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Sagaland
A gripping blend of family mystery, contemporary stories and the beautiful and bloody Viking tales, set against the starkly stunning landscape of Iceland. Broadcaster Richard Fidler and author Kari Gíslason are good friends. They share a deep attachment to the sagas of Iceland - the true stories of the first Viking families who settled on that remote island in the Middle Ages.These are tales of blood feuds, of dangerous women, and people who are compelled to kill the ones they love the most. The sagas are among the greatest stories ever written, but the identity of their authors is largely unknown. Together, Richard and Kari travel across Iceland, to the places where the sagas unfolded a thousand years ago. They cross fields, streams and fjords to immerse themselves in the folklore of this fiercely beautiful island. And there is another mission: to resolve a longstanding family mystery: a gift from Kari's Icelandic father that might connect him to the greatest of the saga authors. PRAISE FOR FIDLER & GISLASON 'Wise and unassuming, humorous and remarkably affecting all at the same time, The Promise of Iceland is an enchanting reflection of a fascinating life and a profound exploration of the human condition.' Krysi Egan, Stilts We already know Fidler is an interviewer of great empathy, now we know he mirrors that skill on the page, too.' Andrew McMillan, The Australian
447 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2017
366 people are currently reading
3443 people want to read
About the author
Richard Fidler
29 books244 followersRichard Fidler is one of ABC's (Australian Broadcasting Commission) most popular presenters, best known for his hour-long interview program, Conversations with Richard Fidler. The program is ABC Radio's most popular podcast, downloaded more than 1.5 million times per month. It features local and international guests from all walks of life, engaging in in-depth interviews.
He first came to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS), an Australian musical comedy group also comprising Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott. The group disbanded in 1994.
Richard began his broadcast career on TV, and presented shows including: Race Around the World; Aftershock; Mouthing Off, and Vulture.
In 2011 Fidler was awarded a Churchill Fellowship[2] to investigate new forms of public radio in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He is the immediate past-President of Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and a member of its board of directors.
He is married to Khym Lam and has 2 children.
. DAAS Book / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (released censored in the UK in 1989, uncensored in Australia in 1992) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. DAAS Kapital / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (1993) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. The Insider's guide to power in Australia / by Jack the Insider (2007) – co-authored with Peter Hoysted
He first came to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS), an Australian musical comedy group also comprising Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott. The group disbanded in 1994.
Richard began his broadcast career on TV, and presented shows including: Race Around the World; Aftershock; Mouthing Off, and Vulture.
In 2011 Fidler was awarded a Churchill Fellowship[2] to investigate new forms of public radio in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He is the immediate past-President of Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and a member of its board of directors.
He is married to Khym Lam and has 2 children.
. DAAS Book / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (released censored in the UK in 1989, uncensored in Australia in 1992) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. DAAS Kapital / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (1993) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. The Insider's guide to power in Australia / by Jack the Insider (2007) – co-authored with Peter Hoysted
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
September 20, 2020
Non-fiction, historical published 2017.
Before starting this book what I knew of Icelandic people, culture and sagas could have been written on the back of a postage stamp. Now I am glad to say that is no longer the case.
This is really two different tales that are intertwined.
On one level it is the story of Kari Gislason’s search for his roots. Kari was born in Iceland but was born out of wedlock and as a result Kari’s father never acknowledged him. Kari and his mother made a new life for themselves in Australia.
The other story concerns Richard Fidler, a well known and highly regarded radio journalist and interview host. Richard and Kari struck up a friendship and Richard became fascinated with Kari’s stories of Iceland and with particular interest in the Icelandic Sagas.
Richard felt sure that the Sagas would make for really good radio. So Kari and Richard flew to Iceland to research both Kari’s ancestry and the Sagas.
On both accounts, Kari’s discovery of his family roots and the telling of the Sagas were entertaining and fascinating.
The Sagas tell a story of hard people living hard lives on an unforgiving land but for all the hardships the Icelanders love their country with a passion.
Kari’s story was equally fascinating travelling as far back in history as the 1200s.
I am now glad to say that the black hole in my head that was my knowledge base of Iceland is now a bit smaller.
A recommended 4 star read.
Before starting this book what I knew of Icelandic people, culture and sagas could have been written on the back of a postage stamp. Now I am glad to say that is no longer the case.
This is really two different tales that are intertwined.
On one level it is the story of Kari Gislason’s search for his roots. Kari was born in Iceland but was born out of wedlock and as a result Kari’s father never acknowledged him. Kari and his mother made a new life for themselves in Australia.
The other story concerns Richard Fidler, a well known and highly regarded radio journalist and interview host. Richard and Kari struck up a friendship and Richard became fascinated with Kari’s stories of Iceland and with particular interest in the Icelandic Sagas.
Richard felt sure that the Sagas would make for really good radio. So Kari and Richard flew to Iceland to research both Kari’s ancestry and the Sagas.
On both accounts, Kari’s discovery of his family roots and the telling of the Sagas were entertaining and fascinating.
The Sagas tell a story of hard people living hard lives on an unforgiving land but for all the hardships the Icelanders love their country with a passion.
Kari’s story was equally fascinating travelling as far back in history as the 1200s.
I am now glad to say that the black hole in my head that was my knowledge base of Iceland is now a bit smaller.
A recommended 4 star read.
November 15, 2017
My God this was beautiful. I decided to go with the audiobook because of Richard Fidler (Mr Radio, why wouldn't you?) and was delighted to discover that Kári Gíslason co-reads it and that his voice is just as beautiful to listen to as Richard's. They both completely swept me up into the world of Iceland, past and present, so thoroughly that at times I felt like I was there with them.
