Rolf, son of Hiarandi the Unlucky, is a character who exemplifies the effect of Christ's teachings upon the Icelandic people during their heroic age. The book is set in Iceland in the days when Christianity has come to the island though the old customs still linger. Hiarandi, at the urging of his wife, does an unprecedented thing: he lights a signal fire on a dangerous point of his land, thereby challenging the accepted custom which places lucrative salvage at higher value than the saving of life. However, the life that is saved that night causes his own death and the unjust outlawing of his son Rolf. Rolf's response to this injustice creates a suspenseful, thought-provoking tale difficult to put down.
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About the Author
Allen French was born on November 28, 1870, in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1894 and for several years, beginning in 1908, taught English at his alma mater. His first interest, however, was history, and his contributions to historical writing are many and varied. Of special interest to readers of his Story of Grettir the Strong are his books Rolf and the Viking Bow, and Heroes of Iceland, an adaptation of Njal's Saga. Also of particular interest to young readers are his Sir Marrok: A Tale of the Days of King Arthur, The Red Keep: A Story of Burgundy in the Year 1165, and The Lost Baron: A Story of England in the Year 1200. The latter two books are illustrated by N. C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth. ...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent saga,
By
This review is from: The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow (Living History Library) (Paperback)
The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow is one of the best recrafted narratives I have ever read. Allen French brought to life this story that he originally found as one of the Kolbieters. (The Kolbieters, founded by JRR Tolkien, was a group of friends that read ancient verse in their original languages.) I would recommend it to any history buff, Tolkien fan, fantasy reader, or just any one looking for a well written story.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Icelandic treasure,
By
This review is from: The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow (Living History Library) (Paperback)
Allen French has translated some of the old Icelandic sagas, including GRETTIR THE STRONG, but this is a novel, using some of the locations and settings and even some of the characters of the sagas. I first encountered this book at about the age of twelve, read it many times, and always wanted a copy. The story has plenty of adventure, some interesting twists, and is a good read, but it also deals with how to face adversity and the danger of pride. It's an excellent book for teenagers and adults will probably also enjoy this story.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent boys' story,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow (Living History Library) (Paperback)
My 12 year old son, ...loved reading this book. I planned to assign him to read 1 chapter a day and expected the usual struggle to make him read it, but he loved it so much that he finished it in short time and kept telling me what a great book he thought it was. He just didn't like when a dead character came back alive to fight Rolf, or the witchcraft parts, but otherwise wanted to read more books by this author...
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
IN THE TIME after Iceland had become Christian, and after the burning of Njal, but before the deaths of Snorri the Priest and Grettir the Outlaw, there lived at Cragness above Broadfirth a man named Hiarandi, called the Unlucky. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
thy thralls, locked bed, thy ship Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Snorri the Priest, Grettir the Strong, Earl Thorfinn, Frodi the Smith, Ondott Crafty, Hill of Laws, Pentland Firth, Quarter Court, South Isles, Vale of the Hermit, Vemund the Pitiless New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
IN THE TIME after Iceland had become Christian, and after the burning of Njal, but before the deaths of Snorri the Priest and Grettir the Outlaw, there lived at Cragness above Broadfirth a man named Hiarandi, called the Unlucky. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
thy thralls, locked bed, thy ship Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Snorri the Priest, Grettir the Strong, Earl Thorfinn, Frodi the Smith, Ondott Crafty, Hill of Laws, Pentland Firth, Quarter Court, South Isles, Vale of the Hermit, Vemund the Pitiless New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 6
books:
See all 6 books this book cites
2
books
cite this book:
- The Red Keep (Adventure Library) by Allen French in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Lost Baron: A Story of England in the Year 1200 (Adventure Library (Warsaw, N.D.).) by Allen French in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Historic Concord and the Lexington Fight by Allen French in Front Matter
- Historic Concord and the Lexington Fight by Allen French in Front Matter
- Siege of Boston (Massachusetts heritage series) by Allen French in Front Matter
See all 6 books this book cites
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