James E. Cathey

Highly desirable, difficult to find, and excruciatingly costly to procure, Sigrid Valfells and James E. Cathey's introduction to Old Icelandic is the Holy Grail of Norse Studies. With a comprehensive phonological introduction, and thirty-five lessons - each of which addresses a particular grammatical topic, and provides a Vocabulary list, a textual selection in Old Icelandic, and a section of drills and translations - Old Icelandic is the ideal, single-volume introduction to this fascinating language.

Produced in association with the American-Scandinavian Foundation - generally known for the excellence of its work - it is perhaps unsurprising that this text remains one of the best resources out there for the beginning student of Old Icelandic / Old Norse. I have no wish to cast aspersions at E.V. Gordon's An Introduction to Old Norse, which, although outdated in its methodology, has its own virtues; but I find it mystifying that Oxford University Press has allowed Valfells and Cathey to slip out of print, while retaining Gordon's work in its current catalogue. I sincerely hope that the decision has nothing to do with Gordon's acknowledgment of J.R.R. Tolkien in his introductory comments...… (plus d'informations)