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Eric Brighteyes
Shipped from UK, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. 1st Edition First Edition
301 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1891
72 people are currently reading
1157 people want to read
About the author
H. Rider Haggard
1,571 books1,091 followersSir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire.
His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.
Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.
His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.
Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 22, 2014
★★★★½
This isn't the best modern pastiche of the Viking saga style that I've read (that would be Frans Gunnar Bengtsson's The Long Ships), but it's a very, very good one. Not being overly familiar with the original sagas, I can't speak to its accuracy, but it certainly feels authentic enough. You'll need to have a high tolerance for archaisms (thankfully, I do), as "thee"s and "thou"s abound. For some that may be a deal-breaker, but for me it just adds to the flavor. Haggard's intention was to emulate the style and setting of the sagas while stripping it down and removing much of the emphasis on family ancestry and legal matters, and instead focusing on heroism, action and drama in order to deliver a ripping good yarn—and that he did.
Haggard could certainly write exciting, visceral action scenes, and he knew how to create compelling heroes, villains and situations that draw one into a story. Seriously, this sumbitch moves. That said, I did have some problems with Haggard's writing choices. He would, on more than a few occasions (usually during intense action scenes), switch from past tense to present tense. I don't know if this was a general quirk in Haggard's writing style or if he was intentionally doing this to mimic the style of a particular saga, but I found it somewhat jarring. However, it does lend a certain immediacy to the scenes that were written in this fashion, so perhaps that was what Haggard was going for, but I still didn't care for that aspect of his writing. Not that it detracted from the enjoyment in any way, but it just triggered that instinctive reaction of "Hey, you're not supposed to do that!" in me that I had to fight to suppress.
Also, Haggard occasionally introduces key story elements late in the game that would have worked much better if they had been introduced earlier. For instance, if two star-crossed lovers, when they were children, had each taken the half of a gold coin as a symbol of their devotion to each other (and that could later be used by a messenger as a crucial token of identification), don't you think that would have been better, from a narrative standpoint, if it were introduced in the opening chapters, when they were still children, rather than two-thirds of the way through the book? That was certainly how I felt, and when I find myself editing an author's work and thinking of ways in which it could have been done better as I'm reading it, that usually isn't a good sign.
However, in the case of Eric Brighteyes, any complaints fell by the wayside as the enjoyment of reading Haggard's thrilling saga pastiche almost completely negated my minor qualms. It's a blast to read, a rousing derring-do adventure with engaging heroes and villains and an enthralling story. Haggard was trying to make an updated version of Icelandic sagas, but because of the heavy emphasis on magic and the supernatural in addition to the feats of sword-wielding badassery, the result is basically a proto-sword-and-sorcery novel, not unlike something Fritz Leiber would have written fifty years later. Good, fun stuff.
This isn't the best modern pastiche of the Viking saga style that I've read (that would be Frans Gunnar Bengtsson's The Long Ships), but it's a very, very good one. Not being overly familiar with the original sagas, I can't speak to its accuracy, but it certainly feels authentic enough. You'll need to have a high tolerance for archaisms (thankfully, I do), as "thee"s and "thou"s abound. For some that may be a deal-breaker, but for me it just adds to the flavor. Haggard's intention was to emulate the style and setting of the sagas while stripping it down and removing much of the emphasis on family ancestry and legal matters, and instead focusing on heroism, action and drama in order to deliver a ripping good yarn—and that he did.
Haggard could certainly write exciting, visceral action scenes, and he knew how to create compelling heroes, villains and situations that draw one into a story. Seriously, this sumbitch moves. That said, I did have some problems with Haggard's writing choices. He would, on more than a few occasions (usually during intense action scenes), switch from past tense to present tense. I don't know if this was a general quirk in Haggard's writing style or if he was intentionally doing this to mimic the style of a particular saga, but I found it somewhat jarring. However, it does lend a certain immediacy to the scenes that were written in this fashion, so perhaps that was what Haggard was going for, but I still didn't care for that aspect of his writing. Not that it detracted from the enjoyment in any way, but it just triggered that instinctive reaction of "Hey, you're not supposed to do that!" in me that I had to fight to suppress.
Also, Haggard occasionally introduces key story elements late in the game that would have worked much better if they had been introduced earlier. For instance, if two star-crossed lovers, when they were children, had each taken the half of a gold coin as a symbol of their devotion to each other (and that could later be used by a messenger as a crucial token of identification), don't you think that would have been better, from a narrative standpoint, if it were introduced in the opening chapters, when they were still children, rather than two-thirds of the way through the book? That was certainly how I felt, and when I find myself editing an author's work and thinking of ways in which it could have been done better as I'm reading it, that usually isn't a good sign.
