
The work opens with a powerful proclamation that the gods of ancient Germania are the mirror of a people's deepest virtues and flaws. It argues that remembering these deities is essential to understanding a nation's roots, urging modern Germans to reconnect with the rugged forests and heroic spirit that shaped their ancestors. The author frames the Germanic pantheon as distinct from the sun‑kissed Greeks and proud Romans, presenting them as sources of raw strength and unyielding identity.
From this stance the narrative moves into a vivid creation myth. A formless world‑soul drifts in void until it dreams fire, birthing Muspelheim, while cold mist gives rise to Niflheim. The clash of flame and frost brings water, air, earth, and finally the first giant, Ymir, whose endless hunger threatens the newborn world. The prose blends poetic description with philosophical musings, inviting listeners to experience the birth of the world as seen through Germanic eyes.
Language
de
Duration
~4 hours (248K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Peter Becker and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2017-12-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1869–1943
Best remembered for popular German novels and plays from the early 20th century, this prolific writer reached a wide audience with lively storytelling and a strong feel for everyday life. His work was especially well known in Germany in the decades before and after World War I.
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