Viga-Glum's Saga and the Story of Ogmund Dytt

by Unknown, Lee M. Hollander (Translator)

The Sagas, of which this tale is one, were composed for the men who have left their mark in every corner of Europe. There is no page of modern history in which the influence of the Vikings and their conquests have not had an effect--Russia, Constantinople, Greece, Palestine, Sicily, the coasts of Africa, Southern Italy, France, the Spanish Peninsula, England, Scotland, Ireland, and every rock and island round them, have been visited at one time or another by the men of Scandinavia, and their influence is still being felt today.This saga paints a picture of Icelandic society. But the society presented is not one of pastoral simplicity and repose. The actors within were real men and women and the events portrayed actually occurred - for this is a true story. Bloodshed and violence are common and Viga-Glum, or "Murdering Glum," the hero of this story, is not by any means a perfect character, even when measured by the standards of the time in which he lived. A time when a man's standing in the community was dictated by courage and his wealth, the author tells us that for twenty years he was the first man in Eyjafirth, and for twenty years more there was no better man there. Viga-Glum is described as one who was naturally indolent, shy, and moody; but when he could be brought to act, his courage and determination were indomitable. When he had to achieve a purpose he was thoroughly unscrupulous; neither blood nor false oaths stood in his way - just what one would expect from a Viking. The finishing touch to this part of his character is added by the peculiarity, that whenever he was intent on slaying a man, he was apt to be seized with a fit of uncontrollable laughter which ended in tears.So join us in this ancient tale of love, lust, honour, murder, Beserkers, romance and damsels in distress.33% of the net sale will be donated to charities for educational purposes.

Genres: Medieval, Classics, Fiction

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1250

About the author

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Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Icelandic saga, the main plot of which is set around the mid-late tenth century, tells of Glum, a major landowner in the north of the island. After some rather fantastical adventures of his father and grandfather in Norway, which establishes the protagonist’s pedigree, the narrative settles down into the repeated conflicts between Glum and the Esphœlingar, i.e. comparable landowners from the Espihóll area. It’s mainly a lot of killing and then the lawsuits made to seek restitution for the deaths, and the legal dealings are rather dull at times. Only occasionally does this saga take on the dramatic, cinematic qualities that the Icelandic historical-saga genre is famous for, such as a tale of adultery that ultimately sparks a battle.

This was the second saga, after Egill’s Saga, that I read in the original Old Norse. I used the second edition (Oxford University Press, 1960) of G. Turville-Petre’s edition. Unlike the first printing, this second edition contains a full glossary for the benefit of students; I never needed to consult a standalone Old Norse dictionary. There are also endnotes that mainly explain ancient customs and identify the place-names with the Iceland of today. However, the language of Viga-Glúms Saga was considerably more idiomatic and challenging than Egill’s Saga or some other sagas that I have flipped through, and the going was sometimes so slow that I started to lose sight of the drama and who was who, forcing me to go back and read passages over again. These forty pages took me over a month! It is not, therefore, a very good beginner text, but I suppose the upside for me is that the next saga I read will likely seem more easier reading in comparison.

[Øystein Brekke · Rating 3 out of 5]

"'Det er sant, det gløymte eg å seia: Eg drap Sigmund Torkelsson i dag', sa Glum."

Nokon av islendingesogene har ord på seg for å vera djupsindig litteratur med skarpe psykologiske personskildringar og so vidare. Viga-Glums saga er ikkje ein av desse. Her er det blod og gørr det går i. Viga-Glum og hans folk slåst med ei rivaliserande gruppe om maktposisjonar på Nord-Island på 900-talet. Litt interessante innblikk i æreskodeksen som samfunnet fungerer etter, får ein òg.

Det er artig nok, men det er ikkje yndlingsislendingesoga mi. (Sjølv om dei er innom Voss!)