Laxdœla saga

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Map of the district of the Laxdæla saga, from an English language translation

Laxdœla saga^[1] is the saga of the clan/family of Laxárdalur. It is one of the most important Icelanders' sagas, originally written in medieval Icelandic (a dialect of 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, although some scholars believe through textual evidence that the author was probably a woman.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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.

[edit] Footnotes

^ Alternatively Laxdæla saga, Laxdoela saga, Laxdaela saga, The Saga of the People of Laxárdalur.
^ Sagas of the Icelanders, Penguin Group

[edit] References

This article contains content from the Owl Edition of Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia published between 1904–1926 now in Public Domain.
Sveinsson, Einar Ólafur (ed.): "Íslenzk Fornrit, vol. V: Laxdœla Saga" (University of Iceland, Reykjavík, 1934).
Arent, A. Margaret (trans): "The Laxdale Saga" (University of Washington Press, 1964).
Magnusson, Magnus & Hermann Pálsson (trans): "Laxdaela Saga" (Penguin Classics, London, 1969).