The Saga of the VolsungsLegends from the Ancient North brings together some of the magical texts that most influenced Tolkien. 'They summoned their friends, readied their horses, and prepared their helmets, shields, swords, coats of mail.' J. R. R. Tolkien spent much of his life studying, translating, and teaching the great epic stories of northern Europe, filled with heroes, dragons, trolls, dwarves, and magic. He was hugely influential for his advocacy of Beowulf as a