Suggested Reading List

[tab name=”Ancient Literature”]
It is very important to read and be thoroughly familiarized with the ancient literature from which all modern Asatru books derive their source information from. These ancient sources were written by our ancient ancestors, or by their contemporaries detailing the character, customs and geography of the pre-Christian Germanic tribes.

CLASSICAL SOURCES:

  • The Gallic War, by Julius Caesar (Written 50 BCE) (Oxford World’s Classics, ISBN: 0192835823)
  • Geography, by Strabo (Written 23 BCE) (ISBN: 0674992660)
  • Agricola and Germania, by Tacitus (Written 98 BCE),(ISBN: 0140442413)
  • Histories of Rome, by Livy (Written 0 CE) (ISBN: 1419166263)
  • Histories, by Posidonius of Rhodes (Written 100 BCE)
  • Natural History, by Pliny (Written 77 CE) (ISBN: 0140444130)
  • De Bello Gothico( The Gothic War), by Procopius of Caesarea (Written 573 CE) (ISBN: 0674991192)
  • Roman History, by Dio Cassius (Written 215 CE)

MEDIEVAL AND CHURCH SOURCES:

  • The Seven Books of History against the Pagans, by Paulus Orosius (Written 415CE) (ISBN: 081321310X)
  • The origin and deeds of the Goths, by Jordanes (Written 550 CE) (ISBN: 1421944227)
  • A History of the Franks (Written 590 CE) ( Penguin Classics ISBN: 0140442952)
  • Vita, by Bonifatus, Wynfoith (Written aprox. 750 BCE)
  • Res Gestae Saxonicae, by Widukind (relating the deeds of the Saxons: Historical survey and translation of book III, Written 970 CE) (ISBN: 3494020957)
  • History of the English Church and People, by the Venerable Bede (Written 730 CE) (ISBN: 0880290420)
  • History of the Lombards, by Paul the Deacon (Written 787 CE) (ISBN: 081227671X)
  • History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen, by Adam of Bremen (Written 1070 CE) (ISBN: 0231125755)
  • The History of the Kings of Britain, by Geoffrey of Manmouth (Written 1136 CE) (ISBN: 0859915026)
  • The History of the Kings of Danemark, by Saxo Grammaticus, (Written 1195 CE) (ISBN: 0859915026)
  • Gesta Normannorum Ducum, by William of Jumieges (Written Approx. 1070 CE) (Oxford Medieval Texts, ISBN: 0198205201)
  • Travel report as it Concerns the Scandinavian Rus, by Ibn Fadlan (Written 928 CE) (ISBN: 1558763651)

The EDDAS:

  • Edda, by Snorri Sturluson (Written Approx. 1220 CE) (ISBN: 0460876163)
  • The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson, translated by Jean Young (Written Approx. 1220 CE) (ISBN: 0520012321)
  • The Poetic Edda, translated by Carolyne Larrington (Written from 1000-1300. Compiled Circa 1300) (ISBN: 0192839462)
  • The Poetic Edda, translated by Lee M. Hollander (Written from 1000-1300. Compiled Circa 1300)(ISBN: 0292764995)

SAGA LITRITURE:

  • Heimkringla Saga, by Snorri Sturluson, translated by Lee M. Hollander (Written 1177 CE) (ISBN: 0292730616)
  • Egil’s Saga, translated by H. Palsson (Written approx. 1230 CE) (ISBN: 0140443215)
  • Eyrbyggja Saga, translated by H. Palsson (Written approx. 1200 CE) (ISBN: 0140445307)
  • Hrafnkel’s Saga, translated by H. Palsson (Written approx. 1250 CE) (ISBN: 0140442383 )
  • Hervarar Saga ok Heidreks, translated by Gabriel Turville Petre (Written approx. 1200 CE) (ISBN: 0903521113 )
  • Njal’s Saga, translated by M. Magnusson (Written approx. 1275 CE) (ISBN: 0140441034)
  • Orkneyinga Saga, translated by H. Palsson (Written approx. 1200 CE) (ISBN: 0140443835)
  • Seven Viking Romances, translated by H. Palsson (Written from Approx. 1200 – 1325 CE) (ISBN: 0140444742)
  • The Sagas of Icelanders, assembled by Jane Smiley et al. (Written 1150 – 1350 CE) (ISBN: 0670889903)
  • Laxdaela Saga, translated by M. Magnusson & H. Palsson (Written approx. 1200 CE) (Penguin Classics ISBN: 0140442189)
  • Jomsviking Saga, translated by Lee M. Hollander (Written approx. 1200 CE) (ISBN: 0292776233)
  • Islendinga Bok, (Written approx. 1200 CE) (University of Manitoba Icelandic studies, ISBN: 9979804130)
  • Eirik the Red Saga, translated by Gwyn Jones (Written Approx 1250 CE) (Oxford World’s Classics, ISBN: 0192815288)
  • Grettirs Saga (Written approx. 1280 CE) (Penguin Classics, ISBN: 0140447733)
  • Hrolf Kraki’s Saga, translated by Jesse L. Byock (Written approx. 1300 CE) (Penguin Classics, ISBN: 014043593X) (contained within the Volsungs saga as listed below)
  • Saga of the Volsungs, translated by Jesse Byock (Written approx. 1280 CE) ( Penguin Classics, ISBN: 0140447385) Also contains Ragnar Lodbrok’s Saga (Written approx. 1300 CE)
  • Vinland Sagas: The Norse discovery of North America. Translated by M. Magnusson (Written approx. 1150 CE) (ISBN: 0140441549)

