Mythologis
Dwarves: The Complete Guide to Dwarves in Norse Myth and Germanic Legend

Mythical Creatures Mythology

Dwarves: The Complete Guide to Dwarves in Norse Myth and Germanic Legend

The Master-Smiths and Underground Folk of the North

The complete guide to the dwarf: the master-smiths of Norse myth who forged the treasures of the gods, the underground folk of Germanic legend, and the road from the Eddas to the dwarf of modern fantasy.

170 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Norse myth and Germanic legend
  • Designed for print quality
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  1. 01The Smiths Beneath the Mountains
  2. 02Born from a Giant: The Origin of the Dwarves
  3. 03The Treasures of the Gods
  4. 04Thor's Hammer and the Wager of Loki
  5. 05The Cursed Gold of Andvari
  6. 06Dwarves of the Nibelung: Alberich and Regin
  7. 07Stone, Death and the Fear of Sunlight
  8. 08Dwarves and Elves: Two Peoples or One?
  9. 09Dwarves in German and Scandinavian Folklore
  10. 10Snow White and the Folk-Tale Dwarf
  11. 11From the Eddas to Modern Fantasy

About this book

About this Mythical Creatures mythology guide

The hammer of Thor, the spear of Odin, the chain that binds the wolf: the greatest treasures of the Norse gods were all forged by dwarves. This is the complete guide to the master-smiths of the North.

Almost everything good the Norse gods owned was made by dwarves. The hammer of Thor, the spear of Odin, the golden hair of Sif, the ship that folds into a pocket, the very chain that binds the wolf at the end of the world: all of it came from the forges beneath the mountains, made by a people born, the myths say, like maggots in the flesh of a dead giant. The dwarf is the great craftsman of northern myth, and also its great bargainer, its keeper of secrets and grudges.

This is the complete guide to the dwarf across the Norse and Germanic world. The four dwarves who hold up the sky; the master-smiths who forged the treasures of Asgard; the cursed gold of Andvari that doomed a hero; the dwarves of the Nibelung legend, Alberich and Regin; and the slow change from these dangerous underground craftsmen into the bearded, axe-bearing dwarf of modern fantasy.

The book follows the dwarf from the heart of Norse myth into Germanic legend and beyond, drawing on the Eddas, the Volsung and Nibelung material and the folk tradition, and every chapter cites its sources.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • Why the dwarves were born, the myths say, from the body of a dead giant
  • The treasures they forged for the gods, including the hammer of Thor
  • The cursed gold of Andvari that brought down a hero
  • Alberich, Regin and the dwarves of the Nibelung legend
  • Whether dwarves and dark-elves were ever really the same people
  • How the myth-smith became the dwarf of Snow White and modern fantasy

Mythical Creatures mythology book at a glance

TraditionMythical Creatures mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length170 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Questions about the Mythical Creatures mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Are these the dwarves of fantasy?

The bearded, mining, axe-wielding dwarf of fantasy is the last chapter, not the first. The book is about the real dwarves of Norse myth and Germanic legend, the master-smiths who forged the treasures of the gods, and it traces the line from them all the way to Snow White and modern fantasy.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. It draws on the Poetic Edda and Snorri's Prose Edda, the Volsunga Saga and the Nibelungenlied, and Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, with references to the standard translations.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 170 pages depending on the final layout.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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