Description

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In the stories of the ancient Vikings, Thor is a warrior without equal, who wields his mighty hammer in battles against trolls, giants, and dragons. He is the god of storms and thunder, who rides to war in a chariot pulled by goats, and who is fated to fall in battle with the Midgard Serpent during Ragnarok, the end of all things. This book collects the greatest myths and legends of the thunder god, while also explaining their historical context and their place in the greater Norse mythology. It also covers the history of Thor as a legendary figure, how he was viewed by different cultures from the Romans to the Nazis, and how he endures today as a popular heroic figure.

About the Author

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As an archaeology student in the 1980s, Graeme Davis visited Viking sites in England and Denmark and worked on post-excavation analysis of materials from two Viking farms in the Orkney Islands. He is the author of the tabletop roleplaying sourcebook GURPS Vikings and several Viking-related magazine articles, among many other titles. He currently lives in northern Virginia with his wife Jamie, who is also a writer. The author lives in Front Royal, VA.

Praise For…

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“Fifth in Osprey's Myths and Legends series is a small volume packed with a big character: Thor. The Viking God of Thunder is no stranger to comic fans, but in this book Osprey looks at the history of the Norse god and his journey from religion to myth to icon. Once again Osprey delivers an informative and attractive book packed full of images, facts, stories and logical assumptions that round off a character that remains to this day a strong moral icon and a much reproduced legend. The Myths and Legends series remains a success; there is nothing to criticize in these quality productions and they would be a handy addition to any bookshelf.” —Elloise Hopkins, comicbuz.com

“If this book is any indication of the quality of this new series, readers are in for a treat. What makes Davis' retelling of the Thor story so gratifying and edifying is his willingness to delve into this vast literature and exhume the prize nuggets. He squares them to history--on Odin as the father of Thor: 'this may be a later addition intended to bring Norse mythology into line with the classical Greek and Roman model'--as well as other literature. Thor emerges as an enthralling figure, brought out of the pagan world and stripped of his everyday importance as Christianity spread through Scandinavia. This is not to say that Davis avoids the great battles Thor has been said to have engaged in, from one with a woman who was revealed as the personification of old age to those against monsters of every ilk, and these make for rousing, intelligent reading. Illustrations include copious material from archives as well as dramatic, full-color paintings. As a vest-pocket history, this one likely won't be beat anytime soon.” —starred review, Kirkus