 

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[tab name=”History and Culture”]

HISTORY AND CULTURE:

  • Anglo Saxon England, by Sir Frank Stenton (Oxford)
  • The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England, by H.R. Ellis-Davidson (ISBN: 0851153550)
  • A History of the Swedish People by Vilhelm Moberg (ISBN 039448973X)
  • A History of Pagan Europe, by Prudence Jones & Nigel Pennick (ISBN: 0415091365)
  • The Early Germans by Malcolm Todd (ISBN 0631163972)
  • A History of the Vikings, by Gwyn Jones (ISBN: 019285139X)
  • The Barbarian Invasions of the Roman Empire Volumes 1 – 8, by Thomas Hodgkin (Available from the Folio Society)
  • Huns, Vandals and the Fall of the Roman Empire by T. Hodgkin ISBN: 1853672424
  • Italy and her invaders by T. Hodgkin ASIN: B0007DTNHG
  • Theodoric the Goth: The barbarian champion of civilisation (Heroes of the nations) by T. Hodgkin ASIN: B00086JE3K
  • The Germanic Warrior, by Simon MacDowall (ISBN: 1841761524)
  • In Search of the Indo-Europeans, by J. P. Mallory (ISBN: 0500276161)
  • Kindred and Clan in the Middle Ages and After, by Bertha Phillpotts (ISBN: 0374964335)
  • Magic, Fate, and History: The Changing Ethos of the Vikings, by Rosalie H. Wax (ISBN: B0007DPE4C, Online version here!
  • Dark Age Naval Power – A Reassessment of Frankish and Anglo-Saxon Seafaring Activity by John Haywood (ISBN 189828122X)
  • The Culture of the Teutons, by Vilhelm Grønbech (no ISBN:)
  • The Ethical World-Conception of the Norse People, by Andrew Peter Fors (U. of Chicago, 1904)
  • The Germanic Invasions, by Lucien Musset (ISBN: 027101198X)
  • The Germanic People, by Francis Owen (ISBN: 0-88029-579-1)
  • The Barbarian Conversion – From Paganism to Christianity, by R. Fletcher (ISBN: 0520218590)
  • The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity, by J. Russell (ISBN: 0195104668)
  • The Well and the Tree, by Paul C. Bauschatz (ISBN: 0870233521)
  • Viking: Hammer of the North, by M. Magnusson & W. Forman (ISBN: 0856139408)
  • Feud in the Icelandic Saga, by Jesse Byock (ISBN: 0520082591)
  • Medieval Iceland: Sagas, Societies, and Power, by Jesse Byock (ISBN: 0520069544)

LEGENDARY SOURCES:

  • Beowulf (Written 6th century CE) (Penguin Classics, ISBN: 0140449310)
  • The Nibelungenlied, by A. T. Hatto (Written 1175 CE) (ISBN: 0140441379)
  • Mabinogion Legends From the Red Book of Hergest, translated by Lady Schreiber, Charlotte Guest, (Written 1370 – 1420 CE) (ISBN: 0947992979)
  • Eight Old English Poems, translated by John Collins Pope (Written 680-1100 CE) (ISBN: 039397605X)

 

[/tab]
[tab name=”Asatru Culture”]

GODS, GODDESSES, RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY:

