The Story of Siegfried

In Short

James Baldwin’s The Story of Siegfried is a classic prose retelling of Northern mythology and the Nibelungen legend, tailored for general readers. The narrative traces the heroic journey of Siegfried, a fearless prince who earns magical gifts, tames the wondrous horse Greyfell, slays dragons, and wins the love of the Burgundian princess Kriemhild. Beneath his heroic exploits lies a tragic web of ancient curses, divine intrigue, and human betrayal. The book endures because it preserves the majestic spirit of Norse and Teutonic myth through clear, evocative, and timeless storytelling.

The Story

The narrative opens in the world's youth, when men viewed nature through a poetic lens, personifying the forces of earth, sea, and sky. In this age of myth, young Prince Siegfried grows up under the tutelage of Regin, the elfin schoolmaster and master smith. Regin recounts ancient tales of the Volsung kings and of Odin the All-Father, who once drove a mighty sword deep into a tree in King Volsung’s hall, leaving it for the bravest hero to claim.

Encouraged by the wise giant Gripir, Siegfried sets out into the wide world to right wrongs and make a name for himself. Guided by Odin in disguise, he chooses the magical snow-white steed Greyfell from among a wild herd. Embarking on perilous quests, Siegfried encounters enchanted castles surrounded by fire, awakes dormant kingdoms, and earns legendary treasures, including the Tarnkappe that grants invisibility and the vast Nibelungen Hoard guarded by dwarfs. Along his path, the story weaves in rich mythological episodes, such as Loki's mischief in Asgard, the stealing of Idun's golden apples of youth, and the tragic fate of Balder.

Siegfried eventual arrives in the Rhineland at the court of King Gunther in Burgundy. There, his noble nature wins him lifelong devotion, particularly from Gunther's sister, the peerless Kriemhild. Siegfried helps Gunther win the hand of the formidable warrior-queen Brunhild of Isenland, using his magical cloak to aid the king in tests of physical strength. In return, Siegfried marries Kriemhild, and the old King Siegmund yields his crown to his son, allowing Siegfried to rule in peace and joy over the Lowlands and Nibelungen Land.

Yet, unseen evil brews behind this happiness. A bitter rift develops between Brunhild and Kriemhild. Unaware of the danger, Kriemhild confides in her dark-browed uncle Hagen, revealing that when Siegfried bathed in the blood of a slain dragon, a single falling lime-leaf left one vulnerable spot on his back. Promising to protect the hero, Hagen tricks Kriemhild into marking the exact spot on Siegfried's garment with an embroidered silken leaf. During a hunt, Hagen treacherous strikes the hero through that fatal spot, killing Siegfried and leaving Kriemhild heartbroken. Following Siegfried's death, Hagen secures the vast Nibelungen Hoard, fulfilling the ancient curse of the Norns and sealing the tragic destiny of the Burgundian house.

How It Unfolds

The legacy of the Volsungs Regin the smith fires young Siegfried's imagination with tales of King Volsung's golden age, Odin's sunken sword, and the ancient lore of the Dwarfs. Inspired by these ancestral legends, Siegfried resolves to venture into the world to seek noble deeds.

Claiming the divine steed Following Gripir's counsel, Siegfried meets a mysterious one-eyed stranger who tests a herd of horses in a rushing river. Only Greyfell braves the torrent twice, proving himself to be Odin's gift to the young hero.

Feasts and divine misadventure The narrative pauses to explore the broader mythical world, recounting AEgir’s sea-hall feasts, Loki’s treacherous deal with Old Winter to betray Idun’s apples, and the immortal rivalries between Asgard's gods and the frost-giants.

Arrival in Burgundy Siegfried arrives at King Gunther’s court in Santen, startling the sentinels with his radiant presence. He quickly earns the royal family's affection through his generosity, freeing captive kings without ransom and agreeing to assist Gunther in his boldest exploits.