Saga Land is a hard book to describe - it's part memoir, part travelogue, part buddy story, part Icelandic saga (which are very fable-like) and part history. While I loved the big sagas of Iceland and the sweeping descriptions of the country itself, it was Kári's own more intimate story that really drew me in. I felt like a friend was telling me his life story, over a coffee, a good meal or a glass of wine. I can see how Kári Gíslason is a popular and respected teacher.
I'm left with a feeling of longing to visit Iceland, that I think I'm going to have to work towards fulfilling.
Saga Land is a hard book to describe - it's part memoir, part travelogue, part buddy story, part Icelandic saga (which are very fable-like) and part history. While I loved the big sagas of Iceland and the sweeping descriptions of the country itself, it was Kári's own more intimate story that really drew me in. I felt like a friend was telling me his life story, over a coffee, a good meal or a glass of wine. I can see how Kári Gíslason is a popular and respected teacher.
I'm left with a feeling of longing to visit Iceland, that I think I'm going to have to work towards fulfilling.
December 11, 2021
Firstly, there are the classic family sagas that we have read and loved, which take place in tenth-century Iceland – the Iceland of the Viking era. Then there’s the saga of one man, Snorri Sturluson, the greatest of the saga authors, who, in the thirteenth century, wrote down some of these tales onto vellum manuscripts. There are some scattered tales that we picked up along the way. And finally, there is a present-day family story that is Kári’s own family saga. In the course of our journey, these four kinds of saga became interconnected and we had no desire to pull them apart.
Hearing this in the introduction to the book was like receiving a surprise gift or bonus. I'd expected, more or less, the first 3 types of saga, but the fourth one - the author's family story - was something I hadn't realised I'd be getting. And I just love a good, true family story! Over several trips to Iceland and through Gíslason's own lifetime recollections, this book packages up a veritable smorgasbord of storytelling. I enjoyed it all, but the softest spot in my heart is for Kári’s saga.
While both Fidler and Gíslason are superb narrators and were a joy to listen to, a word of caution about the classic family sagas: they seemingly didn't have a lot of unique names back in those times, so you will hear the same names over again. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's the same person, or merely another person of the same name. Of course, there's nothing to be faulted or corrected here, it's just the way it is. My advice would be to listen, but to have access to a text edition in case you need to check or review anything that's confusing.
Recommended.
Hearing this in the introduction to the book was like receiving a surprise gift or bonus. I'd expected, more or less, the first 3 types of saga, but the fourth one - the author's family story - was something I hadn't realised I'd be getting. And I just love a good, true family story! Over several trips to Iceland and through Gíslason's own lifetime recollections, this book packages up a veritable smorgasbord of storytelling. I enjoyed it all, but the softest spot in my heart is for Kári’s saga.
While both Fidler and Gíslason are superb narrators and were a joy to listen to, a word of caution about the classic family sagas: they seemingly didn't have a lot of unique names back in those times, so you will hear the same names over again. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's the same person, or merely another person of the same name. Of course, there's nothing to be faulted or corrected here, it's just the way it is. My advice would be to listen, but to have access to a text edition in case you need to check or review anything that's confusing.
Recommended.
July 9, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, like many people I have an interest in Vikings and Iceland . It’s such an evocative landscape and the history is fascinating. This book isn’t just a retelling of some of the sagas (beautifully done) it’s also a memoir of sorts, a part history of Iceland and some of the events and people that have shaped it, and a bit of a travelogue too. They visit many of the sites mentioned in the sagas and capture the atmosphere of the country that is Sagaland. Each author writes alternate chapters and this works well, it’s a story of friendship also. Great read.
November 8, 2017
Before I start this review let me say, if you get the opportunity to see the authors speak about Saga Land - do it. Saga Land is part compendium of the Icelandic sagas, part personal journey and memoir for Gislason. I have to say I loved every minute of this book. I enjoyed learning about Iceland's history, both in early and recent times. The sagas are fascinating, bloody and filled with honour. Snorri's history was rich and epic, Gudrun's saga was haunting and memorable. I could get lost in these stories forever.
Kari's journey and personal reflections were another highlight. I found myself tearing up when he gets his moment of truth, a moment that the reader slowly builds towards throughout the book. I was surprised at how emotionally invested I found myself in this journey. Richard has a beautiful simplicity in his words - I was hooked on every chapter. The switches between Richard and Kari's chapters are seamless and I found myself enjoying their two intertwined and complimentary paths. Visually it is a stunning book, a large hard-cover that has gorgeous plates at the beginning and end taken by the boyd on their trip to Iceland and with more images scattered throughout.
Reading Saga Land was a great experience, one I highly recommend taking on yourself. If you enjoy TV and movies like Vikings or the Marvel Series focusing on the Norse Gods, or love the old Norse and Greek myths, this book is definitely for you. Saga Land is a new favourite of mind and I now I'll also be off to read Ghost Empire, Fidler's book on the Empire of Constantinople. Do yourself a favour and read Saga Land.
Kari's journey and personal reflections were another highlight. I found myself tearing up when he gets his moment of truth, a moment that the reader slowly builds towards throughout the book. I was surprised at how emotionally invested I found myself in this journey. Richard has a beautiful simplicity in his words - I was hooked on every chapter. The switches between Richard and Kari's chapters are seamless and I found myself enjoying their two intertwined and complimentary paths. Visually it is a stunning book, a large hard-cover that has gorgeous plates at the beginning and end taken by the boyd on their trip to Iceland and with more images scattered throughout.