However, in the case of Eric Brighteyes, any complaints fell by the wayside as the enjoyment of reading Haggard's thrilling saga pastiche almost completely negated my minor qualms. It's a blast to read, a rousing derring-do adventure with engaging heroes and villains and an enthralling story. Haggard was trying to make an updated version of Icelandic sagas, but because of the heavy emphasis on magic and the supernatural in addition to the feats of sword-wielding badassery, the result is basically a proto-sword-and-sorcery novel, not unlike something Fritz Leiber would have written fifty years later. Good, fun stuff.
May 26, 2024
Imagine a Norse god of a man with the widest chest and craziest good looks, wielding swords, golden helm on head and a moral viewpoint capable of chiseling granite? That's Eric Brighteyes for you.
Imagine the most beautiful maidens in Iceland to die for, with oddly unattractive names like Groa and Gudruda, although Swanhild comes to the rescue as a beautiful name with a hell of a bad attitude.
Eric is a hero of heroes, a man's man and a woman's dream, loved by all for constantly being on the edge and fighting for what's right.
To my knowledge, this is the favourite book of director Stanley Kubrick, which is why I decided to read it. It has massive potential. It's also referenced by J.R.R. Tolkien as one of his major influences, which is another reason to explore its depths.
It actually feels like the birthing mother of Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and the similarities are uncanny. Warring families from north to south, brave warriors, gorgeously conniving witches and bitches, romantic interests by the spades - this is probably the blueprint of everything we've grown to love about Middle Earth and Westeros.
This book was published in 1891, so imagine its use of formal language and the rather rustic storytelling method. Third-party pronouns are used all the time with 'they' did this, 'he' did that, and such and such happens in a rudimentary, straightforward, extremely informative and action-packed way with hardly any filler, which is surprising for such an old book.
The simplicity is reminiscent of The Once and Future King (Arthur) by T.H. White through its naive and open approach. You know you're in for a treat by chapter two but it takes a long time to heat up until the later third of the book.
Some of the terminology is absolutely awesome too, such as 'rede' to mean advice or counsel, and 'fey' as a warning or foreboding attitude, and the amazing 'weregild' phrase as a penalty for killing someone.
Eric Brighteyes isn't the most thrilling read and is strangely sedate and predictable most of the time, but is also historical, informative and unexpectedly charming.
I can't believe this book has had so little exposure. It's the ultimate marauding story of good versus evil with romantic undertones.
Imagine the most beautiful maidens in Iceland to die for, with oddly unattractive names like Groa and Gudruda, although Swanhild comes to the rescue as a beautiful name with a hell of a bad attitude.
Eric is a hero of heroes, a man's man and a woman's dream, loved by all for constantly being on the edge and fighting for what's right.
To my knowledge, this is the favourite book of director Stanley Kubrick, which is why I decided to read it. It has massive potential. It's also referenced by J.R.R. Tolkien as one of his major influences, which is another reason to explore its depths.
It actually feels like the birthing mother of Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and the similarities are uncanny. Warring families from north to south, brave warriors, gorgeously conniving witches and bitches, romantic interests by the spades - this is probably the blueprint of everything we've grown to love about Middle Earth and Westeros.
This book was published in 1891, so imagine its use of formal language and the rather rustic storytelling method. Third-party pronouns are used all the time with 'they' did this, 'he' did that, and such and such happens in a rudimentary, straightforward, extremely informative and action-packed way with hardly any filler, which is surprising for such an old book.
The simplicity is reminiscent of The Once and Future King (Arthur) by T.H. White through its naive and open approach. You know you're in for a treat by chapter two but it takes a long time to heat up until the later third of the book.
Some of the terminology is absolutely awesome too, such as 'rede' to mean advice or counsel, and 'fey' as a warning or foreboding attitude, and the amazing 'weregild' phrase as a penalty for killing someone.
Eric Brighteyes isn't the most thrilling read and is strangely sedate and predictable most of the time, but is also historical, informative and unexpectedly charming.
I can't believe this book has had so little exposure. It's the ultimate marauding story of good versus evil with romantic undertones.
September 10, 2022
Second of Haggard's big historical epics (after Cleopatra). In this case, we have a viking story modeled very consciously on the old Icelandic sagas [ASIDE: I hadn't really realized how much of a presence the vikings had in Iceland, nor that so many of the big stories we know are actually from there, not from up in Scandinavia.] Our hero, Eric Brighteyes is, of course, young, handsome, strong and brave (and possibly not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but let's never mind that for now). Naturally, there are women -- the fair Gudruda, daughter of the Priest Asmund and the equally fair, but witchy and evil and Finnish Swanhild. There are villains, most notably the unpleasant Ospakar Blacktooth. There are companions, most notably the "Baresark" Skallagrim Lambstail. And if you think this story is one of those that has a happy ending, you may not be overly familiar with the Icelandic sagas ... But it's a rousing tale of love and adventure and not a little bit of witchery, written in a lovely, slightly archaic, slightly elevated style that reads just as well now as it did when it was published 125+ years ago.
And there are also a couple of weddings that are not entirely unlike the sort favored by George R.R. Martin ...
And there are also a couple of weddings that are not entirely unlike the sort favored by George R.R. Martin ...
