Thor Şimşeği: Vikinglerin Efsane Kralı Olaf

by Robert Leighton, Seyhun Kıpçak (Çevirmen), Celal Coşkun (editör-genel yayın yönetmeni)

Robert Leighton (1859-1934)

"Bu Kral Olaf!" diye haykıran askerler, hemen küçük bir tekneye doluşarak denizdeki figürü kurtarmak üzere ilerlemeye başladılar. Fakat Uzun Yılan'ın güvertesinde kalan Einar Eindridson, gözlerini denizin üzerinden ayırmamıştı. Git gide azalmakta olan gün ışığının elverdiği kadarıyla, Kral Olaf'ın kalkanının denizde yüzüyor olduğunu fark etti.

Kalkanın üzerindeki haç işareti göz kamaştıran bir şekilde parlıyordu. Bu sırada tekne de denizdeki yüzücünün yanına varmıştı. Fakat söylenenlere göre kurtarılan kişi Kral Olaf değil, Kolbiorn Stallare idi. Bu haber üzerine herkes gözlerini denizde yüzmekte olan kalkana çevirdi. Parlayan haç, dalgaların hareketiyle deniz üzerinde inip kalıyordu.

Bu gelişmeden sonra, kimse Kral Olaf'a ne olduğunu ğrenemedi. Fakat kralın akibetiyle ilgili etrafta dolaşan çeşitli rivayetler vardı. Bu rivayetler arasında en fazla inanılana göre, kral suya atladıktan sonra zırhını çıkartmış ve kalkanının altına sığınarak bir süre yüzmüştür. Deniz üzerinde bir süre bu şekilde ilerleyen Olaf, birkaç gün sonra da Roma'da bulunan bir köye ayak basmıştır.

Herkes, içten içe bu söylentinin gerçek olmasını umuyordu. Bu umudun ayakta tuttuğu Norveç halkının çocukları büyüdü ve birer yetişkin oldu. Aradan uzun yıllar geçti...

Fakat Muhteşem Olaf, Norveç'e bir daha ayak basmadı...

Genres: History, Classics, Biography, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

Robert Leighton (1859 – 1934) was a Scottish journalist, editor, and author of boys' fiction. He was an editor of juvenile magazines, and through his work at Young Folks he met his future wife Marie Connor, a prolific author in her own right. Leighton became an expert on dogs and their care and produced many works on this topic.

His works include:
The Pilots of Pomona: A Story of the Orkney Islands (1891),
The Thirsty Sword (1892),
Wreck of the Golden Fleece: The Story of a North Sea Fisher-boy (1894),
In the Grip of the Algerine: A Historical Tale (1894),
Olaf the Glorious (1895),
Under the Foeman's Flag: A Story of the Spanish Armada (1896),
The Splendid Stranger: A Story of the Monmouth Rebellion (1898),
The Golden Galleon (1898),
Convict 99 (with Marie Flora Barbara Connor) (1898),
In the Shadow of Guilt (with Marie Flora Barbara Connor) (1901),
Cap'n Nat's Treasure: A Tale of Old Liverpool (1902),
The Boys of Waveney (1902),
The Haunted Ship: A Tale of the Devon Smugglers (1903),
In The Land of Ju- Ju: A Tale of Benin (1903),
The Kidnapping of Peter Cray: A Story of the South Seas (1903),
The Green- Painted Ship (1905),
The Cleverest Chap in the School (1910)
and Kiddie the Scout (1920)

Reviews

[Paul Longstreth · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was free.

[Aaron Adamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book based on writing - it struggles to decide whether it is a dramatic retelling or a historical biography.

That said, Olaf's incredible badassery still manages to come through. Some parts of the story read like tropic epic fantasy, but the thing is... THEY REALLY HAPPENED. Olaf is literally the orphan child sold into slavery who is destined to become king and unite the people.