Reading Saga Land was a great experience, one I highly recommend taking on yourself. If you enjoy TV and movies like Vikings or the Marvel Series focusing on the Norse Gods, or love the old Norse and Greek myths, this book is definitely for you. Saga Land is a new favourite of mind and I now I'll also be off to read Ghost Empire, Fidler's book on the Empire of Constantinople. Do yourself a favour and read Saga Land.
March 12, 2020
I loved this book, it was like sitting down for a chat with someone really interesting. Relaxing , informative, beautiful. Different to what I usually read, would love to find more like it.
January 17, 2018
When I read non-fiction I like to read chapters slowly over time. This one spiked my interest as it contained sagas and historical context about Vikings or more specially Iceland. It also involved a slight adventure story, and self dicsovery for one of the authors. The Scandinavian history or Viking sagas have always been some of my favourite fables. This really was a great read. Having been to Iceland, and being a tourist myself, whilst reading I honestly had flashbacks of my trip, and it was wonderfully done with the writing of the current trip plus mini chapters of sagas. If you enjoy that era and place this would be well worth your time.
December 16, 2020
‘The sagas are the true castles of Iceland .’
This book, part-travelogue, part-family history, part story-telling is a wonderful tribute to Iceland and its Viking history. There are different types of sagas as well: family sagas, including co-author Kári Gíslason’s own family saga and the saga of Snorri Sturluson.
Richard Fidler and Kári Gíslason met when Fidler interviewed Gíslason about his unusual family history. Kári Gíslason was born in Reykjavik to Susan, an Australian, and her Icelandic lover Gísli. Gísli was a married father of five, who begged her to keep his identity secret. Gíslason returned to Iceland as a young adult and contacted his half siblings. There was a family get-together, during which Gísli told Gíslason that he was descended from Snorri Sturluson, Iceland’s most famous writer of sagas.
The sagas are the stories, a history, of the Vikings who settled in Iceland during the Middle Ages. They are bloodthirsty tales of honour and revenge, of great significance to the Icelandic people. The sagas are read at school and their meaning is still debated.
‘Saga Land’ is a record of two trips made by the authors (one in summer, the other in winter). The trip had two purposes: to make a radio documentary retelling some of the sagas where they happened, and to try to discover whether Gíslason really is descended from Sturluson.
The book is divided into four parts, with both authors taking turns to tell the story. For Gíslason, it is a homecoming, an opportunity to find out more about his family history. For Fidler, it’s an adventure, an opportunity to experience and learn.
‘It taught me something about the sagas that I’d never properly realised before. The characters’ obsession with family was surely a result of never being able to get away from them; these were essentially single-room lives. As much as this is a literature of violence and conflict, it’s also one of almost unbelievable closeness .’
I enjoyed this book immensely. It’s a wonderful blend of travelogue and story-telling, and a great insight into the history and literature of Iceland. It’s also a very personal story about identity.
‘Iceland has many more names for ghosts than the English language can muster .’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This book, part-travelogue, part-family history, part story-telling is a wonderful tribute to Iceland and its Viking history. There are different types of sagas as well: family sagas, including co-author Kári Gíslason’s own family saga and the saga of Snorri Sturluson.
Richard Fidler and Kári Gíslason met when Fidler interviewed Gíslason about his unusual family history. Kári Gíslason was born in Reykjavik to Susan, an Australian, and her Icelandic lover Gísli. Gísli was a married father of five, who begged her to keep his identity secret. Gíslason returned to Iceland as a young adult and contacted his half siblings. There was a family get-together, during which Gísli told Gíslason that he was descended from Snorri Sturluson, Iceland’s most famous writer of sagas.
The sagas are the stories, a history, of the Vikings who settled in Iceland during the Middle Ages. They are bloodthirsty tales of honour and revenge, of great significance to the Icelandic people. The sagas are read at school and their meaning is still debated.
‘Saga Land’ is a record of two trips made by the authors (one in summer, the other in winter). The trip had two purposes: to make a radio documentary retelling some of the sagas where they happened, and to try to discover whether Gíslason really is descended from Sturluson.
The book is divided into four parts, with both authors taking turns to tell the story. For Gíslason, it is a homecoming, an opportunity to find out more about his family history. For Fidler, it’s an adventure, an opportunity to experience and learn.
‘It taught me something about the sagas that I’d never properly realised before. The characters’ obsession with family was surely a result of never being able to get away from them; these were essentially single-room lives. As much as this is a literature of violence and conflict, it’s also one of almost unbelievable closeness .’
I enjoyed this book immensely. It’s a wonderful blend of travelogue and story-telling, and a great insight into the history and literature of Iceland. It’s also a very personal story about identity.
‘Iceland has many more names for ghosts than the English language can muster .’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 14, 2018
I loved Richard Fidler’s earlier book, Ghost Empire, about his journey to Constantinople with his son, which entwined travel writing with history and legend in a very personable and beguiling way. And I’ve been interested in Iceland and its astonishing sagas for quite some time. So, I was keen to read Saga Land from the second I heard about it.
