Description: This illustration is from the 1903 edition of Ernest
Edwin
Speight's Children of Odin that was first published
in 1901. The illustration is from a retelling of The Völsunga Saga and depicts Sigurðr standing by
the body of the dragon Fáfnir, who Sigurðr slew to
gain possession of Andvari's treasure. The illustration is not
signed but contains a monogram in the lower right-hand corner
for an artist whose name is not known.
Source: Children of Odin
Folio or Page: 103
Medium: Not Known.
Date: 1901
Dimensions (mm): 95 x 140
Provenance:
This illustration is from The
Children of Odin from the collection of P. A. Baer.
Rights:
This illustration from Children of
Odin is in the public domain.
Research notes, early print reviews, etc.:
Early Print Review of The Children of Odin:
"The book is copiously illustrated, but we cannot regard this as a merit, for
the artist, whose name is not given, has evidently little acquaintance with
Northern literature, and has read the letterpress very hurriedly and
carelessly." Review by A.F.M in Saga-Book III of the Viking Club. (London:
Private Printing of the Viking Society. 1903), 491. Accessed through
http://vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/ on 12 January 2022.
Bibliography:
Editions
Speight, E
E. Children of Odin.
London: H. Marshall ,
1903.
Secondary Sources
M., A.
F..
"Review of The Children of Odin by E. E. Speight" in
Saga-Book III of the Viking Club
London: Private Printing of the Viking
Society, 1903.
Laliberte,
Camille (en.)
b. 19th December 1998
Occupation: Research Assistant
Artist Not Known
Artist Not
Known
Artist not known for this illustration in Children of
Odin.
Dwarves and Elves
Andvari (non.)
The dwarf who shapeshifted into a pike and lived under a waterfall.
Loki caught him and forced him to give up his gold and his magic ring
Andvaranaut.
Historical Persons, i.e. from Heimskringla, Saxo, sagas etc.
Fáfnir (non.)
Fafnir (en.)
One of Hreiðmarr's sons, in Völsunga Saga who
killed his father in order to get the hoard of gold that included the
magic ring Andvaranaut. Fáfnir then changed himself into a dragon to
guard the gold and was eventually killed by Sigurðr Fáfnisbani.
Sigurðr
Fáfnisbani (non.)
Sigurd
the Dragon Slayer (en.)
The legendary hero in Völsunga
Saga who killed the dragon Fáfnir, rode through the flame
wall to awaken Brynhildr. He promised to marry her but due to sorcery
married Guðrún and tricked Brynhildr into marrying Gunnarr.
Nouns
Edwardian (en.)The
Edwardian era began with the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910
(January 22, 1901 - 28 July, 1914). However, the era's end date is
sometimes extended to the beginning of World War 1 (28 July
1914).
Source Materials:
Children of Odin (en.)
Children's book by Ernest Edwin Speight published in 1901. The
illustrations in MyNDIR are from the second edition that was published
in 1903. Disambiguation: This book should not be confused with The Children of Odin by Padriac
Colum published in 1920 that was illustrated by Willy Pogany.
Völsunga saga (is.)
Saga of the Volsungs (en.)
An Old Norse legendary saga drawn from Germanic legends preserved in
the Eddas concerning the origin and fall of the Volsoungs, and also the
fall of the Burgundians. This saga inspired much of Richard Wagner's
creation of The Ring of the
Nebilung.
Source Persons
Speight, Ernest
Edwin (en.)
b. 6 December 1871
d. 17 September 1949
Nationality: English
Occupation: Author, Professor of English
Residence: Yorkshire, England
Ernest Edwin Speight, better known as E. E. Speight, was an English
professor who worked in India and Japan. He authored Children of Odin,
as well as numerous English textbooks. He was awarded the Fifth Class of
the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan for his services as
a teacher.
