The Children of Odin - Illustrated by Willy Pogany

Book excerpt: The Children of Odin is a classic collection of Norse Mythology, containing tales of the God Odin – a truly powerful deity associated with healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, battle, sorcery, poetry, and frenzy. Odin is attested as having many sons, most famously the god Baldr – and his children are known by hundreds of names. This text comes in three main parts: ‘The Dwellers in Asgard’, ‘Odin the Wanderer’, and ‘The Witch’s Heart.’ The tales are penned by Padraic Colum, and are decorated with the whimsical black and white drawings of Willy Pogany. Colum (1881 – 1972) was an Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer and playwright – and a passionate collector of folklore. His works, The Adventure of Odysseus (1918) and The Children of Odin (1920) are important in bringing classical literature to younger audiences. Willy Pogany (1882 – 1955) was a prolific Hungarian illustrator of myths and fables, and his stunning, painstakingly intricate drawings are presented alongside the text – so that the two may be better appreciated.