Subtitled ‘The Island Of Stories at the Edge of the World’, Saga Land is the story of how ABC broadcaster Richard Fidler became friends with one of his guests, the author and academic Kári Gíslason. After his interview on Richard’s show ‘Conversations’, the two stood chatting by the lift for more than an hour. They shared a deep interest in the sagas of Iceland – ‘true tales … of blood feuds … dangerous women, and people who are compelled to kill the ones they love the most,’ as the blurb describes these ancient and eerie stories.
Eventually Richard and Kári travelled together to Iceland, to explore the landscape and history and folklore of this bare fierce country. Kári was born in Iceland, but did not know his father or his father’s other family until he was an adult. So, for him, the journey is a homecoming and a chance to explore his ancestral roots. For Richard, it’s an adventure and a discovery.
Like Ghost Empire, the book weaves together memoir, travelogue, history and mythology, which is one of my favourite types of books to read. The memoir and travelogue sections of the book feel real and warm and intimate. The recountings of the ancient sagas are fresh and clear and simple, bringing them back to powerful and immediate life. And the history of Iceland is bloody and fascinating. I also really loved the photographs included in the book.
Usually I read non-fiction in small bites, squeezed in between my reading of novels. I read Saga Land in one big gulp. It was utterly mesmerising.
Subtitled ‘The Island Of Stories at the Edge of the World’, Saga Land is the story of how ABC broadcaster Richard Fidler became friends with one of his guests, the author and academic Kári Gíslason. After his interview on Richard’s show ‘Conversations’, the two stood chatting by the lift for more than an hour. They shared a deep interest in the sagas of Iceland – ‘true tales … of blood feuds … dangerous women, and people who are compelled to kill the ones they love the most,’ as the blurb describes these ancient and eerie stories.
Eventually Richard and Kári travelled together to Iceland, to explore the landscape and history and folklore of this bare fierce country. Kári was born in Iceland, but did not know his father or his father’s other family until he was an adult. So, for him, the journey is a homecoming and a chance to explore his ancestral roots. For Richard, it’s an adventure and a discovery.
Like Ghost Empire, the book weaves together memoir, travelogue, history and mythology, which is one of my favourite types of books to read. The memoir and travelogue sections of the book feel real and warm and intimate. The recountings of the ancient sagas are fresh and clear and simple, bringing them back to powerful and immediate life. And the history of Iceland is bloody and fascinating. I also really loved the photographs included in the book.
Usually I read non-fiction in small bites, squeezed in between my reading of novels. I read Saga Land in one big gulp. It was utterly mesmerising.
February 19, 2018
Richard Fidler writes like he talks. Educated, erudite, often of awe of his topic. This time he heads off to Iceland with his chum Kari Gislason (author of two previous memoirs The Promise of Iceland and The Ash Burner) in search of the Icelandic Sagas and to conclude Kari's own search for his roots to Snorri Sturluson.
I have found reading the sagas a challenge. Too many begettings, beheadings, bewitchings and back stabbings with multi characters. But Richard and Kari go to the places where the events of some of the sagas happened. They also have rewritten the featured sagas in simple clear language. And they intersperse these with personnel stories and odd stories in Icelands' near and far history.
It is a fitting tribute to Iceland's historical and ongoing role in world-class and world-first literature.
I have found reading the sagas a challenge. Too many begettings, beheadings, bewitchings and back stabbings with multi characters. But Richard and Kari go to the places where the events of some of the sagas happened. They also have rewritten the featured sagas in simple clear language. And they intersperse these with personnel stories and odd stories in Icelands' near and far history.
It is a fitting tribute to Iceland's historical and ongoing role in world-class and world-first literature.
April 20, 2020
I loved this mixture of history and autobiography!
Saga Land is filled with nordic mithology, and the sagas that are hiding valuable historical facts.
" The sagas are not fantasy. They're the family stories of the Vikings who settled in Iceland in the Middle Ages. They're about real man and women."
One of the authors (Kari) is born on Iceland, but he had some unfinished and unknown things he needed to sort out. He goes to Iceland with his friend Richard, and there they're visiting the places from sagas and discovering Kari's background.
It's sooo easy to travel to Iceland with them, and it's not hard to imagine why everybody wants to return to Iceland once they visit it.
Saga Land is filled with nordic mithology, and the sagas that are hiding valuable historical facts.
" The sagas are not fantasy. They're the family stories of the Vikings who settled in Iceland in the Middle Ages. They're about real man and women."
One of the authors (Kari) is born on Iceland, but he had some unfinished and unknown things he needed to sort out. He goes to Iceland with his friend Richard, and there they're visiting the places from sagas and discovering Kari's background.
It's sooo easy to travel to Iceland with them, and it's not hard to imagine why everybody wants to return to Iceland once they visit it.
May 8, 2018
Richard Fidler and Kari Gislison meet on Richard's radio show when Kari talks about his passion for the Icelandic Sagas. They join forces to visit Iceland and make a radio documentary and write a book about their visit. They plan to open up the Sagas and visit the places in Iceland where they occurred. At the same time, Kari is returning to his birth place and attempting to come to terms with his family story.
Sounds dry as dust but it was anything but. I loved every minute of it. I am a great fan of Richard Fidler's so was always going to read this book. Also my daughter lived in Iceland for 12 months as a teenager on student exchange so I knew quite a bit about Iceland and even some of the saga stories. I also knew some of the history of the time such as the life of Harald Finehair, King of Norway. But even without all that, I would have delighted in this book.
