The Edda, Volume 1

Faraday, L. Winifred, 1872-Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 69K words
Chapters: 7

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.The Edda, Volume 1 by L. Winifred FaradayAuthor: Faraday, L. Winifred, 1872-,Language: English, Class: PN: Language and Literatures: Literature: General, Criticism, Collections, Release Date: Jul 23, 2004

Editor's review

This is the Project Gutenberg edition of Volume 1 of the Edda, translated by L. Winifred Faraday, a public-domain work in the language and literature category. Its value lies not in offering a "definitive" reading experience but in opening a window for Chinese readers onto Norse mythology and the study of Old English and Old Norse literature. Faraday's translation preserves the phrasing of an earlier stage of scholarship; beyond the main text it often touches on textual sources and manuscript differences, making it suitable as reference material for understanding the textual transmission and early translation history of the Edda. It is best treated as a "document" rather than a "story collection": read the translator's note and introduction first, then the poems, to see more clearly which parts are the skeleton of the original and which are the translator's handling. As an English public-domain e-book, its layout and annotation depend on the Gutenberg text version; consulting other modern translations alongside it is recommended. For readers who wish to study Norse mythological motifs and compare different translations, this small book has significance at the level of historical sources and editions; those who simply want smooth mythological stories should choose a modern Chinese translation instead.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Research-oriented readers interested in Norse mythology and the textual history of the Edda who can read English
Literary translation students who need to compare early and modern translations
Teachers of Norse literature or mythology courses who want to supplement public-domain materials
Readers accustomed to Project Gutenberg e-books who prefer free academic resources

Not a good fit for

General readers who want light, fluent mythological stories and do not wish to deal with archaic English phrasing
In-depth researchers who need systematic annotation, detailed introductions, and scholarly bibliographies
Readers who lack patience for the language style of early English translations and tend to give up midway

Reading tips

First read the bibliographic information and translator's preface on the Gutenberg page to clarify the volume's scope and textual basis.
Prepare a modern Chinese or English Edda translation for comparison; when something is puzzling, consult the modern translation first and then return to the original.
After finishing each poem, jot down in a few sentences the characters, places, and core conflicts to avoid confusing the mythological genealogies.
If using it for a course or writing, note the specific poem and line numbers for easy cross-checking against other translations later.

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 in Chinese or English?

This is an English public-domain ebook released by Project Gutenberg. The main text is in English, not a Chinese translation. Chinese readers will need some English reading ability or should use it alongside a Chinese translation.

What is the difference between Volume 1 and Volume 2?

The information only shows that the two volumes are different volumes of the Edda translated by Faraday; it does not specify how the contents are divided. After downloading, it is advisable to first look at each volume's table of contents and translator's notes before deciding the reading order; the two volumes should be regarded as the earlier and later parts of the same translation.

Can I read it directly without any background in mythology?

You can read it, but it will be rather difficult. The book involves a large number of god names, genealogies, and ancient Norse background. It is advisable to first read an accessible introductory book on Norse mythology, or use online materials to become familiar with major gods such as Odin, Thor, and Loki, before entering the text.

Why is it recommended to compare it with other translations?

Early translations differ from modern ones in language style, proper-name translation, and textual selection, so reading one alone can easily lead readers to mistake the translator's choices for the original text. Comparative reading helps distinguish what belongs to the original work from what reflects the expressive conventions of the translation's era.

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About the author

Faraday, L. Winifred, 1872- Author · British · 1872

L. Winifred Faraday (born 1872) was a British scholar and writer known for her work on Norse mythology and Irish epic. Her representative work is the two-volume The Edda (Volume 1 and Volume 2), which presents and discusses Old Norse poetry and mythological tradition, forming part of the early English-language introduction to and study of Eddaic material. By considering Norse mythology alongside Irish epic, she shows a comparative perspective on the narrative literature of medieval northern Europe and the North Atlantic islands. Because public information is limited, details of her life, education, and academic positions cannot be reliably established; what can be confirmed is that she is recorded in library catalogues through these two volumes on the Edda, which are still consulted by readers and researchers interested in Norse mythology and early epic.