The Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths

Colum retells the Norse myths as one continuous narrative rather than a set of detached tales, carrying the gods from their height to the ruin already waiting for them. The first part, The Dwellers in Asgard, covers the building of the wall around Asgard, the theft of Sif’s golden hair, Loki’s wager with the dwarf Brock, how Freya gained her necklace, and how Frey won Gerda. The second follows Odin as a wanderer, giving up an eye at Mimir’s well and winning the magic mead. The third, The Witch’s Heart, darkens: Gulveig the witch enters Asgard, Iduna’s apples of youth are lost, and Baldur is killed. A fourth part carries the Volsung line through Sigurd to the Twilight of the Gods. Written for young readers and first issued with illustrations by Willy Pogany.