Ring of the Nibelung
by Richard Wagner
Book Summary Information
Author: Richard WagnerTranslator: Andrew Porter
Edition: Paperback
Audio: German (Original Language); German (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1977-06
ISBN: 0393008673
Number of pages: 329
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Book Reviews of Ring of the Nibelung
Book Review: absorbing read and fantastically imaginative
Summary: 4 Stars
I came to this book, because I heard 'The Ring of the Nibelung' was the basis for the 'Lord of the Rings'. Halfway through the first scene, I found it was true.
Written in a poetic rhythm, it was easy to fall into a cadence in my mind as I read. The story is absorbing.
Nibelung is a race of dwarfs in this Opera from Wagner. (pronounced Vagner) A Nibelung steals the gold of the Rhine maidens and has it made into a magic ring. A ring to rule them all (just kidding). Only one ring, but it has the power to enslave the world. The gold is also made into a chaimail (no not mythril), giving the wearer the power to change into any shape.
The ring changes several hands through the story.
Enter in a loose interpretation of Norse Mythology. The character 'Wotan' resembles Odin. The hammer wielding god is called 'Donner'.
And, it wouldn't be an Opera without a tragic love story and a Hero. An incestuous relationship upsets the Goddess Fricka and puts Wotan into an emotional decision, keeping the reader guessing as to how the God will handle his wife's nagging demands. Gods, have it rough, too, eh?
The book itself is dual lingual. One side of the page is German, the English translation is side by side with the German. It was fun to compare the two languages and it shows how true to the translation was the English.
This novel is copyright dated 1976, coming after Tolkien's LOTR.
The story is fantastically imaginative.
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