The presentation of the sagas is wonderful, particularly the continuing connection to the landscape and therefore the continuing lives of Icelandic people today. That is just fascinating and amazing and a story beautifully told. And that creates context for Kari's family story which is moving, honest and thoughtful. The sagas, Icelandic history and Kari's story are all about the intrinsic importance of family to Iceland. There was no heaviness and neither of the authors took the opportunity to preach or display any pomposity. Both are wonderful raconteurs and the stories head off into various nooks and crannies of interest.
A wonderful book which I highly recommend.
Sounds dry as dust but it was anything but. I loved every minute of it. I am a great fan of Richard Fidler's so was always going to read this book. Also my daughter lived in Iceland for 12 months as a teenager on student exchange so I knew quite a bit about Iceland and even some of the saga stories. I also knew some of the history of the time such as the life of Harald Finehair, King of Norway. But even without all that, I would have delighted in this book.
The presentation of the sagas is wonderful, particularly the continuing connection to the landscape and therefore the continuing lives of Icelandic people today. That is just fascinating and amazing and a story beautifully told. And that creates context for Kari's family story which is moving, honest and thoughtful. The sagas, Icelandic history and Kari's story are all about the intrinsic importance of family to Iceland. There was no heaviness and neither of the authors took the opportunity to preach or display any pomposity. Both are wonderful raconteurs and the stories head off into various nooks and crannies of interest.
A wonderful book which I highly recommend.
July 5, 2018
While this book was interesting, particularly for someone like me who knows little about Icelandic history and culture, I found the saga interludes confusing and the overall structure of the book confusing and a little... aimless. The book jumps between two people’s 2 week trip through Iceland, also jumping back through different times in their earlier lives, all interspersed with sagas, and nothing to link them all together... perhaps I just didn’t get it.
December 2, 2017
I am so glad I have read Saga Land. When I had originally been introduced to this book at a publishers roadshow event, I knew this would be a great seller. It had a previous release behind it in Ghost Empire by Fidler and his son, it has the ABC Radio publicity channels promoting it and it is getting great advertising in general by the publishers. It is also probably helped along by the fact that shows like the History Channel's Vikings are very in vogue at the moment. The Grey haired crowd would love it.
What I didn't expect was that I would love it. Viking history drew me to it, Iceland as a setting drew me to it, history drew me to it, an Australian tie in drew me to it, the delightful square-ish hardback gift format drew me to it. Turns out, that from right under my own nose, I was probably going to love this book the whole time.
I learnt vast amounts of new things from this book. But it felt like I was being told a story, a saga if you will, rather than having immeasurable quantities of information shoved in my brain. Iceland and Icelandic history, culture, language, honour codes, superstitions and people are wholly fascinating. As a very small country that is somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, there isn't a lot of places that you can get first hand information from. Co-writing with Kari Gislason brought that aspect into the book. It made it more personal and gave Iceland a face.
Whilst I felt that there was some padding done in places, the chapter on US chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer for example, and the chapter on US President Regan and the star wars program; they added the whole "Iceland's place on the modern world stage" element that was probably otherwise lacking. Maybe these chapters could have been a little shorter and it would have felt less like these were tangents where Fidler got carried away researching. Saga Land was otherwise very well put together.
My favourite part, outside of the various sagas that were covered was discovering the world of Icelandic lullabies. This little ditty below in particular (with some explanation):
Mother Mine, in the Fold, Fold
A young woman who lived on a farm became pregnant. After giving birth to the child she set it out to die of exposure, not an uncommon act before it became punishable by severe penalties. Now one day it happened that the young woman was invited to a dancing party. However, she had no good clothes, so she stayed at home in a sour mood. That evening, while milking the ewes in the fold, she complained aloud that for the want of a proper dress she could not go to the party. She had scarcely spoken when she heard the following song:
Mother mine, in the fold, fold
You need not be so sad, sad.
You can wear my castoff rags,
So you can dance,
And dance.
The young woman who had let her child die of exposure thought that she recognized its voice. She took such a fright that she lost her mind and remained insane the rest of her life.
Icelandic lullabies are known for their darkness, as are many traditional lullabies (seriously, read the lyrics to rock-a-bye baby...) People sing them to children, just like they do in many other cultures, the book's closing lines are from another particularly dark lullaby (written as part of Icelandic author Halldor Laxness' novel Salka Valka):
Sleep now you black-eyed pig, fall in a deep pit of ghosts.
I thoroughly recommend the Bolinda audio recording by Richard Fidler and Kari Gislason, despite some weird pauses in the recording, it is well done. Gislason and his Icelandic language skills lend a great transportational quality to the reading.
A great pleasure to read.
What I didn't expect was that I would love it. Viking history drew me to it, Iceland as a setting drew me to it, history drew me to it, an Australian tie in drew me to it, the delightful square-ish hardback gift format drew me to it. Turns out, that from right under my own nose, I was probably going to love this book the whole time.
I learnt vast amounts of new things from this book. But it felt like I was being told a story, a saga if you will, rather than having immeasurable quantities of information shoved in my brain. Iceland and Icelandic history, culture, language, honour codes, superstitions and people are wholly fascinating. As a very small country that is somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, there isn't a lot of places that you can get first hand information from. Co-writing with Kari Gislason brought that aspect into the book. It made it more personal and gave Iceland a face.
Whilst I felt that there was some padding done in places, the chapter on US chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer for example, and the chapter on US President Regan and the star wars program; they added the whole "Iceland's place on the modern world stage" element that was probably otherwise lacking. Maybe these chapters could have been a little shorter and it would have felt less like these were tangents where Fidler got carried away researching. Saga Land was otherwise very well put together.
