The Sagas of Icelanders
An Introduction to All Forty Sagas with Summaries
1st Edition
Published on 21. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-1-032-81450-6 (ISBN)
Description
This book offers an accessible and concise introduction to the sagas of Icelanders, perfect for both general and academic readers. Authored by a recognized expert, it immerses readers in the sagas' world, exploring their cultural and historical context. The book surveys major themes such as belief systems, family dynamics, legal matters, honor, and gender roles, elucidating Icelandic society's fundamental worldview. Covering diverse tales from the Middle Ages, the sagas depict the struggles of ordinary farmers, fierce heroes, and shrewd women, including epic expeditions to Greenland and Vinland. The book also examines the influence of foreign literature, manuscript evidence, and dating, categorizing the sagas into three periods. Additionally, it explores their unique literary style, including paranormal elements and skaldic poetry. The final section provides concise summaries and information about the dating, manuscripts, and transmission of the forty preserved sagas, offering a comprehensive understanding of these captivating narratives.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Postgraduate
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
15 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 15 s/w Abbildungen
15 Halftones, black and white; 15 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight
183 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-81450-6 (9781032814506)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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12/2024
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E-Book
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1st Edition
Routledge
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Person
Annette Lassen is professor at the Arnamagnaean Collection, NorS, University of Copenhagen. From 2020 to 2022, she was research professor at The Arni Magnusson Institute for Icelandic Studies. She has authored books and articles on Old Icelandic literature such as Odin's Ways: A Guide to the Pagan God in Medieval Literature (Routledge 2022) and the edition Hrafnagaldur O?ins/ Forspjallsljo? (Viking Society for Northern Research 2011). She has published complete translations in Danish of the sagas of Icelanders and the sagas of ancient times (2014 and 2016-2019).
Content
1. INTRODUCTION
2. SAGAS AND ?AETTIR
3. TOWARDS A DEFINITION OF THE GENRE
4. ICELAND'S LITERATURE IN THE MIDDLE AGES-INFLUENCE AND TASTE
5. TRANSMISSION
6. AGE
7. TRADITION AND NARRATIVE
8. SAGA WRITERS AND INFORMANTS
9. ICELANDERS-NORDIC STORYTELLERS AND BOOKWORMS
10. THE HISTORICITY OF THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS
11. STYLE AND LITERARY TECHNIQUE
12. SKALDIC POETRY
13. THE SOCIETY OF THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS
14. THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS. A SURVEY
Bard's Saga
Egil's saga
Eirik the Red's Saga
Gisli Sursson's Saga
Gold-Thorir's Saga
Hen-Thorir's Saga
Killer-Glum's Saga
Kormak's Saga
Njal's Saga
Olkofri's Saga
The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of the Hitardal People
The Saga of Droplaug's Sons
The Saga of Finnbogi the Mighty
The Saga of Grettir the Strong
The Saga of Gunnar, the Fool of Keldugnup
The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue
The Saga of Hallfred the Troublesome Poet
The Saga of Havard of Isafjord
The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi
The Saga of Hord and the People of Holm
The Saga of Ref the Sly
The Saga of the Confederates
The Saga of the Greenlanders
The Saga of the People of Eyri
The Saga of the People of Fljotsdal
The Saga of the People of Floi
The Saga of the People of Kjalarnes
The Saga of the People of Laxardal
The Saga of the People of Ljosavatn
The Saga of the People of Reykjadal and of Killer-Skuta
The Saga of the People of Svarfadardal
The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal
The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord
The Saga of the Slayings on the Heath
The Saga of the Sworn Brothers
The Saga of Thord Menace
The Saga of Thorstein the White
Thorstein Sidu-Hallson's Saga
Valla-Ljot's Saga
Viglund's Saga
Literature
Index
Index of Manuscripts
2. SAGAS AND ?AETTIR
3. TOWARDS A DEFINITION OF THE GENRE
4. ICELAND'S LITERATURE IN THE MIDDLE AGES-INFLUENCE AND TASTE
5. TRANSMISSION
6. AGE
7. TRADITION AND NARRATIVE
8. SAGA WRITERS AND INFORMANTS
9. ICELANDERS-NORDIC STORYTELLERS AND BOOKWORMS
10. THE HISTORICITY OF THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS
11. STYLE AND LITERARY TECHNIQUE
12. SKALDIC POETRY
13. THE SOCIETY OF THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS
14. THE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS. A SURVEY
Bard's Saga
Egil's saga
Eirik the Red's Saga
Gisli Sursson's Saga
Gold-Thorir's Saga
Hen-Thorir's Saga
Killer-Glum's Saga
Kormak's Saga
Njal's Saga
Olkofri's Saga
The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of the Hitardal People
The Saga of Droplaug's Sons
The Saga of Finnbogi the Mighty
The Saga of Grettir the Strong
The Saga of Gunnar, the Fool of Keldugnup
The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue
The Saga of Hallfred the Troublesome Poet
The Saga of Havard of Isafjord
The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi
The Saga of Hord and the People of Holm
The Saga of Ref the Sly
The Saga of the Confederates
The Saga of the Greenlanders
The Saga of the People of Eyri
The Saga of the People of Fljotsdal
The Saga of the People of Floi
The Saga of the People of Kjalarnes
The Saga of the People of Laxardal
The Saga of the People of Ljosavatn
The Saga of the People of Reykjadal and of Killer-Skuta
The Saga of the People of Svarfadardal
The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal
The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord
The Saga of the Slayings on the Heath
The Saga of the Sworn Brothers
The Saga of Thord Menace
The Saga of Thorstein the White
Thorstein Sidu-Hallson's Saga
Valla-Ljot's Saga
Viglund's Saga
Literature
Index
Index of Manuscripts