Crawford Jackson

Jackson Crawford is an American scholar, translator, and poet whose work focuses on Old Norse language, literature, and mythology. He studied classics and linguistics before earning a PhD in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and he later taught Old Norse and related subjects at UCLA, UC Berkeley, and the University of Colorado Boulder.

He is especially known for translations that aim to be clear, direct, and readable for modern audiences. Among his best-known books are The Poetic Edda, The Saga of the Volsungs, and Two Sagas of Mythical Heroes, along with other works that introduce readers to Norse myth and medieval Scandinavian storytelling.

Beyond the classroom and the page, he has also reached a wide public through teaching and online videos about Norse language and myth. That mix of academic training and plainspoken explanation has made him a popular guide for readers who want a reliable, welcoming entry into the world of the sagas and Eddas.