Runen

The Germanic script of the runes has always been shrouded in a veil of mystery. This aura was enhanced by the English fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien, who depicted the mythical beings of his Middle-earth world using runes as enigmatic symbols. His novels and their film adaptations have significantly increased interest in Germanic culture and history. This provides a solid reason to present, for the first time, a scientifically grounded and accessible non-fiction book about runes. In this volume, Arnulf Krause offers an entertaining history of this script from its earliest appearances and a clear introduction to its usage. He traces their application, such as in the famous rune stones of the Vikings, and follows their renaissance in modern times. He critically addresses the misuse by nationalist and Nazi movements that has associated the script with far-right attributes in Germany, while in Scandinavia, they have always been regarded as an authentic heritage.