters: 27

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.De Edda by Frans BerdingAuthor: Berding, Frans,Language: Dutch, Class: PT: Language and Literatures: Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literatures, Release Date: Jul 5, 2004

Editor's review

De Edda is a work about the Edda written by the Dutch author Frans Berding, released as a free Dutch ebook by Project Gutenberg. The Edda is the core text of Norse mythology and heroic epic: the Poetic Edda preserves myths and heroic legends in verse, while the Prose Edda, compiled by Snorri Sturluson, organizes poetic art and mythological knowledge. This book falls within the field of Germanic–Scandinavian literary studies and serves as a supplementary reader for entering the Norse mythological system. Its significance lies not in providing a single authoritative translation but in retelling and discussing relevant materials in Dutch, helping readers build an overall understanding of the gods, heroes, and narrative structures. When reading, it should be understood within the context of the original Edda, taking care to distinguish mythological narrative from the later compiler's shaping. The language is Dutch, which poses a certain barrier for Chinese readers and makes it more suitable for those with a background in Germanic philology or willing to study with reference works. Overall it suits slow and comparative reading and should not be treated as a light story collection.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Norse mythology and the text of the Edda
Readers with Dutch proficiency or willing to read with reference works
Students of Germanic philology needing supplementary materials
Enthusiasts wanting to understand the narrative framework of Norse mythology

Not a good fit for

Readers with no Dutch at all who are unwilling to look up words
Readers expecting a Chinese translation or popular retelling
Casual readers who only want a quick overview of the myths

Reading tips

First understand the basic difference between the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, then enter the book
Prepare a list of Norse mythological figures to consult while reading
Read this book alongside the original Edda chapters, noting differences in retelling
When encountering long Dutch sentences, grasp the main structure first rather than translating word by word

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a translation of the Edda?

According to the materials, this book is Frans Berding's work on the Edda, in Dutch, classified under Germanic and Scandinavian literature. It is more likely an introduction to or discussion of Edda-related materials rather than the sole translation of the original text; the exact format needs to be confirmed by examining the main text.

Can I read it without knowing Dutch?

The original is in Dutch, and reading it without Dutch would be quite difficult. If you are interested in Norse mythology, you can first read a Chinese or English introduction to the Edda, then use a dictionary to read selected chapters of this book; reading it straight through from zero is not recommended.

What background do I need before reading this book?

It is best to first know the basic framework of Norse mythology, such as the system of gods, heroic legends, and the difference between the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. With this background, it is easier to understand what the author discusses and the sources of the materials.

Comments

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About the author

Berding, Frans Author

Frans Berding is an author about whom very little biographical information is publicly available; his nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly documented. Only one work by him is held in the collection, De Edda. Judging from the title, the book is likely connected to the Eddas, the classical works of Norse mythology and Old Icelandic literature familiar to Chinese readers, and may involve the editing, translation, or study of the Poetic Edda or the Prose Edda. Because no other works or biographical clues are available, it is difficult to assess the overall character of his writing or to confirm his specific position in academic or publishing circles. On the basis of the available material, Berding's name has entered the view of Chinese readers mainly through this work, and his contribution is best understood within the transmission and study of the Edda texts rather than through speculative additions about his personal life.