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What is Frisian?:         Frisian refers to a people (and their language) who live primarily in the coastal areas of the Netherlands and Germany. The Frisian language is the closest living language to English that is distinctly a separate language--not a separate dialect. It is still spoken (by some) in Fryslân (a province in the Netherlands), the Frisian Islands (between the Netherlands and the UK) as well as some places in Germany. There are many dialects that are spoken, but it is an endangered language. It is closer to Middle English than Modern English and its situation is very similar to that of Middle English except with Neðerlands (Dutch) as a stronger influence than Norse or French. East Frisian is the closest Frisian dialect to Old English, but is also currently the most in danger of dying out (only about 100 people still speak it!). North Frisian is largely influenced by Danish being in close proximty to Denmark, and there remain about 10 000 speakers of this dialect. West Frisian constitutes the largest number of native speakers (about 300 000). Although there are numerous dialects of West Frisian, there have been attempts to standardize these dialects into one language in order to help preserve it. There are surprisingly quite a lot of West Frisian writers, musicians and other artists making it the most conducive of the Frisian dialects to learn. Below are some links and information about learning materials, Frisian-language (and Frisian-related) books and some musicians. Links/Ferwizings Listen to Frisian Radio at Omrop Fryslân. Afûk Stichting It Fryske Boek! Noord Nederlandsche Boekhandel An Excellent Source for Obtaining Frisian Reading and Learning Materials including the comprehensive English-Frisian dictionary by Anne Dykstra Some good Frisian literature references Learn about and how to speak Frisian. Frisian Culture and History The only West Frisian Grammar text written in English The Frisian Academy/Fryske Akademy Comprehensive offline English-Frisian dictionary available. Frisian Pop Music Send electronic greeting cards with Frisian slogans (Klik op 'kaarten') Some Frisian History (in English) Fryskeside Anglo-Saxon information It Bildt Menaldumadeel Leeuwarderadeel Drink Weduwe Joustra bearenburch en geniet der fan! Wikipedia yn it Frysk

• Gurbe Douwstra
• Feetwarmers
• Piter Wilkens
• It Willehúske

• The following books all relate in one way or another to World Wars I and II, and are listed in order of history

• The Riddle of the Sands, by Erskine Childers
  The world's first spy novel takes place in Frisian waters mostly off of the German coast not long before World War I begins (1908). The book is tightly based on a true story, and was written as propoganda to convince the British government to fortify the North Sea in preparation for an attack by the German empire (it worked).
• De Fûke, by Rink van der Felde
A classic, if depressing, story based on true events. It is a story about a man who played a small and reluctant part in the Frisian resistance, and who was taken prisoner and interrogated after his son was shot while smuggling weapons for the resistance. De Fûke literally means "the fish trap."
• The Trap, by Rink van der Felde (English translation of 'De Fûke' by Henry J. Baron).
• De Fûke (made into a film). The film is in Frisian with Dutch subtitles only.
• It Wrede Paradys: libbensferhalen fan Fryske folksferhuzers, by Hylke Speerstra
Several short stories about the lives of Frisian emigrants, most of whom emigrated during the depression in Fryslân shortly after WW II. The author, Hylke, travelled the world over to interview these people, and their stories are of great historical interest.
• Cruel Paradise: life stories of Dutch emigrants, by Hylke Speerstra (English translation of 'It Wrede Paradys' by Henry J. Baron).

• The following books are useful for learning Frisian

• Amery, H. (). Tûzen Wurden. Redux Publications, U.S.A.
  This is a picture book along with Frisian words. Very useful in learning vocabulary.
• Bosma-Banning, A. (1981). Bûter, brea en griene tsiis. Afûk, Ljouwert, Fryslân.
  Lessons along with audio tapes.
• Dykstra, A. (2000); Frysk-Ingelsk wurdboek/Frisian-English dictionary. Ljouwert, Fryslân, xxxviii + 1153 pp.
  A very comprehensive Frisian-English dictionary and English-Frisian word list.
• Kodama, H. (1992). Fryske Grammatika, Daigakusyorin, Tokyo, Japan, 291 pgs.
  This is the only Frisian grammar book written in Japanese of which I am aware.
• Tiersma, P.M. (1999). A Frisian Reference Grammar, Fryske Akademy, ISBN: 90 6171 886.
  This is the only Frisian grammar book written in English of which I am aware.

• The following book is more for fun

• Scrutton, Robert. (1979). The Other Atlantis. Sphere Books, Ltd., London. Neville Spearman (Jersey) Ltd, ISBN 0-85978-021-X / 085978021X
  This book gives an English translation to some of the Oera Linda Book along with commentary. It is aimed at the idea that the book is real along with everything implied therein -- i.e., nullifying most accepted history.

• English: In Norway we speak Norwegian
• Nynorsk: I Noreg snakkar me Norsk
• Bokmaal: I Norge snakkar vi Norsk

Links

• Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga
• Why have horned helmets become a symbol of Vikings?

• Gutenberg Project
• Quinland Road bookshop (for books on Kelts)