Frey and His Wife

by Maurice Hewlett

[...]Icelander, and a well-friended man in those parts." Wigfus tossed up his chin. "Well, you shall do what seems good, and be ready to meet what befalls you. If Earl Haakon is angry, you will smart for it. You have not a rat's chance with him; and in my opinion you are talking rank nonsense. But have your own way." Now then, Wigfus reports to the Earl that Ogmund will abide his judgment-which was not true, and was even notoriously untrue. So said one of the Earl's men who was there at the time, and Wigfus could not deny him. Then up and spoke Halward, that mighty man, and spoke quietly as mighty men may. "I believe that Wigfus speaks untruly, and shall take my own way, by your leave, my lord. I did not need a mediator, and can do much better without him what I have to do."[...].

264 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1916

About the author

Maurice Henry Hewlett (1861 - 1923), was an English historical novelist, poet and essayist.

He was born at Weybridge, the eldest son of Henry Gay Hewlett, of Shaw Hall, Addington, Kent. He was educated at the London International College, Spring Grove, Isleworth, and was called to the bar in 1891. He gave up the law after the success of The Forest Lovers. From 1896 to 1901 he was Keeper of Lands, Revenues, Records and Enrolments, a government post as adviser on matters of medieval law.

Reviews

[Scribh]

For any lover of the Scandinavian sagas, this little book is a gem. It is based on the Icelandic family sagas, and accordingly switches off between comedy and tragedy throughout the story. At the heart of the tale is a cowardly man set on revenge, and the innocent man who gets caught up in it by mistake. I was totally unprepared for Gunnar's adventures in Sweden, and impressed by Hewlett's understanding of the sagas and way of life. The thought occurred to me during the course of my read that it really is amusing how each generation of scholars suppose themselves to be the first to "get" a time period or work of literature, when so many readers and writers have "gotten" there as well.

[Alice Kwok]

A fun, brief installment in the long nineteenth-century tradition of Fake Icelandic Sagas. Mostly interesting to fans of the medieval genre and its modern reception.

[Golding]

I listened to the free audiobook on youtube while visiting Iceland. It's a charming 19th century adaptation of some traditional icelandic/norse stories. Conflicts are around old religions vs new christianity, and the old honor culture vs business & practicality. Later reading of the actual myths of Frey revealed that it is not too faithful to the source material.