Unfortunately ‚Introduction to Old Norse‘ is a little bit attacked by bookworms, but the book was restored professionally. Would be happy if someone could help creating a facsimile dust wrapper for ‚Víga-Glúms Saga‘...
Would need to get my hands on the Tolkienography art book, as well as the Kip Rasmussen one :) Your Us Farmer 1st and Ace Paperbacks conditions are magnificent, congrats
Note: Only the first page is available, so it might be more favourable in the second half, but I suspect not.
The review runs for five pages; there is hardly a favorable word in it. Cowgill was my teacher's teacher, but I think I have to disagree with him on some of these points. Much of what he says here is fair enough, of course. Having used Gordon's book when I learned Old Norse, I agree that it is overly condensed in places, which I remember being frustrating as a student. But as the purpose of the book is to introduce texts, mainly for the purpose of reading proficiency, and not historical grammar, I think it's a nice little survey, with a decent glossary and commentary. The condensed grammar has its benefits, too – very handy for the kind of quick reference to paradigms needed when learning a language, though its sparseness certainly left me scratching my head more than once. I don't know, maybe I have a nostalgic soft spot for it, but I generally think quite fondly of this book, and I recommend it for beginners, provided they have a good teacher and/or supplemental materials to help them work through the sticking points and access more detailed information about the language and its history if desired. After that, I recommend Þorgils Saga, though I annoyingly can't find a copy of Ursula Brown's edition for sale.
Note: Only the first page is available, so it might be more favourable in the second half, but I suspect not.
The review runs for five pages; there is hardly a favorable word in it. Cowgill was my teacher's teacher, but I think I have to disagree with him on some of these points. Much of what he says here is fair enough, of course. Having used Gordon's book when I learned Old Norse, I agree that it is overly condensed in places, which I remember being frustrating as a student. But as the purpose of the book is to introduce texts, mainly for the purpose of reading proficiency, and not historical grammar, I think it's a nice little survey, with a decent glossary and commentary. The condensed grammar has its benefits, too – very handy for the kind of quick reference to paradigms needed when learning a language, though its sparseness certainly left me scratching my head more than once. I don't know, maybe I have a nostalgic soft spot for it, but I generally think quite fondly of this book, and I recommend it for beginners, provided they have a good teacher and/or supplemental materials to help them work through the sticking points and access more detailed information about the language and its history if desired. After that, I recommend Þorgils Saga, though I annoyingly can't find a copy of Ursula Brown's edition for sale.
Thanks for the informative post! That's really helpful.
I've just bought Tolkien & the Classical World too. As a classical philologist, I very much look forward to reading it (first post in this forum, btw. Hello!).
I've just bought Tolkien & the Classical World too. As a classical philologist, I very much look forward to reading it (first post in this forum, btw. Hello!).
I really need to order this book, I am so behind on my reading though that it will be sat there next year I fear.
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