My favourite part, outside of the various sagas that were covered was discovering the world of Icelandic lullabies. This little ditty below in particular (with some explanation):
Mother Mine, in the Fold, Fold
A young woman who lived on a farm became pregnant. After giving birth to the child she set it out to die of exposure, not an uncommon act before it became punishable by severe penalties. Now one day it happened that the young woman was invited to a dancing party. However, she had no good clothes, so she stayed at home in a sour mood. That evening, while milking the ewes in the fold, she complained aloud that for the want of a proper dress she could not go to the party. She had scarcely spoken when she heard the following song:
Mother mine, in the fold, fold
You need not be so sad, sad.
You can wear my castoff rags,
So you can dance,
And dance.
The young woman who had let her child die of exposure thought that she recognized its voice. She took such a fright that she lost her mind and remained insane the rest of her life.
Icelandic lullabies are known for their darkness, as are many traditional lullabies (seriously, read the lyrics to rock-a-bye baby...) People sing them to children, just like they do in many other cultures, the book's closing lines are from another particularly dark lullaby (written as part of Icelandic author Halldor Laxness' novel Salka Valka):
Sleep now you black-eyed pig, fall in a deep pit of ghosts.
I thoroughly recommend the Bolinda audio recording by Richard Fidler and Kari Gislason, despite some weird pauses in the recording, it is well done. Gislason and his Icelandic language skills lend a great transportational quality to the reading.
A great pleasure to read.
January 8, 2019
What an amazing set of tales in the form of the sagas being told alongside the story of the two authors journey to create the radio programme and the book.
I think I was spoiled (in the form of a gift) by reading it as an audio book narrated by the two authors.
Icelandic history and their sagas were only an area of very surface knowledge, but I was fascinated and spellbound.
Like so many sagas/creation stories/myths /legends the extraordinary level of brutality and murder and mayhem is just the same. But I did love the couple of little glimpses of looking at the stories from a female view point with the words from some female historians or family members.
As with all history reading and study I read this through the filter of being female- seeing the anguish and pain of wholesale slaughter and the pointlessness of it all.
In years gone by, my interpretation has always been belittled or ignored as just “silly female emotional responses” but now I am hopeful that perhaps the other side of history interpretations will be heard and listened too.
A collection like this makes me very aware of how much of history keeping and telling is of the “daring-do” as my mum would say if men (boys) all trying to out do each other.
Would I recommend this book to anyone? Oh yes, most definitely to everyone. Enjoy
I think I was spoiled (in the form of a gift) by reading it as an audio book narrated by the two authors.
Icelandic history and their sagas were only an area of very surface knowledge, but I was fascinated and spellbound.
Like so many sagas/creation stories/myths /legends the extraordinary level of brutality and murder and mayhem is just the same. But I did love the couple of little glimpses of looking at the stories from a female view point with the words from some female historians or family members.
As with all history reading and study I read this through the filter of being female- seeing the anguish and pain of wholesale slaughter and the pointlessness of it all.
In years gone by, my interpretation has always been belittled or ignored as just “silly female emotional responses” but now I am hopeful that perhaps the other side of history interpretations will be heard and listened too.
A collection like this makes me very aware of how much of history keeping and telling is of the “daring-do” as my mum would say if men (boys) all trying to out do each other.
Would I recommend this book to anyone? Oh yes, most definitely to everyone. Enjoy
July 5, 2018
This was a stop/start book for me as in the middle stages I lost interest and then went back to it a few months later. I am not sure if the concept of having two authors (Richard and Kari) really worked for me and probably contributed to my stop/start progress as it seemed to interrupt the continuity and subsequently my interest. The subject of the sagas of Iceland is tied up with the history of the country and except for the association with Norway is not really covered until the very end of the book as also is the history of the saving of the sagas through the ages. I am sure I am in the minority is only giving this book a three out of five, but when I first put it to one side several months ago I would have given it much less.
June 19, 2019
This was so interesting -- I loved learning about the sagas of Iceland along with the journey Gíslason goes through in trying to discover his ancestry.
I loved how Gíslason calls himself a "sentimental exile" in reference to his life outside Iceland, and that reminds me so much of my own father who is definitely his own sentimental exile, but from Italy. Also click the spoiler if you want to find out if Gíslason is related to Snorri Sturluson (Iceland's most famous historical figure), which Gíslason spends much of the novel trying to figure out:
Highly recommend! And now I really want to travel to Iceland!
I loved how Gíslason calls himself a "sentimental exile" in reference to his life outside Iceland, and that reminds me so much of my own father who is definitely his own sentimental exile, but from Italy. Also click the spoiler if you want to find out if Gíslason is related to Snorri Sturluson (Iceland's most famous historical figure), which Gíslason spends much of the novel trying to figure out:
Highly recommend! And now I really want to travel to Iceland!
March 1, 2018
Teaching year 8 History - which has a Vikings topic - meant this felt a bit like work for me... but in a good way! I'm fascinated by Iceland, I love a bit of travel writing which this kind of is at times, and although I'm interested in the sagas I think this was a better way for me to read them than to just look at them in their own.
January 23, 2023
Such a beautifully written book. Perfectly entwines personal biography with historical narrative and travel journalism. Able to capture the feeling of being bound to the land one was born in so well.
January 6, 2025
I picked up Sagaland as a companion piece to my Icelandic holiday, hoping it would help me connect with the country I was visiting. To that end it was a stunning success. The struggles of iconic figures like Snorri Sturlson, Gudron, and Njal played out across the dramatic frozen landscape before my eyes.
