The Poetic Edda: The Mythological Poems

This is an excellent translation from Henry Bellows, easy to understand and with many footnotes. This is the version I use when I read the poems aloud.The spelling he chose for transliterated names doesn't follow the common style, Voluspo is usually Voluspa, Hovamol is usually Havamal, etc, but these differences are minor and easy to get used to. The print is a facsmile (typical of this publisher) but clear and easy to read, and the binding is good quality (unlike products from some similar companies).Unfortunately Dover only published half of the book, the section referred to to as the "Mythological Lays", and have omitted the "Heroic Lays", assuming I suppose that we'd only want to read the poems referring directly to the gods. They do clearly admit the omission at the beginning of the book. Much of the ancient scandinavian works we have are regarding heroes related to the gods, so to focus completely on the gods themselves is to miss pieces of the whole picture. Some researchers (in the minority) even suggest that the "Heroic Lays" are actually stories about the gods under different names, which was a very common practice (as you'll see when you read the poems that are included). So I consider the omission very unfortunate.Despite that complaint I think this book is worth the cost. Unless you want to print your own (the Bellows translation is in the public domain), this book is an excellent choice for what it does have. Just be aware of what you're missing.Edit: Dover has recently announced that they will finally release the second half of the book,  The Poetic Edda: The Heroic Poems (Dover Value Editions)

I bought this as a gift so I don't know if it is any good. But the print and cover look nice and the delivery was fast so I would recommend it.

It is a great resource. Tough to understand as a beginner.

One of my favorite translations. Well designed, includes commentary, and just a delight to have.

Though this IS only the first half of the Poetic Edda (don't know why Dover chose to split it into two books), this is easily one of the best translations out there. Very thorough with lots of foot notes that are super helpful and informative. Bellows does a wonderful job of making the mythological lays very easy and interesting to read, while keeping as close the original format of the poems as possible. Definitely a must buy for any Heathen or fan of Norse mythology!

A must have for all Heathens! The saga of the ancestors!

Thought this was a good version with interesting notes. Very easy to read and breaks down some parts with relevant information that is simple for a first time reader.

Wonderful translation . Keeps much of the form of the original and yet the storeis come alive off the page . It is good to explore your roots . We should of taken these in school , to get children exposed to other culture stories . Recommended by Lee .

This is a reprint of the 1923 publication of the first part of Bellows translation of the Poetic Edda from the Icelandic. The language used is of its time, somewhat archaic and resembles that used by the Victorian poets or perhaps the King James Bible. Therefore some readers may find it difficult. However if this isn't an issue this is a great translation. The author manages to get the flavour of the different types of poem and echoes the form whilst giving an honest translation which is illuminated by copious, informative footnotes.These are absolutely essential since the poems allude to myths, events and relationships outside them that you need to understand before you can comprehend them properly. These are, however, clearly written and make this translation a much easier read than many of the more academically aimed texts. (I cannot be the only person who is infuriated by some translator's refusal to call a kenning a kenning but insist on referring to it as a periphrastic description throughout. )For the reader, like myself, who is just beginning to explore the Edda this is definitely one of the translations to get.(I say one of the translations, because, if my experience with Beowulf is anything to go by, you will probably end up with a few, ranging from poets attempts to recreate a recognisable, but loosely translated, piece of enjoyable poetry to word for word translations.)The only downside to this inexpensive edition of the Poetic Edda, which is well laid-out and printed on better paper than most paperbacks, is that it only the first half of the work. If you want the rest - The Heroic Poems - you will have to buy the other volume reprinted by Dover. I do not believe this is not as clearly signposted as it should be in the description and may be a source of irritation. So if you are choosing your Poetic Edda on the basis of price alone you have to add the cost of the other volume to this one to compare prices properly.

Very disappointed to find that this book only contains half of the Edda, when there are comparably priced full versions on sale here! Particularly as it was the missing 'heroes' section I was looking to glean more information from.....

Instead of numbers the footnotes are given symbols which take up more and more of the page as the book progresses, completely spoiling the look and flow of the text.

Fantastic book! Set out so it's user friendly, especially for those not well versed in old Norse poetry. An excellent buy!

One of the best translations for the Edda's