Comic Sagas and Tales from Iceland

by Viðar Hreinsson (Editor & Introduction)

The capstone volume in Penguin Classics’ celebrated series of Icelandic sagas 
Comic Sagas and Tales from Iceland brings together the very finest Icelandic stories from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, a time of civil unrest and social upheaval. With feuding families and moments of grotesque violence, the sagas see such classic mythological figures as murdered fathers, disguised beggars, corrupt chieftains, and avenging sons who do battle with axes, words, and cunning. The tales, meanwhile, follow heroes and comical fools through dreams, voyages, and religious conversions in medieval Iceland and beyond. Shaped by Iceland’s oral culture and its people’s conversion to Christianity, these stories are works of ironic humor and stylistic innovation.

Genres: Fiction, Medieval, Mythology, Folklore, Short Stories, Classics, Scandinavian Literature

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 1997

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

The punchline tends to be “he split him down the middle”, or “he was cleft in twain with an axe”, and there are over five men named Thorbjorn sometimes in the same saga, and the main form of redress for a perceived slight is an instant dagger in the head—in addition to these brilliant traits, the Icelandic sagas are ice-caked episodic treks across the wilds of Middle Age Scandinavia with the requisite sanguine sharpness and murderous wit. Forget Game of Thrones. These are the real thing.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of anonymously written sagas is surprisingly good. I had read two or three of them previously, but enjoyed the presentation and the excellent notes in this Penguin edition.

We know that the old Vikings were a snarky lot. It didn't take much of a pretext to cause blood to flow and an equally if not more outrageous vengeance to follow. A line like "I never expected to hear you say such a thing, and if we weren't good friends I would make you pay bitterly for that." Of course, it is only a matter of a few paragraphs before a sword hack to the shoulders cuts down the perpetrator.

At the same time, there is a good deal of comedy in even the most serious of sagas, such as this insult from Skarp-Hedin Njalsson of Njals Saga: "You really ought to pick from your teeth the pieces from the mare's arse nyou ate before riding to the Thing [Assembly]."

If you have any interest in the Icelandic sagas -- and once you have read the Big 5 (Njals Saga, The Saga of Grettir the Strong, Egils Saga, The Laxdaela Saga, and The Eyrbyggja Saga -- you owe it to yourself to see the lighter vein represented in Comic Sagas and Tales from Iceland.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this collection of comic sagas; although, in general I think I prefer the more heroic/dramatic tales. Still this is an interesting and diverse addition to any library of Old Norse/Scandinavian literature. I am gradually trying to read all the available sagas and Eddic/Skaldic poetry and this does make a pleasant contrast to the hero and historical sagas I've read so far. Ref the Sly was one of my favourites in this set of stories. Plus I found the shorter Tales very entertaining.

[Kim Zarins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection. Perfect to use in the classroom or just for your own pleasure.

[Paulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly wonderful collection of stories, I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this book!

[John Majerle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining collection of sagas and tales from old Iceland. I find myself wanting to learn more about these people and their culture. They would make an excellent basis for modern (or even science fiction) stories.

[Gerry Grenfell-Walford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had moved on to reading Icelandic sagas as a natural progression from the books that dominated my childhood reading. Tolkien, Lancelyn Green, C S Lewis, Alan Garner, Lloyd Alexander & etc...and then was lucky enough to be offered a module in Icelandic sagas at university!
Imagine my excitement then to discover this little tome, published back in 2013, which had somehow slipped under the radar! Obviously I bought it immediately!
This book has some smashing additions to the existing texts available via Penguin Classics: namely translations of the Fóstbrædra and Bandamanna sagas. These are especially gratifying because they're much mentioned elsewhere and showcase a new and delightful ironical tone (as opposed to the no-nonsense language of the Njala and Egil's saga for instance).
The introductory material was enlightening in discussing the place of these more self-aware and elaborate texts within the greater development of Mediaeval Icelandic literature.
So now, to explain the three star rating I've given the book.
Personally, the older translations by Magnus Magnusson and Herman Palsson are just more accessible and fluid. Several translators worked towards the pieces in this volume but they don't uniformly match the standard of the older translations. I'm not qualified to speak academically how accurate the translation is but as a reading experience, Magnusson makes a smoother read.
Then there's the republishing of Olkofri's Saga and Hreidar's tale, both already available in Hrafnkel's Saga and other tales, available in Penguins. I'm not sure these reiterations improve upon the previous ones, or bring anything new to them.
Sadly, and again, this is subjective, I felt the Saga of Ref the Sly, and The Tale of Sarcastic Halli dragged upon reading them.
So all in, I approve of the efforts of the volume: they convey all the verve and colour that mediaeval Icelandic Literature is capable of, and the strange pragmatism that spans both stunning physical brutality and the eerie and fey supernatural events.
But having read it I'm unlikely to keep it for a future reread.

[Tom Fordham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid selection of sagas, its interesting that these are satirical more than comical. I think the satirical element is what makes these sagas darkly humorous and tongue-in-cheek. My favourite for example was Ale-hood's, some excellent insults in there that I may have to borrow! You can see where they're mocking their heroic saga past but simultaneously giving you some solid action and heroic deeds - mostly when they're seeking revenge. Was a good book to read to get out of my reading slump, eventful, funny and interesting.

[Steven "Steve" · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent selection of Icelandic Sagas and Tales from around 1200-1400 AD, ranging from the serious to the silly. Provides a guide to kennings that appear in the poetry, as well as a history of the Sagas. Very entertaining and interesting reading.

[Ulrika Stonegate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, some of these sagas.
The Sworn-Brothers, honestly, that saga could be a Tarantino film like Reservoir Dogs
Havard of Islafjord, kinda like Unforgiven as the old Viking goes out for revenge
Ref the Sly though, holy cow, steam-punk Viking!!!

[Denahi]

i wish i was as cool as these guys

[Lulu]

The Saga of the Sworn Brothers - Fóstbrœðra saga not much later than 1200 (or late 13th??)
Olkofri’s Saga/tale late 13th
The Saga of the Confederates - Bandamanna saga late 13th
Hreidar's Tale - Hreiðars þáttr c. 1200 and no later than the mid-13th century

The Saga of Havard of Isafjord - Hávarðar saga Ísfirðings end 13th/ early 14th (or as late as 15th??)
The Saga of Ref the Sly - Króka-Refs saga late 14th
The Tale of Thorleif, Earl Poet - Þorleifs þáttur jarlaskálds late 13th/ early 14th
The Tale of Thorstein Shiver - Þorsteins þáttur skelks c. 1300
The Tale of Sarcastic Halli - Sneglu-Halla þáttur shorter version contained in Morkinskinna c. 1217-1222