The Saga of the JómsvíkingsA loyal translation of the medieval Icelandic saga of a strong ruler and his men versus a brotherhood of fierce Viking mercenaries. In A.D. 986, Earl Hákon, ruler of most of Norway, won a triumphant victory over an invading fleet of Danes in the great naval battle of Hjórunga Bay. Sailing under his banner were no fewer than five Icelandic skalds, the poet-historians of the Old Norse world. Two centuries later their accounts of the battle became the basis for one of the liveliest of the Icelandic sagas, with special emphasis on the doings of the Jómsvíkings, the famed members of a warrior community that feared no one and dared all. In Lee M. Hollander's faithful translation, all of the unknown twelfth-century author's narrative genius and flair for dramatic situation and pungent characterization is preserved. "[A] famous tale of derring-do . . . Hollander has been able to do the even more difficult job of faithfully rendering one text into English with complete loyalty to the style and spirit of his original." — Speculum |
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Common terms and phrases
Ćthelstan Alof arrow Áslák Astrid attack banquet Bjorn the Welshman blow Bornholm brother Búi Búi's called child Codex Holmiensis Danes Danish daughter deathblow Denmark dreams earl asked Earl Eric Earl Hákon Earl Harold Earl Klak-Harold Earl Strút-Harold earl's Einar father fell fight Fiolnir fleet foster Funen funeral feast Geirmund Gesta Danorum Gorm the Old Gunnhild Havard the Hewing historical Hjórunga Bay Icelandic skalds Ingeborg island Jómsborg Jómsvíkings killed King Burisleif King Gorm King Harold King Svein king's king's men kinsman Knút land leapt Lim Firth marriage Möre natóki Norway Olaf Old Norse Palnatóki Palnir Queen Thýra raided replied returned rowed ruled saga sailed Saumćsa sent messengers Sigurd Cape Sigvaldi skalds sons spoke this verse Stefnir summer Svein Forkbeard sword Thereupon Thorgerd Thorkel asked Thorkel Leira Thorkel the Tall Thorleif Skúma three ships told took Tova Vagn Vagn's Vellekla Véseti Wales winter wise Zealand
Popular passages
Page 21 - The Sayings of Har". Similar emphasis on reputation above other values pervades the family sagas, which are set in the 10th and early 1 1th centuries.2 Good reputation was acquired by preserving and increasing...
Page 21 - Jomsvikings" (Chap. 23), where he gives us men who know how to die. They look death unflinchingly in the eye and with a jest on their lips. They love life but would not be able to survive the taunt of having begged for it. It is as though they were conceived as embodiments and ensamples of the noble sentiment of the Eddie "Havamol...
