Customer Reviews

Iceland: Land of the Sagas

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Another coffee table paperweight? Not by a long shot! I am planning a trip to Iceland and have been reading fairly intensively in the subject. When I began reading this book, I did not expect to learn much. What a pleasant surprise! I spent a whole Sunday poring through it and was surprised at how excellent the text is -- and how well Jon Kracauer's superb photographs supplements it.

David Roberts digs deep into the sagas, quoting from such relatively abstruse sources as GIMLI'S SAGA, GRETTIR'S SAGA, and BARD'S SAGA. The helpful bibliography lists a number of works I never knew existed, including a book by Sir Richard Francis Burton, the African explorer, about a summer he spent in Iceland as well as a number of rare travel books written by Europeans going back as far as the 18th century. One thing unique about this book is that Roberts and Kracauer visit many out-of-the-way places mentioned in the sagas, such as the almost inaccessible Isle of Drangey, where Grettir the Strong met his death.

If you hope to visit Iceland, get this book first. It will give you not only an excellent background in the sagas but an awe for this isolated land that is so close and yet so far.

Truly a beautiful book! I would have expected to pay quite a bit more for the heavy paper and breathtaking pictures.

I found it to be an excellent introduction to Iceland. The first 40% of the book is devoted to a general introduction to the land, early history, and flora and fauna. After that, the authors intertwine travelogue and stories from the Icelandic sagas to give a picture of early Iceland, and how the history, geography and people have all combined to produce today's Iceland.

About half text, half stunning pictures, this book is a must-have!

I am glad I got this book just for the text, which is excellent. But I'm surprised at rave reviews for the photos, which to me are absurd. They hardly explore Iceland's unique topography and instead turn it into a generic rugged Anywhere. Notice that in almost every photo there's some sign of habitation: a building, an animal,a person in a boat, etc. The thing that distinguishes Iceland is that there's NO ONE there. You can drive for hours, as I have along the coast on a road that's simply a leveling of the gravel, without seeing another car, building or even a road sign. It's creepy and exhilerating. It's the ideal place to be alone. The landscape is so unusual it reminds you of nothing familiar, nothing from your past. And except for rocky outcroppings, it's flat in a way that makes you feel you could be on the moon. I love Iceland, am obsessed with it, and go there as often as possible. For me it is a source of existential peace. For a true picture of the landscape, listen to the music of Sigur Ros, and investigate the photographs of artist Olafur Eliasson. Or go and take your own pictures. They'll be better than these.

I ordered this book before coming to Iceland-- When I received the book I first was amazed by the Photography, it was outstanding. I couldn't wait until I was in Iceland so that I visit some of the places I saw in the book. (It looks even better in person-- no trick photography here) I also read about the sagas-- Sagas in Iceland are a very big part of the culture--No ifs ands or buts. They love telling stories about the sagas and thanks to this book I have been able to carry on some interesting conversations with the local Icelandic folks. Most sagas are rich with excitment. If you are looking for a book with great photos mixed with Icelandic culture-- Here's your book!

As a native Icelander I have been feeling very nostalgic for my homeplace and for my history of more than 1100 years since I read Krakauer's and Roberts's book: Iceland, Land of the Sagas. My memories were rekindled by seeing the excellant photographs by Krakauer and the well researched and presented narrative by Roberts. I like in particular the way Roberts weaves the sagas to the lacal of the Saga in present day Iceland and his telling the story of Iceland through the eyes of earlier foreign tavellers who wrote about the country. I was especially enthralled by Roberts excellent retelling of the Sagas and was brought back repeatedly to my Icelandic study days. The sensitivity and fairness that the authors handle their presentation is examplary. Krakauer's photographs give a vivid and true picture of the varied and harsh beauty of Iceland as I know it. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in history or those who might contemplate traveling to Iceland. It's also a good book for those who are interested in the Viking Age and its histroy.

I'm fascinated with Iceland. I'm a freak, I guess. For some reason, I want nothing more than to learn the entire history of the country and then move there. Being the "Icelandite" that I am, I read any literature on the country that I can get my hands on. This book was excellent. A perfecr combination of color photos and text. The text is filled with and almost exclusively pertains to the Icelandic sagas. Reading excerts from them and then looking at pictures of the sites where they took place gives you a great idea of what it must've been like to live in Iceland about 1000 years ago. It also gives you a good picture of what daily like is like. It shows you the contrasts between city life in Reykjavik, and country life in... well, just about everywhere else. Being the isolated country that it is, Iceland has had the chance to develop and nuture its own very individual culture.

This book gave me a new appreciation for the remarkable history of the world's most literate people. The photography was (for lack of a more original word) breathtaking. This tome is perfect for anyone who wants to dispell friends' misconceptions (my copy has been lent out numerous times), learn more, or just look at splendid photos of Europe's best-kept vacation secret.

The breathtaking photography in this book makes the purchase well worth it. This book is definitely a keeper for anyone with a love for Iceland. The pro Krakauer does justice to the grandeur that is Iceland. The text is well researched, but it really is the quality photography that pulls the reader in. Quality photography of Iceland at this low price is really amazing.

I recently visited Iceland for a a couple days enroute from Europe to the US and found myself enchanted by the country and its people. Returning home, I immediately wanted to purchase a book that would give me a better understanding of the culture, the land, and the history. This book has it all, and has filled me with interesting facts and stories, not to mention the beautiful visuals the photographs give. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in or loves Iceland.

For anyone into the wild and all pure nature of Iceland, this is a good but advanced start. Try taking Njall's Saga at one hand and this very good-quality pictured book at the other and flip through the pages as you learn more about the Saga, the characters and the actual places where all these wild yet quite Icelandic bravery epic stories took place.This book is also great for anyone who would want to pursue a deeper understanding of the life during 1000 - when Christianity was adopted in Iceland. Again in this book you will get to read parts from various sagas, see turf homes and get a taste of pure Iceland. Enjoy it.