  • The Masks of Odin; Wisdom of the Ancient Norse, by Elsa-Brita Titchenell (ISBN: 0911500731)
  • Odsmal, by Gudrun Kristin Magnusdottir (ISBN: 9979601655)
  • Die Religiose Welt der Germanen, by Hans-Peter Hasenfratz (ISBN: 3451041456)
  • Gotter und Helden der Germanen, by Eckart Peterich (no ISBN:)
  • Myth and Religion of the North, by E.O.G. Turville-Petre (ISBN: 0837174201)
  • Myths of the Norsemen, by H. A. Guerber (ISBN: 0486273482)
  • The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature, by Hilda Roderick Ellis-Davidson (ISBN: 0837100704)
  • Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, by H.R. Ellis Davidson (ISBN: 0140136274)
  • The Lost Beliefs of Northern Europe, by Hilda Ellis Davidson (ISBN: 0415049369)
  • Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe, by H.R. Ellis Davidson (ISBN: 0815624417)
  • Roles of the Northern Goddess, by H.R. Ellis Davidson (ISBN: 0415136113)
  • The Chariot of the Sun, by H.R. Ellis Davidson & P. Gelling (ISBN: 0460076086)
  • Gods of the Ancient Northmen, by Georges Dumezil (University of Calif. Press ISBN: 0520035070)
  • The Norse Myths, by Kevin Crossley-Holland (ISBN: 0394748468)

ASATRU RELIGIOUS PRACTICE:

  • A Book of Troth, by Edred Thorsson (ISBN: 0875427774)
  • True Hearth, by James Chisholm (Runa Raven Press ISBN: 1885972024)
  • Our Troth, by Kveldulf Gundarsson (Available from “The Troth”)
  • Teutonic Magic, by Kveldulf Gundarsson (ISBN: 0875422918)
  • Teutonic Religion, by Kveldulf Gundarsson (ISBN: 0875422608)
  • Germanic Heathenry: A Practical Guide, by James Hjuka Coulter (ISBN: 1410765857)

[/tab]
[tab name=”Magical Practises”]

RUNES:

  • Northern Mysteries & Magick, by Freya Aswynn. Formerly titled “Leaves of Yggdrasil” (ISBN: 1567180477)
  • Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition, by Nigel Pennick (ISBN: 1870450167)
  • Runes; An Introduction, by Ralph Elliot (ISBN: 0312034911)
  • The Book of Signs, by Rudolf Koch (ISBN: 0486201627)
  • The Galdrabok: An Icelandic Grimoire, by Stephen Flowers (ISBN: 087728685X)
  • The Black Books of Elverum, translated by Mary S. Rustad (Galde Press – Available from Runa Raven, ISBN: 1880090759)

 

SEIDR and JOURNEYING:

  • Völuspá – Seiðr as Wyrd Consciousness, by Yngona Desmond (ISBN: 1419618415)
  • Witchdom of the True: A study of the Vana-Troth and the Practice of Seidr, by Edred Thorsson (Runa Raven Press, ISBN: 1885972121)
  • North Star Road, by Kenneth Johnson (ISBN: 1567183700)
  • Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, by Mircea Eliade (ISBN: 069109827)
  • Shamanism – An Expanded View of Reality, by Shirley Nicholson (ISBN: 0835606171)
  • The Way of the Shaman, by Michael Harner (ISBN: 0062503731)

[/tab]
[tab name=”Reference, etc.”]

REFRENCE:

  • Dictionary of Northern Mythology, by Rudolf Simek (ISBN: 0859915131)
  • Die Altsachsischen Personennamen vor dem Jahre 1000, by Wilhelm Schlaug (no ISBN:)
  • Old English and its Closest Relatives, by Orrin Robinson (ISBN: 0804714541)
  • The Anchor Atlas of World History, Vol. 1, by Hermann Kinder & Werner Hilgemann (ISBN: 0385061781)
  • A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, by Geir T. Zoega (Dover Publications ISBN: 0486434311)

 

CHILDRENS BOOKS:

  • Norse Gods and Giants, by Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire (ISBN: 0385236921)
  • Viking Raiders, byCivardi & Graham-Campbell (ISBN: 0860200868)
  • Favorite Norse Myths, by Mary Pope Osborne (ISBN: 0590480464)
  • >Goddesses, Heros and Shamans, by Peter Casterton (ISBN: 0753450585)
  • The Doom of the Gods, by Michael Harrison (ISBN: 0192741284)
  • The Vikings, (A Treasure Chest Book) (ISBN: 0762401478)
  • Trouble with Trolls, by Jan Brett (ISBN: 0590472844)
  • Viking Eye Witness book, by Susan M. Margeson (ISBN: 0679860029)

 

BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED:

  • A Book of Runes, by Ralph Blum – Undoubtedly the worst book ever written on the Runes.
  • Healing Runes, by Ralph Blum – A close second to being the worst Rune book ever.
  • Norse Magic, by D.J. Conway – Wiccan book masqurading as Asatru
  • The Rites of Odin, by Ed Fitch – An excellent source of misinformation on the subject of Asatru.
  • Lady of the Northern Light, by Susan Gitlin-Emmer – Rune magic given New Age feminist definitions.

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