--- In norse_course@..., "Craig Davis" <craigd@...> wrote:
> Almost everything I've found has been on the net. Of course, as a
computer
> geek it was natural to do most of my looking there. Most online
resources
> that I found prior to this course are the same ones listed in the
course
> bookmarks. The only real book I've found locally is Gordon's "An
> Introduction to Old Norse" which I actually found in a Border's
bookstore (a
> large chain for those unfamiliar) of all places. You guys are my
biggest
> source :-)
>
> -Craig
>
> >
> > Can any of you describe for me your experience with finding ON
> > material? I've heard lots of it before, and I have the general
> > impression of it (of there being an acute lack), but I need my
memory
> > refreshed. Like, what were the books like, that you have managed
to
> > find, and how easy/difficult was it to obtain them. What's with
the
> > dictionary issue? (I haven't been paying attention to it, I
admit) Is
> > there really just one ON-English dictionary, that dusty old
> > Cleasby-Vigfússon thing? You would do great aid to the course
if
you'd
> > help me with this, by telling your "story" (of your career in ON),
> > either privately or on-list. Let's just say I need the
information for
> > something which can mean alot for the course :)
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Óskar :)

Greetings, Oskar!

I have just heard of your lessons today and your post was the first
I've read. However, I may have some things of interest:

Clarke, D. E. Martin, "The Havamal--with selections from other poems
of the Edda, illustrating the wisdom of the North in heathen times",
Cambridge University Press, 1923.

This is pretty well described in the subtitle, it is a total of 124
pages, with the first 43 being an introduction in English. The main
body is a page of Old Icelandic, with a facing page of English
translation. The copy I have includes a previous owner's hand-
written literal translation of the same text. I was fortunate enough
to discover it at a used book store. I imagine it's long out of
print.

Gordon, E.V., "An Introduction to Old Norse", 2nd edition revised by
A.R. Taylor, Oxford University Press, 1957.

Probably the standard text in Old Norse, in stock at most Border's
book stores (perhaps the largest chain of book stores in the U.S.),
hence available everywhere in the U.S. in paperback.

Poole, R.G., "Vikings Poems on War and Peace: A Study in Skaldic
Narrative", University of Toronto Press, 1991. ISBN 0-8020-5867-1
hardcover, 0-8020-6789-1 paperback.

This is still in print, and contains both O.N. and English
translations of various poems including Fridgerdarflokkr,
Lidsmannaflokkr, and Darradarljod.


Sturluson, Snorri, "Edda-Hattatal", Edited by Anthony Faulkes, Oxford
University Press, 1991. ISBN 0-19-811238-6

This is the Old Norse poem--no translations, but notes and
introduction in English. Still in print and available at university
bookstores.

Tegner, Esaias, "Frithiof's Saga", Svenska Amerikanarens Forlag,
Chicago, 1910.

Another find from a used book store. I've never really gotten into
it--it may not be written in O.N. but perhaps modern Swedish. It's
my understanding that it's actually a modern work in the style of an
Icelandic Saga.

Zoega, Geir T., "A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic" Oxford
University Press, 1910. ISBN 0 19 863108 1

This was found at a bookstore on the University of Chicago campus.
My copy is from the 1990 reprint. Is this the same dictionary you
referred to?

My experience is that about ten years ago, I started working my way
through Gordon (with almost no assistance), had some moderate
success, but haven't gotten back to it. As I have virtually no
background in languages, I'm looking forward to your tutelage!


Best wishes,
Bjorn

Sorry, I don't know how to do O.N. punctuation on the computer (yet).