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Njal's Saga
Njal's Saga | Robert Cook, Leifur Eiricksson
2 posts | 8 read | 9 to read
Written in the thirteenth century, Njal's Saga is a story that explores perennial human problems-from failed marriages to divided loyalties, from the law's inability to curb human passions to the terrible consequences when decent men and women are swept up in a tide of violence beyond their control. It is populated by memorable and complex characters like Gunnar of Hlidarendi, a powerful warrior with an aversion to killing, and the not-so-villainous Mord Valgardsson. Full of dreams, strange prophecies, violent power struggles, and fragile peace agreements, Njal's Saga tells the compelling story of a fifty-year blood feud that, despite its distance from us in time and place, is driven by passions familiar to us all. This Penguin Classics edition includes an introduction, chronology, index of characters, plot summary, explanatory notes, maps, and suggestions for further reading.
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Njal's Saga | Anonymous
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Icelandic saga ~13th century.

Passage above is typical and atypical. Typical because the importance of the law and its judgments permeates the text in a way I think people who expect an Icelandic Saga to be full of battle scenes and murder would not expect.

Atypical in that there are lots of battle scenes and murders. Also humor, colorful characters, and an exploration of honor, its consequences and the failure of laws to successfully mediate.

Settings No spoilers but realize that does have some epic foreshadowing. 5y
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Njal's Saga | Robert Cook, Leifur Eiricksson
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Major spoiler...

3 pages into the intro: "It is impossible to summarize briefly the 'plot' of of Njal's Saga. At its core is the tragedy of ... Njal ... who with his family is burned alive in his home"

Inconsiderate ass of an intro writer. It's a 900 year old book... I wanted to read the intro for some sort of guidance.. what did they have to spoil what must be the most pivotal scene in the book for?

DebbieGrillo That's awful. 7y
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