The Book of The Sagas, Alice S. Hoffman. Illustrated by Gordon Browne. Published by Ernest Nister, London and E.P. Dutton, New York

Alice S. Hoffman's The Book of the Sagas retells for younger readers a selection of the great legends and heroic stories of the medieval Scandinavian world, drawing upon the rich traditions of Norse saga, myth and history. Tales of Viking warriors, kings, voyages, feuds and adventure are presented in an accessible narrative form and enhanced by Gordon Browne's extensive illustrations, including six particularly attractive colour plates. Published by Ernest Nister, the volume is a handsome example of the illustrated gift books produced for the Edwardian juvenile market, and introduces readers to the same Old Norse-Icelandic literary tradition that would become an important scholarly and imaginative influence upon J. R. R. Tolkien and other twentieth-century writers.

The Book of The Sagas. By Alice S. Hoffman. Illustrated by Gordon Browne, R.I. 

Published by Ernest Nister, London and E. P. Dutton & Co., New York, undated [c.1913]. Printed in Bavaria.

A very good dark green cloth hardback with printed titles. Covers with light wear and bumping. No dustjacket. Soundly bound. With 'Viking ship' pictorial endpapers.

The text pages are bright and clean and very attractively presented, with 18 lovely full page plates, including 6 in colour. With additional line illustrations in the text. Text block with blue tinted top edge.

Text in English.

320pp including black and white Plates + 6 additional colour Plates (all present as called for).

Weight approximately 834g.

Dimensions: Approximately 211mm high x 160mm wide x 25mm deep.