Eiríkr Magnússon - Völsungasaga

The 13th century Icelandic Völsungasaga is usually read by people studying the Poetic Edda or Wagner's Ring — which obscures the fact it is a much better story than practically everything derived from it. A riddle-telling dragon, a broken sword, a hooded mysterious wanderer — cannibalism, incest, mutilation, and sensitive hearts. This is R-rated Tolkien — and the unashamedly archaic Magnússon-Morris translation is up for the adventure.