RW's book

I wonder if RW is familiar with the content of this glorious book -

THE NIBELUNGENLIED

I wasn't, until she came over one day and pointed to it and said that she might like to peek inside, if that's all right. Which it was. Very much so.

The book is bound in black leather, and its title has been captured in a huge calligraphic design covering the entire span of the front cover.

The cut sides of the pages are speckled red, like a fairytale egg.


In the introduction, Nibelungenlied is described as being:

"A great poem written around 1200AD in a rather complicated rhymed strophe, the so-called 'Nibelungenstrophe,' by a poet still unknown but certainly of extraordinary powers."

There is a mighty young hero - Siegfried - a prince from Xanten in the Netherland, who slays a dragon, bathes in its blood, and thus becomes invulnerable (well...almost):

There is also fair Kriemhild - the beautiful daughter and sister of Burgundian kings - who has caught Siegfried's eye.

I especially like the jewels she is wearing. Kriemhild is not a tiny, fragile woman in this picture, oh no she's not, she's intense and powerful and wearing her entire cache of jewels with pride.

These are only two of the many illustrations accompanying this edition, and they are the creation of Edy Legrand.
I could go on and on RW, but there's a line of library patrons waiting to take out their own books, so I'm afraid that's it for now. By the way...I'm sorry about the poor photography....hopefully you'll be able to click on the photos so as to enlarge them...which may help a bit.

Kind regards,

Eleanor (Head librarian).