Originally written in Icelandic in the thirteenth century A.D. by an anonymous author, The Story of the Volsungs is a legendary saga based on Norse mythology.  The epic describes the legendary history and heroic feats of several generaltions of mythic Viking families and derives from many sources, including preexisting Edda, or heroic poems, Norse legends, historical events, and orally transmitted folklore.  Imbued through with themes of power, jealously, love, vengeance, and fear, the saga is often considered a critical influence on such later works as Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy.  4 Cd's.  4.5 hours.  Unabridged.