Sagaland tells the story of Iceland’s history and famous sagas in the context of an Australian-Icelander returning to learn about his estranged family history. This combination proved perfect for what I was seeking. Learning about the rich history of storytelling that is deeply embedded in Iceland’s culture, mingled with commentary about foods to try, places to visit, and cultural touchstones in modern day Iceland made one part travel blog, and one part historical account. Kari’s own personal exploration of his family was also compelling even without the added relevance of being Icelandic.
Occasionally the book could drag when it went long stretches without linking back to Icelandic history or the Sagas, and those portions felt slower still when I was no longer in Iceland to appreciate the tourist tips.
It is clear that the authors of Sagaland have an immense love and respect for Iceland and its enrapturing history. They successfully imparted that love and respect onto me. My travel companions were forced to listen to me thrillingly recount the facts and stories associated with everywhere we visited.
As a summary of the Sagas it was exactly what I was after. I’m not sure what Sagaland would be for me if I was not replicating the premise of being an Australian travelling in Iceland, but for where I was, it was precisely what I needed it to be.
Sagaland tells the story of Iceland’s history and famous sagas in the context of an Australian-Icelander returning to learn about his estranged family history. This combination proved perfect for what I was seeking. Learning about the rich history of storytelling that is deeply embedded in Iceland’s culture, mingled with commentary about foods to try, places to visit, and cultural touchstones in modern day Iceland made one part travel blog, and one part historical account. Kari’s own personal exploration of his family was also compelling even without the added relevance of being Icelandic.
Occasionally the book could drag when it went long stretches without linking back to Icelandic history or the Sagas, and those portions felt slower still when I was no longer in Iceland to appreciate the tourist tips.
It is clear that the authors of Sagaland have an immense love and respect for Iceland and its enrapturing history. They successfully imparted that love and respect onto me. My travel companions were forced to listen to me thrillingly recount the facts and stories associated with everywhere we visited.
As a summary of the Sagas it was exactly what I was after. I’m not sure what Sagaland would be for me if I was not replicating the premise of being an Australian travelling in Iceland, but for where I was, it was precisely what I needed it to be.
April 15, 2018
This is a great read for its mix of subject- it is not just a collection of Norse mythology or deep history. It is the personal story of a co author establishing their right to be acknowledged as part of the unbroken lineage of Icelanders. It is the mythology and the history and the current culture. It captures the story of chess player Bobby. It is not a dry read, the language just flows, a 1000 year story.
There is even a chapter near the end that explains why we still have these sagas preserved at all and it might surprise you. Imagine books- or more likely animal skins - stored in barns and used to strain ... what I don’t know...food in a kitchen. Or cut for shoe soles, and a man spends 13 years to collect the fragments and there you have the great story of it coming together.
But no, then you have a fire in Copenhagen where they were stored. And we have what was rescued in a cart.
It was a powerful point for me - how long something when hidden is safe but where it is exhumed for preservation the precious object is exposed to ruin by being loved too much or the sharp end of nature. How do we choose?
An aside, I learnt now in archeology they only expose a 1/4 of the total sites and they no longer restore constructively when it isn’t clear. I learnt this in Yaxha, Guatemala near the Belize boarder, a very different place from Iceland but it makes me wonder. How do you preserve without becoming an agent of destruction?
There is even a chapter near the end that explains why we still have these sagas preserved at all and it might surprise you. Imagine books- or more likely animal skins - stored in barns and used to strain ... what I don’t know...food in a kitchen. Or cut for shoe soles, and a man spends 13 years to collect the fragments and there you have the great story of it coming together.
But no, then you have a fire in Copenhagen where they were stored. And we have what was rescued in a cart.
It was a powerful point for me - how long something when hidden is safe but where it is exhumed for preservation the precious object is exposed to ruin by being loved too much or the sharp end of nature. How do we choose?
An aside, I learnt now in archeology they only expose a 1/4 of the total sites and they no longer restore constructively when it isn’t clear. I learnt this in Yaxha, Guatemala near the Belize boarder, a very different place from Iceland but it makes me wonder. How do you preserve without becoming an agent of destruction?
October 3, 2018
This is one of the most compelling books that I've read in a while. The strands - of ancient saga, of Kari and Richard travelling through present day Iceland, and of Kari's journey to unearth his ancestry - are beautifully woven together. Must read.
September 7, 2020
I loved this book. I listened to it as an audiobook and that really added to my enjoyment. The authors voices were calm and easy to listen to and it was great to hear the proper pronunciation of the Icelandic words. it's a very long book - about 16 hours listen time. The stories of the Sagas, intertwined with the authors' journey and the true story of Kari's family discovery kept me engaged and wanting to visit Iceland more than ever.
May 27, 2019
I enjoyed this mix of stories - the sagas and an account of Richard Fidler and Kari Gislason’s trip to Iceland.
I was only vaguely familiar with the sagas and hadn’t realised their importance. Iceland has a culture of story-telling & poetry (& highest % of published authors in the world). The sagas are dry compared with (for example) the dramatic heroics of Greek myths - but I loved the sense of history & characters of Iceland.
It’s also part-travelogue with interesting digressions & anecdotes. A bit too long, but a fun immersive read.
I was only vaguely familiar with the sagas and hadn’t realised their importance. Iceland has a culture of story-telling & poetry (& highest % of published authors in the world). The sagas are dry compared with (for example) the dramatic heroics of Greek myths - but I loved the sense of history & characters of Iceland.
