The early Germanic peoples produced a rich harvest of the virtues of an heroic society: individual honour, loyalty to family and leaders, irrepressible courage, keen linguistic capacity and deep mysticism. At present this site offers some dozen Michael McKenny reviews, his modern English version of the Old English poem "The Ruin", his preliminary understanding of the Old Germanic futhark (runes), the fascinating description from Eric's Saga of a seeress in Greenland, and a glimpse of the game hnefetafl, as it is played in his household. There's a link below to Michael's reviews of four books on the runes, including Freya Aswynn's, Edred Thorsson's and Jennifer Smith's and his review of Jenni Blain's NINE WORLDS OF SEIDR MAGIC. This was last updated on January 2, 2008 with the addition of Michael's summary of the Penguin translation of Laxdaela Saga.
1. A Preliminary Personal Enumeration of the Germanic Futhark
2. The Poetic Edda An outline of Carolyne Larrington's impressive translation of this key primary source.
3. The Lost Belief's of Northern EuropeReview of H.E. Davidson's fascinating book.
4. BEOWULF Michael's less than reverent first impression of this Old English epic
5. The RuinMichael McKenny's modern English version of this Old English poem.
6. EGIL's SAGA review of this account of a very remarkable man.
7. Laxdaela Saga summary of the Penguin translation of this outstanding Saga
8. Eric's Saga Chapter 4 Fascinating description of seeress in late 10th Century Greenland.
9. Eight Sagas Review of the first eight sagas from Gwyn Jones' translation EIRIK THE RED AND OTHER ICELANDIC SAGAS.
10. Hrolf's Saga review of "King Hrolf and His Companions" pp. 221-318 of Gwyn Jones' translation EIRIK THE RED AND OTHER ICELANDIC SAGAS.
11. HROLF KRAKI'S SAGA review of Poul Anderson's novel based on Hrolf's saga.
12. ORKNEYINGA SAGA part one Chapters I-LV of this saga summarized.
13. ORKNEYINGA SAGA part two Chapters LVI-CXII of this saga summarized.
14. GODS AND MYTHS OF NORTHERN EUROPEReview of H.R.Ellis Davidson's survey of Nordic mythology.
15. PAGAN SCANDINAVIA review of H.R.Ellis Davidson's interesting volume in the Ancient Peoples and Places series.
16. THE VIKINGSReview of Johannes Bronsted's informative introduction.
17. Hnefetafl as the traditional game is played in Michael's household.