Laxdœla saga[1] (
listen (help·info)) is the saga of the clan/family of Laxárdalur. It is one of the most important Icelanders' sagas, originally written in medieval Icelandic (descended from 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.[2] The author is unknown.
The protagonist is Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, who is famous for her beauty, and who was courted by the two foster-brothers Kjartan Ólafsson and Bolli Þorleiksson. Guðrún preferred Kjartan, but she gave herself to Bolli, because of a false rumour that Kjartan was engaged to Ingibjörg, the sister of King Ólafur 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 Bollaþáttur, which ends the saga in the MSs.
Footnotes
- ^ Alternatively Laxdæla saga, Laxdoela saga, Laxdaela saga, The Saga of the People of Laxárdalur.
- ^ Sagas of the Icelanders, Penguin Group
References
This article contains content from the Owl Edition of Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia published between 1904 and 1926 now in public domain.- Sveinsson, Einar Ólafur (ed.): "Íslenzk Fornrit, vol. V: Laxdœla Saga" (University of Iceland, Reykjavík, 1934).
- F. L. Lucas: “The Lovers of Gudrun” (a five-act Icelandic tragedy, based on the Laxdœla Saga), in his Four Plays (1935); first staged at the Stockport Garrick, Nov. 1938.
- Arent, A. Margaret (trans): "The Laxdale Saga" (University of Washington Press, 1964).
- Magnusson, Magnus & Hermann Pálsson (trans): "Laxdaela Saga" (Penguin Classics, London, 1969).
External links
 |
Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
- English and Icelandic text at the Icelandic Saga Database
- Translation in English by Muriel Press (The Temple Classics, London, 1899)
- Text with modern Icelandic spelling
- Laxdæla saga in an English translation by Muriel A. C. Press, 1899, from Project Gutenberg
- [1] Daniel Sävborg, "Kärleken i Laxdœla saga--höviskt och sagatypiskt", Alvíssmál 11 (2004): 75-104 (see English summary p. 104).
- Proverbs in Laxdœla saga
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
