Njáls saga

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Njáls saga

Icelanders' saga, one of the longest and finest. Set in a society where blood ties impose inescapable obligations and honour demands vengeance for past injuries, it presents the most comprehensive picture of Icelandic life in the heroic age. Its overriding mood is tragic pessimism. Its vividly drawn characters, who range from comic to sinister, include two heroes — Gunnar (Gunther), a brave, guileless, generous youth, and Njál, a wise and prudent man endowed with prophetic gifts.

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