You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.

My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.

The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.

With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to

helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all

put together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life,

check out BBC Sounds. This is a download from the BBC. To find out more, visit BBC.co.ukau

slash radio four.

Hello today Dame Penelope lively reveals her inner writing sanctum.

Orange Prize winner Suzanne Byrne, spies suburbia going to the dogs in her latest novel,

but first we delve into the ancient mists of another world.

Loki saw Anvari's gold, and when Anvari handed over the gold, he kept one ring back.

But Loki took it from him.

The dwarf went into the rock and said that the gold ring would be the death of whoever owned it,

and the same applied to all the gold.

Sound familiar? A magic ring, dwarves, elves, monsters, and the battle between good and evil.

No, I'm not talking about the Lord of the Rings,

but rather the saga of the Volsungs, the ancient tale believed to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien.

The saga is one of a newly republished collection of translations of Icelandic myths and epic anglo-saxon poetry called Legends of the Ancient North.

And Tolkien isn't the only one who's drawn inspiration from these mythical

adventures from the Northern Hemisphere.

Through Wagner, William Morris

...