The Laxdaela Saga: Or, Laxdale Saga (Forgotten Books) [Paperback]

Book Description:

"Laxdaela saga is the saga of the clan/family of Laxardalur. It is one of the most important Icelanders' sagas, originally written in medieval Icelandic (a dialect of Old Norse); probably in western Iceland sometime around the year 1245 AD. It is noted for its mention of the first known Norseman in the Varangian Guard: the Icelander Bolli Bollason. The author is unknown, although some scholars believe through textual evidence that the author was probably a woman. The protagonist is Gudrun Osvifursdottir, who is famous for her beauty, and who was courted by the two foster-brothers Kjartan Olafsson and Bolli Porleiksson. Gudrun preferred Kjartan, but she gave herself to Bolli, because of a false rumour that Kjartan was engaged to Ingibjorg, the sister of King Olafur Tryggvason. The two foster-brothers engaged in hostilities which ended with Bolli killing Kjartan, and Bolli being killed by Kjartan's kinsmen. The saga has a high reputation for its literary qualities, consistent storyline and character description. However, its historic accuracy is criticised. There were probably real events behind the saga, but their order has been rearranged and there are anachronisms concerning clothes and armour. A later addition from the early 14th century is Bollapattur, which ends the saga in the MSs." (Quote from wikipedia.org)

Table of Contents:

Publisher's Preface; Of Ketill Flatnose And His Descendants, 9th Century A.d; Ketill And His Sons Prepare To Leave Norway; Ketill's Sons Go To Iceland; Ketill Goes To Scotland, A.d. 890; Unn Goes To Iceland, A.d. 895; Unn Divides Her Land; Of The Wedding Of Olaf "feilan", A.d. 920; The Birth Of Hrut And Thorgerd's Second Widowhood, A.d. 916; Hoskuld's Marriage, A.d. 935; Of viga Hrapp; About Thord Goddi And Thorbjorn Skrjup; Hoskuld Buys A Slave Woman; Hoskuld Returns To Iceland, A.d. 938; The Murder Of Hall, Ingjald's Brother; Thorolf's Escape With Asgaut The Thrall; Thord Becomes Olaf's Foster Father, A.d. 945; About viga Hrapp's Ghost, A.d. 950; Of The Drowning Of Thorstein Swart; Hrut Comes To Iceland; Melkorka's Marriage And Olaf The Peacock's Journey, A.d. 955; Olaf The Peacock Goes To Ireland, A.d. 956; Olaf The Peacock Comes Home To Iceland, A.d. 957; The Marriage Of Olaf Peacock And Thorgerd, The Daughter Of Egil, A.d. 959; The Building Of Herdholt, A.d. 962; About Hoskuld's Sons; The Death Of Hoskuld, A.d. 965; The Funeral Feast For Hoskuld; The Birth Of Kjartan, Olaf's Son, A.d. 970; Olaf's Second Journey To Norway, A.d. 975; About Giermund And Thurid, A.d. 978; Thurid's Second Marriage, A.d. 982; Of Osvif Helgison; Of Gest Oddleifson And Gudrun's Dreams; Gudrun's First Marriage, A.d. 989; Gudrun's Second Marriage, A.d. 991; About Kotkell And Grima; About Hrut And Eidgrim, A.d. 995; The Death Of Stigandi. Thorleik Leaves Iceland; Of Kjartan's Friendship For Bolli; Kjartan And Bolli Voyage To Norway, A.d. 999; Bolli Returns To Iceland, A.d. 1000; Bolli Makes Love To Gudrun, A.d. 1000; Kjartan Comes Back To Iceland, A.d.1001; Kjartan Comes Home, A.d. 1001; Kjartan Marries Hrefna, A.d. 1002; Feast At Herdholt And The Loss Of Kjartan's Sword, A.d. 1002; Kjartan Goes To Laugar, And Of The Bargain For Tongue, A.d. 1003; The Men Of Laugar And Gudrun Plan An Ambush For Kjartan, A.d. 1003; The Death Of Kjartan; The End Of Hrefna. The Peace Settled, A.d. 1003; Osvif's Sons Are Banished; The Killing Of Thorkell Of Goat-peaks; Thorgerd's Egging, A.d. 1006; Halldor Prepares To Avenge Kjartan; The Death Of Bolli; Bolli Bollison Is Born, A.d. 1006-7; About Thorgils Hallason, A.d. 1018; Thorkell And Grim, And Their Voyage Abroad; Gudrun Demands Revenge For Bolli, A.d. 1019; The Egging Of Gudrun; Of Thorstein The Black And Lambi; Thorgils And His Followers Leave Home; The Description Of His Enemies Brought To Helgi; The Death Of Helgi, A.d. 1019; Of Gudrun's Deceit; Osvif