Synopses & Reviews
Based on oral tales that originated from historical events in tenth-century Iceland, these two sagas follow the fate of a powerful Viking family across two generations, from its early Norwegian ancestry to fierce battles to defend its honor. Gisli Sursson’s Saga is a story of forbidden love and divided loyalties, in which the heroic Gisli vows to avenge the murder of his “sworn brother” and sets in motion a chain of events that culminate in tragedy. The Saga of the People of Eyri continues the story with Snorri, a cunning leader of the next generation, who uses his intellect to restore social order. Blending gripping narrative, humor, the supernatural, and shrewd observation, these tales reveal the richness of the saga tradition and present a vivid record of a society moving from ruthless individualism to a Christian ethic of reconciliation and order.
- First time in Penguin Classics
- Includes a new Introduction, suggestions for further reading, explanatory notes, and plot summaries
- Contains a reference section with maps, chronology, glossary, and an index of characters, as well as notes on the historical, social, and political makeup of Viking-controlled Iceland
Synopsis
These sagas recount fierce feuds in which honour is fought for, sacrifice is demanded, and blood is shed. The fate of the characters at the centre of each saga, however, is very different. Gisli is a traditional Viking-age hero who is determined to exact revenge at any cost and whose death is tragic when it comes. In contrast his nephew, Snorri, represents a new generation and acts to strengthen the new social order. Taken together these sagas reveal the richness and variety of the saga tradition.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Synopsis
Based on oral tales that originated from historical events in tenth-century Iceland, these two sagas follow the fate of a powerful Viking family across two generations, from its early Norwegian ancestry to fierce battles to defend its honor. Gisli Sursson’s Saga is a story of forbidden love and divided loyalties, in which the heroic Gisli vows to avenge the murder of his “sworn brother” and sets in motion a chain of events that culminate in tragedy. The Saga of the People of Eyri continues the story with Snorri, a cunning leader of the next generation, who uses his intellect to restore social order. Blending gripping narrative, humor, the supernatural, and shrewd observation, these tales reveal the richness of the saga tradition and present a vivid record of a society moving from ruthless individualism to a Christian ethic of reconciliation and order.
- First time in Penguin Classics
- Includes a new Introduction, suggestions for further reading, explanatory notes, and plot summaries
- Contains a reference section with maps, chronology, glossary, and an index of characters, as well as notes on the historical, social, and political makeup of Viking-controlled Iceland
About the Author
Vésteinn Ólason is Head of the Árni Magnússon Institute in Reykjavic and has published numerous books on literary history and criticism, including the Literary History of Iceland.