About the book
In the footsteps of Margaret Atwood's bestselling Penelopiad comes an intensely autobiographical and timely tale from the Booker Prize-winning author of Possession and The Children's Book.
Ragnarok retells the finale of Norse mythology. A story of the destruction of life on this planet and the end of the gods themselves: what more relevant myth could any modern writer choose? Just as Wagner used this dramatic and catastrophic struggle for the climax of his Ring Cycle, so A.S. Byatt now reinvents it in all its intensity and glory.
As the bombs of the Blitz rain down on Britain, one young girl is evacuated to the countryside. She is struggling to make sense of her new wartime life. Then she is given a copy of Asgard and the Godsa book of ancient Norse mythsand her inner and outer worlds are transformed.
How could this child know that fifty years on, many of the birds and flowers she took for granted on her walks to school would become extinct? War, natural disaster, reckless gods and the recognition of impermanence in the world are just some of the threads that A.S. Byatt weaves into this most timely of books. Linguistically stunning and imaginatively abundant, this is a landmark work of fiction from one of the world's truly great writers.
Editions of Ragnarok
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780676978513
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9780676978506
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307401847
Read an Excerpt
In the footsteps of Margaret Atwood's bestselling Penelopiad comes an intensely autobiographical and timely tale from the Booker Prize-winning author of Possession and The Children's Book.
Ragnarok retells the finale of Norse mythology. A story of the destruction of life on this planet and the end of the gods themselves: what more relevant myth could any modern writer choose? Just as Wagner used this dramatic and catastrophic struggle for the climax of his Ring Cycle, so A.S. Byatt now reinvents it in all its intensity and glory.
As the bombs of the Blitz rain down on Britain, one young girl is evacuated to the countryside. She is struggling to make sense of her new wartime life. Then she is given a copy of Asgard and the Godsa book of ancient Norse mythsand her inner and outer worlds are transformed.
How could this child know that fifty years on, many of the birds and flowers she took for granted on her walks to school would become extinct? War, natural disaster, reckless gods and the recognition of impermanence in the world are just some of the threads that A.S. Byatt weaves into this most timely of books. Linguistically stunning and imaginatively abundant, this is a landmark work of fiction from one of the world's truly great writers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ragnarok about?
In the footsteps of Margaret Atwood's bestselling Penelopiad comes an intensely autobiographical and timely tale from the Booker Prize-winning author of Possession and The Children's Book.
Ragnarok retells the finale of Norse mythology. A story of the destruction of life on this planet and the end of the gods themselves: what more relevant myth could any modern writer choose? Just as Wagner used this dramatic and catastrophic struggle for the climax of his Ring Cycle, so A.S. Byatt now reinvents it in all its intensity and glory.
As the bombs of the Blitz rain down on Britain, one young girl is evacuated to the countryside. She is struggling to make sense of her new wartime life. Then she is given a copy of Asgard and the Godsa book of ancient Norse mythsand her inner and outer worlds are transformed.
How could this child know that fifty years on, many of the birds and flowers she took for granted on her walks to school would become extinct? War, natural disaster, reckless gods and the recognition of impermanence in the world are just some of the threads that A.S. Byatt weaves into this most timely of books. Linguistically stunning and imaginatively abundant, this is a landmark work of fiction from one of the world's truly great writers.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Ragnarok?
Fiction > Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings
Where can I read a sample of Ragnarok?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780676978513
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Ragnarok?
A. S. Byatt
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Ragnarok is available as paperback(ISBN 9780676978513) and altformat(ISBN 9780676978506) and ebook(ISBN 9780307401847)
Where can I buy Ragnarok online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Ragnarok from below
Where can I buy Ragnarok?