What do you think?
Rate this book
Kormáks saga
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1250
3 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Unknown
506k books3,210 followersBooks can be attributed to "Unknown" when the author or editor (as applicable) is not known and cannot be discovered. If at all possible, list at least one actual author or editor for a book instead of using "Unknown".
Books whose authorship is purposefully withheld should be attributed instead to Anonymous.
Books whose authorship is purposefully withheld should be attributed instead to Anonymous.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 6, 2023
Las aventuras del protagonista que le da título a la saga y sus amores imposibles. Kormak es, a la vez, un bruto descerebrado, un romántico, un guerrero valiente y un poeta destacado. Toda esta combinación le da verisimilitud, hace que el personaje caiga simpático a pesar de lo absurdo de alguno de sus actos y le da fuerza a su contradictoria relación con Steingerd. Muy entrenido.
January 4, 2021
An intriguing look into the lives and telling of the exploits of men in the North during the Viking age in the 800s. This story revolves around a tragic love between Cormac the Skald and the lady he longs for, Steingerd, although the text gives as much to the warrior, Bersi, and he is a more interesting character than Cormac, as I enjoyed his saga more.
The book is filled with holmgangs (one-on-one combats of grievance and for preserving one's honor, though often the opponents had seconds, or shield-men, who also fought one another), much like the infamous affaires d'honneur in later years amid Europeans and Americans. Like many of the tales of this age relaying the stories of an inchoate era, they use up words focused upon dialogue, character relations, and verse rather than today's partiality to expound on the details of the disputes and pivotal conflicts, the latter meaning the rousing verbal description of combat, i.e., the holmgangs, warfare, and, of course, the Viking raids.
So, overall, this could have been a four-star read, but fell short for me for the lack of my wont for more details of the actual conflicts, which are summarized in phrases such as "they met and Cormac struck him his death blow," and "the three brothers came against Bersi and he threw his three spears and slew them." Such succinct phrasing for the long-winded leads up to that point.
The book is filled with holmgangs (one-on-one combats of grievance and for preserving one's honor, though often the opponents had seconds, or shield-men, who also fought one another), much like the infamous affaires d'honneur in later years amid Europeans and Americans. Like many of the tales of this age relaying the stories of an inchoate era, they use up words focused upon dialogue, character relations, and verse rather than today's partiality to expound on the details of the disputes and pivotal conflicts, the latter meaning the rousing verbal description of combat, i.e., the holmgangs, warfare, and, of course, the Viking raids.
So, overall, this could have been a four-star read, but fell short for me for the lack of my wont for more details of the actual conflicts, which are summarized in phrases such as "they met and Cormac struck him his death blow," and "the three brothers came against Bersi and he threw his three spears and slew them." Such succinct phrasing for the long-winded leads up to that point.
October 16, 2022
Letto per l'università
Carino sicuramente fa avvicinare al mondo della saga norrena senza fatica e offre spunti di riflessione per chi le studia
Carino sicuramente fa avvicinare al mondo della saga norrena senza fatica e offre spunti di riflessione per chi le studia
December 3, 2013
Siempre hay algo especial cuando se lee una saga antigua. Ya sea Beowulf, Orlando, el Cid o cualquier otra.
Estas viejas historias lo que hacen es transportarnos a otras épocas, otros mundos en donde las cosas eran, en algunos casos, blanco y negro.
Esta saga en particular gira alrededor de la historia de amor que hay entre Kormak y Steingerd.
Kormak no es sólo un guerrero que es capaz de matar para conseguir lo que desea, también es alguien que sabe usar las runas, el lenguaje. Para los vikingos el manejo de las palabras era algo sumamente valioso por que con ello daban forma al mundo que los rodeaba.
Kormak conoce a Steingerd cuando sale junto con su hermano Thorglis a recoger corderos y se enamora perdidamente de ella “cuando ve sus tobillos” y empieza a cortejarla.
