# Looking for books on Norse religion **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2001, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-books-on-norse-religion/65159 "2001-05-12T02:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-books-on-norse-religion/65159/1 "2001-05-12T02:18:22Z")
Can someone suggest some good books on the Norse religion? Specifically, I’m looking for “end times” information. Which Norse scriptures describe the Fimbulwinter et al.? -Ben ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-books-on-norse-religion/65159/2 "2001-05-12T03:43:09Z")
Well, AFAIK, the Norse had no “Scriptures” as such, relying as they did on oral tradition. Probably what you’re looking for is translations of the traditional stories, perhaps with scholarly analyses. I can’t really recommend any particular books, but you might try the Asatru links in the references section of [this OCRT summary](http://www.religioustolerance.org/asatru.htm) of the Asatru religion. It’s likely that some of the referenced pages will recommend books that will suit your needs, while others are scholarly articles on the topic. Good hunting. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-books-on-norse-religion/65159/3 "2001-05-12T15:58:25Z")
**Pantheon Press** put out a Norse book. They’re usually pretty good. Check [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-books-on-norse-religion/65159/4 "2001-05-12T16:10:21Z")
I have one put out by Pantheon press - “The Norse Myths” introduced and retold by Kevin Crossley-Holland. It seems like a decent reference work. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-books-on-norse-religion/65159/5 "2001-05-12T17:18:40Z")
You’re looking for the story of Ragnarok. The version I’m familiar with is from the Icelandic book called _Storri Sturluson’s Edda_ or _The Younger Edda_. The first part of the book is called _Gylfaginning_ and it is concerned with Norse mythology. A translation of the whole book is is available online. The part about Ragnarok is here: [http://www.midhnottsol.org/public/prose2/016.html](http://www.midhnottsol.org/public/prose2/016.html) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-books-on-norse-religion/65159/6 "2001-05-12T17:21:21Z")
Okay, I was wrong. Not the whole book is available there, but the parts you’d be interested in are. And by the way, _The Prose Edda_ is just another name for the same book.