James Baldwin was an American educator and administrator. After his career as an educator he began writing on such topics as legends, mythology, biography, and literature. The Story of Siegfried is full of strange and heroic deeds. Siegfried made a wondrous sword he named Balmung. His adventures included riding through fire to rescue the beautiful Brunhild. Baldwin has intermingled several Norse myths into Siegfried's story. This is a wonderful adventure tale for students in upper elementary and middle school.