The Song of the Nibelungs

"The Song of the Nibelungs" is the brightest and most famous work of German heroic epic. It brings to life the formidable and gloomy Teutonic spirit, this immortal story of love, valor, treacherous betrayal, and devastating revenge occupies a central place in Germanic mythology. It is a unique material on mythology and a crucial source for studying European history and literature. The mighty and brave Siegfried, the one burning with uncontrollable passion, Kriemhild, inspired many great creators, such as Richard Wagner for his opera cycle "The Ring of the Nibelung," Nikolai Roerich for a series of paintings, and the motif of the cursed gold (ring) also prominently appears in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." The edition is supplemented with an introductory article and detailed comments by the medieval historian Aron Gurevich, illustrations by Arthur Rackham.