John answers “When this says "retold" does this mean the...”

A Goodreads user asked this question about The Norse Myths:

When this says "retold" does this mean the myths are reworked or is this original material? I don't want to read retellings an reworkings of mythologies I'd rather read the stuff as it is.

John This is a few years late, but for anyone looking at this question now, the answer is a little complicated. To start with, the oldest available version…moreThis is a few years late, but for anyone looking at this question now, the answer is a little complicated. To start with, the oldest available versions of these stories are actually already "reworked" from tales that we know existed prior, but no longer have.

With this book, Crossley-Holland parsed the available sources to create his own versions of those stories, but has done an extensive and entertaining job of documenting what those sources were, and how he used them for each tale. His end notes explain which bits of each story came from which source, why he included or excluded certain bits, what the alternatives were, how individual bits would have been culturally significant in different time periods, and so on.

Unfortunately, if you're looking for a perfect retelling of the "original" stories, what you're looking for is a storied career in archaeology. However, if you'll settle for a good understanding of what we know about those stories, and what they meant to the people who told them, this book is a great place to start.(less)

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