Nibelungenlied, The/lay Of The Nibelungs, The (World'S Classic

'In ancient tales many marvels are told us ...now you may hear such marvels told!' The greatest of the heroic epics to emerge from medieval Germany, the Nibelungenlied is a revenge saga of sweeping dimensions. It tells of the dragon-slayer Sivrit, and the mysterious kingdom of the Nibelungs with its priceless treasure-hoard guarded by dwarves and giants, of Prunhilt the Amazonian queen, fortune-telling water-sprites and a cloak of invisibility. Driven by the conflict between Kriemhilt, the innocent maiden turned she-devil, and her antagonist, the stoic, indomitable Hagen, the story is one of human tragedy, of love, jealousy, murder, and revenge, ending in slaughter on a horrific scale. The work of an anonymous poet of c.1200, since its rediscovery in the eighteenth century the Nibelungenlied has come to be regarded as the national epic of the Germans. It has inspired countless reworkings and adaptations, including two masterpieces: Fritz Lang's two-part film, and Richard Wagner's Ring cycle. This is the first prose translation for over forty years: accurate and compelling, it is accompanied by a wealth of useful background information. Review: A new translation by Cyril Edwards, the most faithful to date to the Nibelungenlied. Bettina Bildhauer, TLS For a taste of the original style in English, Edwards's is now the best translation. Bettina Bildhauer, TLS This magnificent story...now brought to an English speaking audience in a new translation by Cyril Edwards, (is) the most faithful one to date... the Nibelung legend is still li ttle known in the anglophone world (except to Wagnerians). But a narrative of such splendour and importance deserves a wide audience outside the walls of the academy. Bettina Bildhauer, Times Literary Supplement The power and immediacy of this translation offers unparalleled insight into a forgotten world. Editor's Choice, Good Book Guide A gripping tale, packed with violent incident...the poem's history is fascinating. Editor's Choice, The Good Book Guide