It’s also part-travelogue with interesting digressions & anecdotes. A bit too long, but a fun immersive read.
July 1, 2019
I wasn't too sure what I was picking up with Sagalands. The tome contains a sort of interwoven mix of legend and myth, genuine history and the personal journey of the authors who explore their own connections to Iceland. Probably my only beef with the book is the triple thread running through it makes it a little hard to attach and embrace each element fully. The format is to follow the two men's journey about Iceland where they explore various regions, then stop and either recount a story from their past, a myth, or a piece of history (or both really). There is absolutely nothing wrong with any section, but at times I found myself reading about the two men journeying when what I wanted was more ghost mythology!
What I particularly enjoyed about Sagalands was the viking history/myths which sparked a lot of links with the now popular show Vikings, there were many parts that seemed familiar and I realized that obviously the show writers were pretty up to scratch with their viking tales.
Overall at just over 400 pages Sagalands is a bit of a saga in itself but a thoroughly enjoyable one, if you don't mind a meandering ride!
What I particularly enjoyed about Sagalands was the viking history/myths which sparked a lot of links with the now popular show Vikings, there were many parts that seemed familiar and I realized that obviously the show writers were pretty up to scratch with their viking tales.
Overall at just over 400 pages Sagalands is a bit of a saga in itself but a thoroughly enjoyable one, if you don't mind a meandering ride!
January 18, 2018
If you're going to pick up this book, I *highly* recommend the audiobook. Richard Fidler is a radio personality in Australia so he has a lovely reading voice. Kári Gíslason is a university lecturer who also has a lovely voice, and his lilting Icelandic pronunciation is beautiful. He does occasionally pause in odd places but it's more a charming idiosyncrasy than an annoying flaw.
Saga Land is very difficult to categorise - part memoir, part travelogue, part buddy road trip, part saga retelling - and yet the disparate pieces all come together in one coherent whole. It made me immediately start planning a trip to Iceland in a few years with some friends. The attachment of the authors to the country is obvious, but they don't sugar coat its problems either.
The resolution of the central plot thread of Kári's ancestry made me cry on the train. It was beautiful and moving, and hearing Kári tell it in his own voice was very special.
Highly recommended.
Saga Land is very difficult to categorise - part memoir, part travelogue, part buddy road trip, part saga retelling - and yet the disparate pieces all come together in one coherent whole. It made me immediately start planning a trip to Iceland in a few years with some friends. The attachment of the authors to the country is obvious, but they don't sugar coat its problems either.
The resolution of the central plot thread of Kári's ancestry made me cry on the train. It was beautiful and moving, and hearing Kári tell it in his own voice was very special.
Highly recommended.
July 27, 2020
I would actually like to give this book 3 and half stars rather than just three, because it does contain some fascinating insights into the country of Iceland, its history and culture and the personal story of one of the two authors. It is just not on a par with Richard Fidler's previous work, "Ghost Empire" which I found riveting.
"Saga Land" was more a case of pick it up, read a chapter or two, then put it down. The re-telling of the Icelandic sagas featured in the book becomes a bit ponderous, and I would find myself wanting to get back to the duo's actual travels and discoveries, and Kari's personal quest for his father and his relationship with his distant ancestor, Snori.
The narrative is at its best (at least for this reader) when describing the Icelandic landscape, the days of short sunlight and the long nights and the ways in which this has shaped its society. But ultimately, it is the story of the two travelers within that landscape that was most compelling.
"Saga Land" was more a case of pick it up, read a chapter or two, then put it down. The re-telling of the Icelandic sagas featured in the book becomes a bit ponderous, and I would find myself wanting to get back to the duo's actual travels and discoveries, and Kari's personal quest for his father and his relationship with his distant ancestor, Snori.
The narrative is at its best (at least for this reader) when describing the Icelandic landscape, the days of short sunlight and the long nights and the ways in which this has shaped its society. But ultimately, it is the story of the two travelers within that landscape that was most compelling.
December 29, 2017
This book is the kind in which the authors take you on a journey - not the fleeting kind in which you stand by idle watching the world rush by, but the kind that lovingly leads you by the hand and takes you on a real adventure. As I read this book, I felt as though I was not just listening to Fidler and Gíslason's recount of their journey through Iceland, but rather, I felt as though I was there with them. So while technically I may not have ever seen Iceland, in a sense I have - not just the country itself but the innermost depths of the heritage and culture. 'Saga Land' is so full of intricacies, complexities and violence that in more ways than one is deeply beautiful. An absolutely wonderful tribute to Iceland, I adored this book and couldn't have enjoyed it more.
December 25, 2017
A beautifully woven tale of medieval Icelandic Sagas and a modern journey by the authors to disentangle their own ties to the country's history. The chapters alternate between the two authors seamlessly, as does the narrative between the modern and medieval accounts. Filled with stunning and bleak landscapes, warm-hearted but cold-faced people and enough gods, axe fights and wars to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty of readers, Saga Land is a voyage well worth embarking on.
February 9, 2018
What a great read! Beautifully balanced between an exploration of Iceland's brutal past and gnarly legends, and the deeply personal and movingly successful quest to find foundational meaning and familial belonging. Extraordinarily satisfying and hugely effective in adding life, flesh and bones, character and personality to a landscape that recent location scouts have only given us surface glimpses. Who would have imagined such stark landscapes hid such vibrant stories. Thank you.
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