Winning Isenland's queen Siegfried accompanies Gunther to Isenland, using his cloak of invisibility to help the Burgundian ruler win the formidable warrior-queen Brunhild. After successfully gathering his Nibelungen hosts, Siegfried returns triumphant and marries his beloved Kriemhild.

The fatal betrayal A rift between the queens leads Kriemhild to seek Hagen's protection for her husband. Deceived by Hagen's false promises, she marks the dragon-leaf spot on Siegfried's coat, inadvertently giving his enemy the key to his tragic murder.

The hoard's curse In the aftermath of Siegfried's burial, Kriemhild remains in deep mourning while Hagen seizes the enchanted Nibelungen Hoard. Hagen sinks the treasure in the Rhine, accepting his fate as woven by the relentless Norns.

The People

• Siegfried: The ideal hero—brave, open-handed, and fiercely loyal. He seeks to right wrongs, protect the weak, and win glory, yet his trusting nature makes him vulnerable to the cunning treachery of men like Hagen.
• Regin: A master smith and dwarf scholar filled with long-standing bitterness over humanity's ingratitude. He hungers endlessly for Andvari's lost hoard, using his knowledge to mold Siegfried into an instrument for his own ambitions.
• Gunther: The King of Burgundy, whose weak mind and vanity lead him into dangerous enterprises. He relies heavily on Siegfried to achieve his goals, but his envy and indecision ultimately allow tragedy to overtake his court.
• Kriemhild: The peerless Burgundian princess who becomes Siegfried's devoted queen. Loving and fiercely protective, her well-meaning desire to shield her husband inadvertently leads to his ultimate undoing.
• Hagen: The dark-browed, calculating Burgundian chief who operates with cold pragmatic calculation. Indifferent to love or hate, he orchestrates Siegfried's downfall and seizes the Nibelungen Hoard, viewing every act as the fulfillment of inevitable fate.

In Its Own Voice

"All men were poets, so far as their ideas and their modes of expression were concerned, although it is not likely that any of them wrote poetry."

This opening perspective sets up the childlike wonder with which ancient peoples interpreted the natural world.

"Take what the Norns have allotted thee. Choose from my pastures a battle-steed, and ride forth to win for thyself a name and fame among the sons of men."

The giant Gripir speaks these words to Siegfried, urging him to embrace his destined path of heroic adventure.

"I know that I merit Queen Brunhild’s anger, because of the sharp words I lately spoke to her; but let not my husband suffer blame for that which is my fault alone."

Kriemhild utters this anxious plea to Hagen, tragically trusting the very man plotting her husband's death.

What It's Really About

The Story of Siegfried explores the conflict between mortal nobility and inescapable fate. At its core, the narrative contrasts the pure, generous spirit of the hero with the corrupting power of greed and deceit. The Nibelungen Hoard serves as a symbol of worldly wealth that carries an inevitable curse, bringing ruin to everyone who seeks to possess it. Additionally, the book reflects on how ancient cultures used storytelling to explain the natural world, showing how human passions—loyalty, pride, jealousy, and revenge—mirror the chaotic forces of nature itself. Ultimately, Baldwin presents a world where even the grandest achievements of gods and men are subject to the unyielding thread woven by the Norns.

Why Read It Today

This volume serves as an exceptional entry point for anyone fascinated by epic mythology, heroic folklore, or the origins of modern fantasy literature. Baldwin's prose strikes a delicate balance between formal dignity and narrative clarity, making complex Northern legends accessible without losing their solemn grandeur. Reading this work offers a vivid sense of the ancient fireside tradition, where heroic deeds and cosmic forces intermingle seamlessly.

Readers should note that the narrative reflects nineteenth-century storytelling conventions, featuring episodic pacing and traditional gender roles characteristic of early myth retellings. Rather than maintaining a single tightly focused plot, the text meanders through broader mythological tangents—such as Loki’s misadventures and Balder’s death—before returning to Siegfried's personal journey. However, for those who appreciate atmospheric world-building and legendary heroic arcs, the book's poetic beauty and poignant meditation on destiny make it a deeply rewarding experience that stays in the memory long after the final page.