Como en toda historia, hay alguien que se opone a este romance y emboscan a Kormak, en la lucha este mata a los hijos de una hechicera, Thorvieig, la cual hechiza a Kormak con una maldición que hara que Steingerd nunca sea suya.
En este punto la historia se vuelve trágica, pues aunque Kormak ama a Steingerd al punto de poner su vida en riesgo innumerables veces, siempre termina rechazándola y enviándola a los brazos de otros hombres.
Este extraño comportamiento de Kormak, achacable a la maldición, no es ni entendido ni aceptado por Steingerd que pese a todo lo ama, pero su sentido práctico la hace seguir adelante con su vida.
No es de las mejores sagas que he leido, pero el comportamiento de Kormak y Steingerd no deja de ser muy auténtico y creible, junto con el hecho que esta matizada con muchas de costumbres de la época y con imágenes algunas realmente memorables como “yo que a menudo ofrecí / al cuervo la alegría de su cena” refiriéndose a las personas que mató.
Es interesante leerla, pero más como curiosidad o como objeto de estudio.
Estas viejas historias lo que hacen es transportarnos a otras épocas, otros mundos en donde las cosas eran, en algunos casos, blanco y negro.
Esta saga en particular gira alrededor de la historia de amor que hay entre Kormak y Steingerd.
Kormak no es sólo un guerrero que es capaz de matar para conseguir lo que desea, también es alguien que sabe usar las runas, el lenguaje. Para los vikingos el manejo de las palabras era algo sumamente valioso por que con ello daban forma al mundo que los rodeaba.
Kormak conoce a Steingerd cuando sale junto con su hermano Thorglis a recoger corderos y se enamora perdidamente de ella “cuando ve sus tobillos” y empieza a cortejarla.
Como en toda historia, hay alguien que se opone a este romance y emboscan a Kormak, en la lucha este mata a los hijos de una hechicera, Thorvieig, la cual hechiza a Kormak con una maldición que hara que Steingerd nunca sea suya.
En este punto la historia se vuelve trágica, pues aunque Kormak ama a Steingerd al punto de poner su vida en riesgo innumerables veces, siempre termina rechazándola y enviándola a los brazos de otros hombres.
Este extraño comportamiento de Kormak, achacable a la maldición, no es ni entendido ni aceptado por Steingerd que pese a todo lo ama, pero su sentido práctico la hace seguir adelante con su vida.
No es de las mejores sagas que he leido, pero el comportamiento de Kormak y Steingerd no deja de ser muy auténtico y creible, junto con el hecho que esta matizada con muchas de costumbres de la época y con imágenes algunas realmente memorables como “yo que a menudo ofrecí / al cuervo la alegría de su cena” refiriéndose a las personas que mató.
Es interesante leerla, pero más como curiosidad o como objeto de estudio.
January 1, 2018
I thought I will be able to write anything constructive here, but I'm afraid this saga doesn't leave me much choice than saying it was not entirely a good read. I can imagine that some of the trouble may be caused by Old English tones and such, but at the same time, plot of this saga was simply not engaging enough for me. Characters motivations are stil quite a mystery, same goes for the fact what actually Cormac did to become a hero of saga... Because if the reason is rescuing Steingerd then I'm not buying it.
I have a feeling that I would enjoy this book much more if it was translated to Polish (mostly bc Old English was quite a trouble for me), and well... If you have any other sagas to read that this one about Cormac the Skald, you better read those first, bc this one is simply boring.
I have a feeling that I would enjoy this book much more if it was translated to Polish (mostly bc Old English was quite a trouble for me), and well... If you have any other sagas to read that this one about Cormac the Skald, you better read those first, bc this one is simply boring.
April 2, 2018
Of the sagas I have read, one of the shortest and funniest. Consider some of the chapter titles:
Chapter 4 - How Cormac Liked Black-Puddings.
Chapter 9 - Of Another Witch, And Two Magic Swords.
Chapter 26 - How Cormac Saved Steingerd Once More From Pirates.
