Marca: Abela Publishing

Tienda: Abela Publishing

Disponibilidad: En almacén, envío inmediato.

. Two Viking, or Norse, sagas re-written for children and young adults . 10+ or to be read to younger audiences. Perfect Bound Paperback. 33% of the net profit is donated to UNICEF. Printed from Sustainable forests with Chain of Custody certification.. Northland HeroesThis volume contains two Viking or Norse sagas, or stories, rewritten especially for children and young adults. This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great feats, and great their feats were. A time when the successful application of brain and brawn gained a man high standing in the community and possibly even higher office in the land."The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop Tegnér's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof" which charts Frithiof's and Ingeborg's undying love for each other and the lengths Frithiof had to go to, to eventually win her hand. If ever a story was to teach the young about perseverance and endurance, this is it.The epic Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. The original is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past. It follows the life of Beowulf, his rites of passage and his maturing from boy to man through facing and overcoming adversity and evil. For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting the heroic deeds of the great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of Beowulf and Frithiof (Fridtjhof) rewritten especially for children and young adults. The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest and emulation. This little book is offered to our young adults and children. 33% of the publisher's profit from this book will be donated to charity. Excerpt from Northland HeroesAfter seeing this vision of the lovely temple, Frithiof, greatly cheered, worked long to build one as beautiful as his vision. At last it was finished, a noble work. It stood high up on the mountain cliff, and its image was mirrored in the ocean beneath. About this glorious temple stretched a grove of noble trees, their branches green against the sky. Here could be heard the songs of birds, but no sound of discord. All was harmony. As Frithiof stood admiring the temple, he saw twelve virgins clad in silver gauze, with roses in their hair, enter the temple and approach the altar of Balder. About the altar they danced lightly as breezes about a fountain, or elves amid the waving grass while dewdrops glisten there. As Frithiof looked, all hate and vengeance faded from his heart as ice melts from the cliff before the sun of springtime. All was quiet,—peace and joy seemed to possess his soul. He felt love for all nature and longed to be at peace with all God's creatures. Then came into the temple the most high priest of Balder. Kind was his face, and Frithiof reverenced the noble man of peace. "Son Frithiof, welcome to this grove and temple. I have long expected thee. Weary with travel and longing for home, the strong man at last returns from his wanderings. "Dost thou remember when thy heart was joyous as the birds are when summer night winds gently rock the fragrant blossoms? Then Balder was growing in thy pure soul. But always with the good Balder there grows up in every human soul his brother Hoder, the evil one, the child of night. "No one can suffer for thy sins,—no one can atone for the living but themselves. One offering canst thou give, more dear to the gods than the smoke of victims. This is the sacrifice of thine own vengeance, the hate in thy untamed heart. "Canst thou not forgive, O youth? Be reconciled with thyself and thy foes, and then will Balder be reconciled with thee. "Thou hatest Bele's sons because pride of birth was theirs and they would not give thee Ingeborg, their sister. Strange it is but true, that no one is proud of his own merit, but only of his fortune. Art thou not proud of thy heroic deeds, of thy great strength? But who gave thee this strength? Is it thy merit or Odin's gift? Censure not another's pride, lest thine own be condemned. King Helge now is fallen." "Fallen!" exclaimed Frithiof; "King Helge is fallen?" "Yes, my Frithiof. Thou must know that while thou wert building this temple, Helge was far away, marching among the Finnish mountains. On a lonely crag of the mountains was an ancient shrine. He wished to enter, but the gate was closed and the key fast in the lock. Helge was angry, and, grasping the doorposts, he shook them with all his might. All at once with horrid crash the rotten pillars gave way, and a great image standing on the doorposts fell upon him, and crushed him to earth. Thus he died. "Now Halfdan sits alone upon the throne of his father. To him offer thy hand. The god Balder demands this offering. If thou refuse, in vain has this temple been built, and vain are thy prayers for forgiveness." As the noble priest thus advised, King Halfdan entered the temple, but stood apart in silence. Frithiof at once loosed his breast-plate and placed the bright shield against the altar. To Halfdan he offered his hand, saying, "In such a strife the noblest first offers his hand for peace." King Halfdan met his friend half-way, and their hands, long separated, met in a strong clasp. Then the priest in solemn voice proclaimed Frithiof forgiven for his crime against Balder, the loving god, and purified from his guilt. Scarce had the words been spoken when Ingeborg entered, attired in bridal robes and mantle of ermine. She walked among her maids as the moon glides in the heavenly azure attended by the radiant stars. With tears in her lovely eyes she turned to her brother; but Halfdan clasped her hand in Frithiof's, and thus gave his sister, the fair Ingeborg, to the friend of their childhood, her best beloved, the noble Frithiof.