The Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus by Saxo Grammaticus

The Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus by Saxo Grammaticus

In the early years of the thirteenth century the Danish writer Saxo Grammaticus provided his people with a 'History of the Danes', an account of their glorious past from the legendary kings and heroes of Denmark to the historical present. It is one of the major sources for the heroic and mythological traditions of northern Europe, though the complex Latin style and the wide range of material brought together from different sources have limited its use. Here Hilda Ellis Davidson, a specialist in Scandinavian mythology, together with the translator Peter Fisher, provides a full English edition; each of the first nine books is preceded by an introductory summary, and a detailed commentary follows on the folklore and life and customs of twelfth-century Denmark - including the sources of 'Hamlet', of which Saxo gives the earliest known account. HILDA ELIS DAVIDSON's other books include 'The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England'; PETER FISHER is also the translator of 'Olaus Magnus: A Description of the Northern Peoples'. Both are available from Boydell & Brewer. In the early years of the 13th century the Danish writer Saxo Grammaticus provided his people with a dignified and ambitious Latin account of their glorious past from the mythical past to the historical present - He] collected the legends of Scandinavian gods and heroes, and arranged their exploits in a series of biographies' which ostensibly formed an unbroken sequence. He took his tales from a variety of sources, and readers will find his collection of myths, folklore and fabulous history fascinating - An accurate and readable translation of the nine mythological books based on the best scholarly edition'RUTH MORSE, BRITISH BOK NEWS.

Grammaticus, Saxo: - Saxo Grammaticus (c. 1150 - c. 1220), also known as Saxo cognomine Longus, was a Danish historian, theologian and author. He is thought to have been a clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, the main advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the Gesta Danorum, the first full history of Denmark. Saxo's education and ability support the idea that he was educated outside Denmark. Some suggest the title Grammaticus refers not to his education but rather his elaborate Latin style. We know from his writing that he was in the retinue and received the patronage of Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, who was the foremost adviser to King Valdemar I. In his will Absalon forgives his clerk Saxo a small debt of two and a half marks of silver and tells him to return two borrowed books to the monastery of Sorü¾Ž†˜¼. The legacy of Saxo Grammaticus is the sixteen book heroic history of the Danes called Gesta Danorum.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781598181128
ISBN 10	1598181122
Title	The Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus
Author	Saxo Grammaticus
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Alan Rodgers Books
Year published	2006-11-01
Number of pages	292
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.