Der Sagenkreis der Nibelungen

The work offers a clear‑sighted journey into the tangled origins of the Nibelungen legend, showing how the saga survived the upheavals of the Thirty Years’ War and re‑emerged in the nineteenth‑century surge of national interest. By placing the story within its broader historical and cultural context, it reveals why the medieval poem suddenly became a patriotic emblem at a time when Europe was reshaping itself after the Napoleonic era.

Divided into concise sections, the book guides listeners through the earliest sources, the differences between the German and Nordic traditions, and the ways the tale has been reshaped over the centuries. It also examines the transmission of the medieval text, its influence on later literature, and the modern scholarly attempts to untangle myth from history—all presented with minimal technical jargon so that even newcomers can follow the discussion. This thoughtful overview makes the complex world of the Nibelungen accessible and engaging.