Author:Petra Borner,Andy Orchard
Part of a new series Legends from the Ancient North, The Elder Edda is one of the classic books that influenced JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
'So the company of men led a careless life,
All was well with them: until One began
To encompass evil, an enemy from hell.
Grendel they called this cruel spirit...'
J.R.R. Tolkien spent much of his life studying, translating and teaching the great epic stories of northern Europe, filled with heroes, dragons, trolls, dwarves and magic. He was hugely influential for his advocacy of Beowulf as a great work of literature and, even if he had never written The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, would be recognised today as a significant figure in the rediscovery of these extraordinary tales.
Legends from the Ancient North brings together from Penguin Classics five of the key works behind Tolkien's fiction.They are startling, brutal, strange pieces of writing, with an elemental power brilliantly preserved in these translations.They plunge the reader into a world of treachery, quests, chivalry, trials of strength.They are the most ancient narratives that exist from northern Europe and bring us as near as we will ever get to the origins of the magical landscape of Middle-earth (Midgard) which Tolkien remade in the 20th century.
Leaves a lovely, subtle legacy
—— The TimesThese stories are beautiful and honest
—— Lucy Daniel , Daily TelegraphJones has attempted and succeeded in writing a work that is both determinedly cerebral and emotionally alive
—— Irish TimesShards of poetry stud Jones' writing like diamonds as she switches masterfully between a lyrical and academic register
—— Alev Adil , IndependentStartling images in spare prose
—— GuardianA uniquely talented writer
—— Independent on SundayA beautiful story
—— Gold Coast LibrariesA first novel of uncommon poise and acuity, The Shadow of the Crescent Moon is set in an old and protracted war for land and dignity. But its swift and suspenseful narrative describes a fiercely contemporary battle in the human heart: between the seductive fantasy of personal freedom and the tenacious claims of family, community and history
—— Pankaj MishraAn extraordinary first novel which reads like a politico-religious thriller. Compelling.
—— Hector AbadsThis is (...) a human story, with love as well as ideology - Bhutto blends the two adroitly (and) writes with great poignancy, keeping the emotional pitch high
—— Financial TimesIt's a heart-stopping thriller, as well as an important political commentary about oppression, occupation and war. Most strikingly, though, it's a devastating love story
—— Jemima Khan , New Statesman 'Books of the Year'The novel is set over the course of one morning in a small town in Pakistan's tribal regions (and) follows the story of three brothers who are forced to make difficult choices. But the heart of the novel, for Bhutto, lies in the female characters
—— ObserverThought-provoking. Above all, what The Shadow of the Crescent Moon captures so well is not just the trauma of war, but also the conflicts of contemporary Pakistanis, torn between remaining faithful to the legacy of previous generations, and their own dreams of choosing their own destiny
—— Sunday TelegraphFrom the intrigue of the Tudor court to the battlefields of France, you will be entranced by the power, emotion, and sweeping romance of this spellbinding novel. I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the series!
—— Syrie James, bestselling author of , The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen... a riveting page-turner ... For historical fiction fans and Tudor aficionados, The Boleyn King is a must-read
—— Sherry Jones, author of , Four Sisters, All Queens
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