Jonsblogbrum: April 2011

Reading at the moment ...

PROSE EDDA, Snorri Sturluson, translate by Jesse Byock, Penguin Classic. Trying this out after a visit to the Viking exhibition in London. Entertaining and imaginative stories of old Norse gods and giants, but the macho crash-bash (Thor swinging his hammer about at all and sundry) gets a bit tedious after a while ... Mind you, frost giants and primeval cows, what more could one want ...
DREIGROSCHENOPER, Brecht and collaborators (music Kurt Weill). Saw a telling English performance so read the German version of the 18th century Engiish play! Great lyrics and caustic, cynical depiction of gangster life in London with more than half a glance at the world of aristocrats and industrialists. Wealth of great songs too.