In olden times there ruled in Norway a King of great renown called Bele, whose wife died early, leaving him two sons and a daughter. When the latter had reached her sixth year, the King said to Thorsten, his brother-in-arms and lifelong friend, “My rosebud, Ingeborg, is the joy of my heart, but none the less I must send her away and entrust her to the guardianship of Hilding the Wise, so that, far from the turmoil and distractions of a court, the light of true knowledge shall be hers. But ...

In olden times there lived at Santen on the Rhine a noble pair, Siegmund and Sieglind, King and Queen of Niderland, to whom late in life was born a son. They named the boy Siegfried, and he throve and grew apace, so that none could equal him for beauty or strength, and in all knightly sports and exercises he soon left far behind him the other lads of his age. Now, these were the days of heroes whose fame spread far and wide throughout the world. To listen to tales of their mighty deeds gav...

"Charlemagne" is a historical novel that delves into the life and reign of the iconic Frankish king, who became the first Holy Roman Emperor. The narrative explores Charlemagne's military conquests, his efforts to unite Europe under Christianity, and his role in the Carolingian Renaissance. Through vivid descriptions and rich character development, the book brings to life the complexities of Charlemagne's personality, his relationships with his family, and his vision for a united Europe, m...

Zeus (Jupiter), the mighty divinity, overcame the Titans and became the master of the heavens and the earth. But notwithstanding his hard struggle, he would not have been victor had not Prometheus, the Titan, aided him. At last Zeus, ruler in the skies, became the enemy of Prometheus, who originated the hated race of the Titans, and only awaited an opportunity to punish him. He soon found the opportunity, for Prometheus was attached to mankind, whom Zeus intended to destroy, in order to pe...

The work includes retellings of legendary tales of gods like Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and Athena, as well as heroic figures such as Hercules, Perseus, and Theseus. These stories are crafted in a way that is both engaging and educational, focusing on the divine and mortal characters who shaped the ancient world through their actions, conflicts, and adventures. Each myth is designed to capture the reader’s imagination while also providing insights into ancient Greek and Roman beliefs, values, a...

The Frithiof Saga, narrating the stirring adventures of that hero of the Northland and Viking of its seas, is one of the most beautiful. Its subject is noble, heroic, and free from exaggerated description or overwrought sentiment. Frithiof is a splendid type of the old Norse hero, invincible in battle upon the land, fearless of Nature’s wrath as he sails the seas in his dragon ship, impulsive yet just, swift in punishment yet quick in forgiveness. The central motives of the Saga are his lo...

The charming story of “Gudrun” is a romance of the old heroic period, written by some unknown poet of Austria or Bavaria in the thirteenth century. Next to the "Nibelungen Lied," it is the most important of the German epic poems...The same elemental passions are depicted. The men are brave, vigorous heroes, rejoicing in battle and feats of prowess; the women are beautiful, constant, and courageous. There are many fine delineations of character in the original, as well as vigorous sketches ...

Among all the numerous life stories written by Ferdinand Schmidt for the delectation and education of youth, none surpasses that of Washington. The author has condensed his material, drawn from the most authoritative sources, in a masterly manner, and presents it in a very attractive form. He has accompanied it by moralization which is pertinent, but never becomes tedious. It is questionable, indeed, whether any story of Washington’s life written for young people excels Schmidt’s in accura...

The charming story of “Gudrun” is a romance of the old heroic period, written by some unknown poet of Austria or Bavaria in the thirteenth century. Next to the Nibelungen Lied, it is the most important of the German epic poems...The same elemental passions are depicted. The men are brave, vigorous heroes, rejoicing in battle and feats of prowess; the women are beautiful, constant, and courageous. There are many fine delineations of character in the original, as well as vigorous sketches of...

It may be the oldest surviving long poem in Old English and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of Old English literature. A date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating pertains to the manuscript, which was produced between 975 and 1025. The author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet, referred to by scholars as the "Beowulf poet". The poem is set in Scandinavia. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of ...

This meticulously edited ebook collection is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. "Edda" is an Old Norse term attributed by modern scholars to these two main Medieval Icelandic literary works of mythology: Contents: The Elder Eddas of Saemund Völuspâ. The Vala's Prophecy The Lay Of Vafthrudnir The Lay Of Grimnir The Lay Of Vegtam, Or Baldr's Dreams The High One's Lay Odin's Rune-song The Lay Of Hymir The Lay Of Thrym, Or The Hammer Recovered The Lay ...

I HAVE endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.' -Preface by Charles Dickens