Given that you can find a free ebook of this one just about anywhere, I don't think there's any good reason not to read it. Don't expect high art, don't expect a historical account of the unification of Norway, but do expect to become an unrepentant viking wannabe.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the storytelling style of this book but ultimately wished that the author had refrained from inserting himself into the story. It's meant to feel like an oral history, so there is a bit of room for that, but, as Leighton tended to use it as a way to put a 1930s moral gloss on a Viking's behavior, it didn't age very well.

The story also underwent a major shift in focus about halfway through, which left the book as a whole feeling a little disjointed. Olaf the avenger gave way to Olaf the evangelist, which COULD have been handled more coherently if there had been more indepth characterization of Olaf--instead he is portrayed the most perfect shining glorious example of manliness and wonderment of all time (unless he gets angry, but that's never his fault, so it's okay).

I guess in the end I would have preferred him either to completely mythologize Olaf and leave off trying to explain away his behavior or to commit to a nuanced portrait. Trying to have both AND make Olaf's actions fit 1930s social norms didn't work at all.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this many years ago. It gives a fairly good idea of Viking life, although I would rate "The Long Ships" most highly for that. Olaf gains renown as a warrior, accepts Christianity, and becomes King of Norway -- yet, in proper Viking fashion, the climax of the story is his last battle (and heroic death) against a combined fleet of Danes, Swedes, and outlaw Norwegians. You get the feeling that his spirit could have chosen Asgard over Heaven -- he would have been welcome at either place.

[Lieke van de Geijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked it, interesting to get a closer look at Vikings and how wide their territory was. Did get a bit harder to keep going towards the end, though.

[Wendell H Howell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to Finish

Longest 173 page book I have ever read. A lot of historical information.
If this book is a true interpretation of the life style, I am so blank was not born then.

[Peri · Rating 2 out of 5]

baya sıkıcı bi kitap. editörün ünlü düşmesini bilmemesi de cabası

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars is my rating because even though it was a relatively short novel, it constantly reinforced battle after battle between Norsemen (Norwegians), Vikings (Danes), Swedes, British, and many other tribes and kingdoms found in Europe. I guess the battles got to be too repetitive. Worth reading? Yes. The author is very knowledgeable and bases the book on the legends and stories from the time of Olaf the Glorious. I liked it, but I am glad I finished it.

[Jack Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hack Sweat Slash Bleed. Not the Ole of Sven and Ole jokes. Lena does not live here.

Stud muffin Norsk dude Secretly heir to Norsk throne. Overcomes many obstacles. Gets the chick. Kills Danes and Swedes. Vanishes after epic battle. Either dead or off to Rome to see the Pope. Amen

[Bish Denham · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into the Viking age. Olaf is just too perfect in every way which doesn't make him a very believable character. As the story is told, rather than shown, it drags in places. And yet I have to remember this is based on a saga, on lore, so I have to take that into consideration.

[Audion Audiobooks On Demand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[Luther Rupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read


A quick, well written and interesting book. And now I have 13 more words to write, so Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[Can Sılacı · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great storytelling about one of the best Viking age heroes, Olaf Trygvisson.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not certain whether this book was supposed to be fiction or non fiction. The text and writing was old fashioned since it was written over 100 years ago. However, I did really enjoy it and it kept me enthralled throughout. I liked reading about Olaf one of the first Christian kings of Norway. The book was free which was an added bonus.

[Ibrahim Cin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kitabın ilk bölümlerinde zaten asıl mesele anlatıldığı kanısına vardığım için devamını merak etmedim ve 135. Sayfaya kadar dayanabildim ordan sonrası iyiyse bilemem ama ilk defa bir kitabı yarım bıraktım.

[Efe Inan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bir romandan çok tarih kitabı okuyormuş hissi yarattı. Ana karakterin başından geçenler biraz kurgu ile 3 kitap çıkarabilir. Yazarın tarzını beğenmedim, vasat bir kitap.

[hamatesus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elimdeki baskının arkasında kitabın sonu yazıyordu bu beni kitaptan soğuttu ve 6 ayda zor bitirdim. Ana karakteri övmekten kitabı doğru düzgün yazamamış yazar bir IV. Murat vakası daha.