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Title: King Harald's Saga by Magnus Magnusson, Paulsson Herman, Snorri Sturlusson, Hermann Palsson ISBN: 0-14-044183-2 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: October, 1976 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Perfect introduction to the Sagas
Comment: On a long car trip, my very cool 16-year-old son finally gave in to my urgings and started grudgingly to read this book (the only one in the car). After grumbling his way through the first page or so, he became completely caught up in it and started to exclaim aloud: "Whoa! Listen to this! Harald has just put out the Byzantine emperor's eyes!" "He just threw all the prisoners overboard so that the pursuing fleet would have to stop and rescue them!" "He just told the enemy earl to 'kiss my thin-lipped axe'!"
The saga starts with the fifteen-year-old Harald fleeing for his life through the Norwegian forest after the battle that killed his older brother, King Olaf (Saint Olaf). Harald is a historical figure, and if one-tenth of the stories about him are true, he was a towering leader and villain.
The translation is wonderful, the language is vivid, and the emotions and intelligence of these eleventh-century figures are as modern as those of any story of our own times. I can't think of a better introduction to the world of the sagas.
After this, read Njals Saga and Egils Saga!
Rating: 3
Summary: Collector's Piece
Comment: Harald's Saga might prove to be a dissapointment to both casual readers and those who are already accustomed to the style of the sagas alike, which is why I have dubbed it a 'Collector's Piece,' because I see it as only necessary to acquire if you are very interested in the subject of Icelandic sagas and already have a collection of the essentials (Njal's saga, Laxdaela Saga, Egil's Saga, etc.). It is by no means a good choice for someone just beginning to delve into these types of books (the best choice would be either Eyrbyggja or Laxdaela Saga in my opinion). Although, as someone who already DOES have a collection of Sagas and IS a collector, I did find much enjoyment in Harald's Saga. But at the same time, I was also frustrated by it's length (a little over 100 pages, with pages sometimes being half obscured by footnotes), along with the fact that very much of the saga is conveyed through court poetry. This might not seem like such a bad thing, but it is. Court poetry is an extremely complicated form of poetry, which makes it almost literally impossible to translate into another language and at the same time retain both metre and meaning. So the translators have decided it only appropriate to translate all of the poetry in prose, with neither metre, refrain, rhyme, or any other aspects of poetry as they are bent on conveying the meaning of the verse rather than the form. Of course, I can not blame the translator's for this; this is nobody's fault, but it does mean that a whole lot of Harald's Saga was lost in the translation.
However, what is interesting about Harald's Saga is how it relates to our own (American, English) culture, as King Harald Sigurdsson was the Norwegian king that invaded England and may have been the reason why King Harold of England lost his battle with William the Conqueror and likewise lost the throne.
I also want to point out to buyers that this is not the King Harald often mentioned in the other sagas, but a King Harald born much later than the sagas of Egil Skalagrimsson, Njal, or Snorri the Priest.
REP
Rating: 4
Summary: From Wandering Mercenary to King: A True Life "Conan"
Comment: When his half-brother, King Olaf the Saint, was killed in battle, Harald Sigurdssen fled Norway at the age of 15. Harald traveled throughout Russia and Europe, became a mercenary soldier of the Varangian Guard in Byzantium, and eventually returned to Norway to claim the throne. Over the next twenty years he became known as Harald Hadradi (Harald the Ruthless). He ruled Norway with an iron hand, made constant war on Denmark, and won renown as the most feared warrior in Europe. At age 51 Harald undertook his most daring endeavor--the invasion of England. In 1066 he landed an army in Northern England, and did battle with the Saxons at Stamford Bridge. My highschool history books told much about 1066, the the Battle of Hastings, and the Norman Conquest, but nothing of Harald Hadradi. I had quite a surprise when I read this book as a college student. What might have been had the Battle of Stamford Bridge gone differently? Nineteen days later at Hastings William the Conqueror would have faced Vikings under Harald Hadradi, not Saxons under Harold Godwinson. What might have been had Harald not invaded? At Hastings the Saxon army would have been neither fatigued by forced marches nor battered from the desperate Battle of Stamford Bridge. Although we cannot be certain of the hypothetical outcome of the Norman invasion under such changed circumstances, we can be certain of this: The story of Harald is intriguing and action-packed. Harald may not cut a very sympathetic figure, but his prowess and his deeds command a begrudging admiration.
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Title: Vinland Sagas: Norse Discovery of America by Magnus Magnusson ISBN: 0140441549 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: June, 1965 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Laxdaela Saga by Magnussen, Magnus Magnusson ISBN: 0140442189 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: November, 1969 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Egil's Saga by Hermann Palsson, Paul Edwards ISBN: 0140443215 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: February, 1977 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer (Penguin Classics) by Jesse L. Byock ISBN: 0140447385 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: January, 2000 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Njal's Saga by Robert Cook ISBN: 0140447695 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 28 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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