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Comic Sagas and Tales from Iceland
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Comic Sagas and Tales from Iceland
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See moreIcelandic literary culture was one of the richest and most important in the medieval world. This title brings together the finest comic stories from medieval Iceland. It examines how the stories satirised old-style sagas while exploiting their classic themes of quests and revenge.
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Description
Comic Sagas and Tales brings together the finest comic stories from medieval Iceland. With feuding families and moments of grotesque violence, the sagas see such classic mythological figures as murdered fathers, disguised beggars, corrupt chieftains, and avenging sons do battle with axes, words, and cunning.
Icelandic literary culture was one of the richest and most important in the medieval world. Texts that were written in Iceland during this period include Njal's Saga, Egil's Saga, The Vinland Sagas, as well as the Comic Sagas and Tales collected in this volume.
The tales follow heroes and comical fools through dreams, voyages, and religious conversions in Iceland and beyond. Shaped by Iceland's oral culture and their conversion to Christianity, these stories are works of ironic humour and stylistic innovation.
In the introduction to these new translations, Vi ar Hreinsson examines how the stories satirised old-style sagas while exploiting their classic themes of quests and revenge. This edition also includes a map, glossary, index of characters, suggested further reading and notes.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Comic Sagas and Tales from Iceland is praised for its unique take on Icelandic narratives, presenting stories that are edgy, subversive, and often grim. In contrast to the traditional and often uplifting Icelandic family sagas, these tales provide a darker, counter-narrative experience, as explained in the insightful introduction by ViΓ°ar.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780140447743
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 March 2013
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Penguin Classics
Contributors:
- Introduction by ViΓ°ar Hreinsson
- Edited by Robert Kellogg
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 19.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 270g
Pages: 368
About the Author
Vi ar Hreinsson grew up on a farm in Northern Iceland and studied Icelandic and literary theory in Iceland and Copenhagen. He is an independent literary scholar at the Reykjavik Academy and has taught and lectured on various aspects of Icelandic literary and cultural history both in Iceland and abroad, in Canada, USA and Scandinavia. General Editor of The Complete Sagas of Icelanders I-V (1997), he has also authored an award-winning two-volume biography of Icelandic Canadian poet Stephan G. Stephansson (2002-3). More recently, he has been an environmental activist, written two additional biographies and served as director of the Reykjavik Academy.
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