But beneath the humor, there's also a very universal, very human story about the folly of men, and it's cyclical and sad and relatable. I enjoyed the poetry as well; I don't have as much experience with the skaldic style (compared to the Eddic), and I didn't spend a whole lot of time deciphering, but these were mostly understandable. I appreciated that the translators made an effort to preserve alliteration / frontrhyme in the songs. The language is a little old-fashioned, and I had to google some words, but they were good words, like "thole" and "garth".
Chapter 4 - How Cormac Liked Black-Puddings.
Chapter 9 - Of Another Witch, And Two Magic Swords.
Chapter 26 - How Cormac Saved Steingerd Once More From Pirates.
But beneath the humor, there's also a very universal, very human story about the folly of men, and it's cyclical and sad and relatable. I enjoyed the poetry as well; I don't have as much experience with the skaldic style (compared to the Eddic), and I didn't spend a whole lot of time deciphering, but these were mostly understandable. I appreciated that the translators made an effort to preserve alliteration / frontrhyme in the songs. The language is a little old-fashioned, and I had to google some words, but they were good words, like "thole" and "garth".
April 26, 2024
I’m surprised at many of the reviews of this because as far as epic tales go, I found this one very entertaining. Focused on life of an average person and full of humor, it was much more palatable to the modern reader. It’s so beautiful to think about love poems enduring a thousand years later.
January 31, 2023
tutte le volte che ho voluto prendere a pugni Kormakr. wow.
February 21, 2023
Ikke helt der oppe med Njål eller Egil Skallagrimsson, men som forventet mange artige sitater.
June 9, 2023
Impressionant. Quina obra tant meravellosa! Precioses les descripcions i genial la traducció.
June 22, 2023
Un document i tal i pasqual, però em cau de les mans, i això que tinc formació en literatura medieval.
August 9, 2022
La saga di Kormákr non parla della bravura di questo scaldo che tutti conoscono in Islanda, bensì di come non abbia resistito anche lui al fascino dell'amore, e in particolare della bella Steingerðr, semplicemente scorgendone una sera le caviglie.
Un amore difficile, a partire dal fatto che appartenessero a due ranghi sociali differenti, lei apparteneva a un rango inferiore, e quindi secondo le regole dell'antica società islandese non potevano sposarsi: lei viene così promessa a un altro, ma Kormákr lotterà per il suo amore, facendo venire i brividi al lettore visto la maestosità con cui parlerà della sua Steingerðr.
La narrazione è scorrevole, ed è arricchita da kennigar, ossia perifrasi tipiche della metrica scandinava che legano insieme elementi disparati per rimandare a qualcos'altro, e sono anche simbolo di tecnica, genio, e uno stratagemma che consente allo scaldo di celare il nome della donna che ama, per esempio "la luce dell'onda", che sta per Steingerðr.
Sono proprio le Kennigar a farti amare questa saga, e devo dire che una mi ha particolarmente colpito è "dicitore di sapienza" per poeta.
Un amore difficile, a partire dal fatto che appartenessero a due ranghi sociali differenti, lei apparteneva a un rango inferiore, e quindi secondo le regole dell'antica società islandese non potevano sposarsi: lei viene così promessa a un altro, ma Kormákr lotterà per il suo amore, facendo venire i brividi al lettore visto la maestosità con cui parlerà della sua Steingerðr.
La narrazione è scorrevole, ed è arricchita da kennigar, ossia perifrasi tipiche della metrica scandinava che legano insieme elementi disparati per rimandare a qualcos'altro, e sono anche simbolo di tecnica, genio, e uno stratagemma che consente allo scaldo di celare il nome della donna che ama, per esempio "la luce dell'onda", che sta per Steingerðr.
Sono proprio le Kennigar a farti amare questa saga, e devo dire che una mi ha particolarmente colpito è "dicitore di sapienza" per poeta.
Read
February 23, 2011This was not the translation I read (I read the Hollander version, in The Sagas of Kormak and the Sworn Brothers), but it was an interesting tale.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews