Let's be clear: this isn't a simple bedtime story. 'The Nibelungenlied' is a medieval epic poem, and G.H. Needler's translation turns its ancient verses into a story you can follow like a novel. It's split into two wild halves.

The Story

The first part is all about Siegfried, the ultimate hero. He's got the strength of twelve men, a cloak of invisibility, and he bathed in dragon's blood for near-invincibility. He helps King Gunther win the fierce queen Brunhild as a bride, and in return marries Gunther's sister, Kriemhild. But here's the catch: to pull off the deception with Brunhild, Siegfried and Kriemhild learn a secret that humiliates the new queen. This plants a seed of bitter hatred.

Years later, that hatred blooms. Brunhild prods Gunther's most loyal and grim warrior, Hagen, into action. Hagen murders Siegfried, stealing the massive treasure Siegfried won from the dragon. The second part of the story belongs to Kriemhild. Grieving and enraged, she marries Etzel, a powerful foreign king, not for love, but for an army. She then invites her entire Burgundian family—including Hagen and her brothers—to a feast. It's not a reunion. It's a trap. What follows is a staggering, prolonged battle in a hall, a feast of blood where old loyalties are tested and almost everyone falls. It's not a clean, heroic end; it's a messy, total disaster born from a single act of betrayal.

Why You Should Read It

What hooked me wasn't just the magic and battles, but the raw humanity of it all. These characters aren't symbols; they're stubborn, proud, and fatally flawed. Kriemhild's transformation from a gentle princess into a figure of apocalyptic vengeance is terrifying and heartbreaking. You understand her rage, even as you watch it destroy everything. Hagen is fascinating—brutally loyal to his king, committing evil acts with a kind of cold, unwavering duty. The story asks hard questions about where loyalty should end and whether revenge ever truly balances the scales. It's also just a foundational piece of our storytelling DNA. Seeing where so many modern fantasy tropes were born—the cursed gold, the dragon-slayer, the broken promise—is a thrill.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves myth and epic fantasy but wants to see the older, grittier roots. If you enjoy George R.R. Martin's morally complex characters and shocking turns, you'll find his ancestors here. It's also great for readers who like historical literature but want a translation that focuses on the story, not just the scholarship. Needler's version is your accessible ticket into this world. Fair warning: it's a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. Don't expect happy endings—expect to be amazed by how a story from 800 years ago can still deliver a knockout punch.