The Prose Edda is the most renowned of all works of Scandinavian literature & our most extensive source for Norse mythology. Written in Iceland a century after the close of the Viking Age it tells ancient stories of the Norse creation epic & recounts the battles that follow as gods giants dwarves & elves struggle for survival. It also preserves the oral memory of heroes warrior kings & queens. In clear prose interspersed with powerful verse the Edda provides unparalleled insight into the gods tragic realization that the future holds one final cataclysmic battle Ragnarok when the world will be destroyed. These tales from the pagan era have proved to be among the most influential of all myths & legends inspiring modern works as diverse as Wagners Ring Cycle & Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings.