Myth and religion of the North

REVIEW: From 10 Best Scandinavian Mythology books: norse-mythology.org/the-10-best-norse-mythology-books/ Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia by E.O.G. Turville-Petre

Much like Ellis Davidson’s Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, legendary Oxford Old Norse professor E.O.G. Turville-Petre’s Myth and Religion of the North provides a comprehensive overview of the pre-Christian religion of Scandinavia. However, while somewhat more academic than Ellis Davidson’s book (which is why I listed Gods and Myths of Northern Europe as #4 and Myth and Religion of the North as #5), Turville-Petre more than makes up for this with his sheer comprehensiveness and acuity of insight. Where Ellis Davidson is highly admirable, Turville-Petre is downright astonishing.

In numerous universities across the world today, Myth and Religion of the North is treated as the go-to reference book for all things related to Norse mythology, and with good reason. Reading this book is something like an intellectual initiation. To put it simply: until you’ve read this absolutely essential book, you’re just a dabbler in Norse mythology.