July 23, 2021
Приятен роман, който щеше да ми се вслади много повече в детските години, защото е платил данъка на времето, но и така доволно ме израдва. Историята на Ерик Светлоокия, базирана на исландските саги, носи оная трагична предопределeност, характерна за всички легенди, където е намесена невъзможната любов. А триъгълникът, оформен от него, Гудруда Красивата и Сванхилд Сиротната, е наистина класически. Любим герой - Скалагрим Агнешката опашка - берсерк, любител на медовината - няма какво да не му харесаш :) Оригиналните (близо 40) черно-бели илюстрации на Ланселот Спийд от второто издание (1891) бяха допълнителна благина.
December 30, 2022
This is an excellent pre-sword-and-sorcery late-19th-century homage to Icelandic Sagas. The plot is labyrinthine and difficult to summarize briefly. In essence, the main character, the heroic and virtuous Eric Brighteyes, is beloved by two woman, Gudruda the Fair and Swanhild the Witch. Gudruda is honorable and good and Swanhild is a witch and spiteful. Most of the conflict originates from Swanhild's machinations as she attempts (and mostly succeeds) to disrupt and destroy Eric's life and loving relationship with Gudruda. The novel is written in an archaic style but reads mostly like narrative, novelistic prose. It is not in verse (there are a few verse excerpts), but the archaic language and syntax often gives the effect of heroic verse. There are some philosophical elements here as well. One theme is the fallen nature of the world, the way humans are doomed by the Norns to have our desires unmet in a mostly terrible, short, unhappy, and unlucky life. Another is how violence will find us no matter our desire to avoid it. In terms of genre: there are very minor supernatural elements--some ghosts, some witchcraft, a few references to goblins and dwarfs--but this is mostly historical. The fantastical element are subtle brushstrokes. I read this because Brian Murphy mentions it in his history of sword and sorcery as a "pre-S&S" novel. I think that is an apt description. This is definitely worth a read if someone is trying to get a wide-angled perspective on the history of sword and sorcery as a distinct adventure fantasy genre. So glad I finally read this.
May 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this book - the adventures of Eric Brighteyes is the story of a brave and honest man who is marked by fate for misfortune - even as he becomes a legend. The story was taunt and filled with action and adventure. Haggard has a real talent for fight scenes; almost cinematic. If you are a fan of the series Vikings you will love this book. Shelly Frasier does a fantastic job making each character come to life!
August 21, 2016
There lived a man in the south...He was named Eric Brighteyes, Thorgrimur’s son, and in those days there was no man like him for strength, beauty, and daring, for in all these things he was the first. But he was not the first in good luck.
I enjoyed reading this. It was my first time getting a taste of an Icelandic saga, although I guess it’s important to mention that H.R. Haggard was not himself Icelandic, but English. He wrote this book shortly after returning from a trip to Iceland, wanting to recreate the ancient storytelling style. So basically, this is not an “authentic” saga. But from what I’ve read, it seems he didn’t do too bad a job by comparison.
Of woman, as of men...there is this to be said, that some are good and some are evil.
On the surface this is an epic Viking novel, but at its heart it’s a tragic love triangle, and a fight between good and evil. From the first pages we’re shown the path predetermined for the characters, only to watch as each decision is a potential foot in the direction of that destiny. I enjoyed the adventure, the mythology, the magic and superstition, but boy was it frustrating to follow the path these characters were going down. It was hard to watch the characters fall into obvious traps, and continue to make similar mistakes. Eric isn't so much a man of ill-luck, he's more often than not, gullible. Like Thor to Loki, he falls for all the lies and tricks, when he already knows the nature of his antagonist.
Also worth mentioning - there are a lot of “thees” and “thous." If you’ve read the KJV Bible this shouldn’t be an issue, but might take some getting used to otherwise. There does seem to be some repetition in the story, which slows the pace a little. I know I felt like it would never end sometimes. And interestingly enough Tolkien read this as a child and commented positively about it - his recommendation might mean more than mine.
I’m so happy I came across this book. It was entertaining and worth the time I put into it. I would recommend this to anyone who loves classic literature, fantasy and adventure. If you’re interested this is a public domain book, so you should be able to find it free for download online.
May 31, 2019
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars. Fine pastiche of Icelandic sagas
May 29, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Eric Brighteyes by Henry Rider Haggard
First published in 1890
Review of the free Kindle edition
A Public Domain Book
Publication date: May 17, 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B0084AXXB6
This novel is not a saga or even based upon a particular saga. Rather it is a pastiche of Icelandic sagas in general. it is usually considered successful in capturing the feel and mood of the sagas while entertaining readers. Henry Rider Haggard was known for his romances and adventure novels. This novel does not disappoint. It is a tragedy, an adventure, the story of a great warrior and the ill fated love between the warrior Eric and the fair Grudruda. There are flawed heroes, dastardly villains, witches, second sight, fate, the Norns and Norse fatalism. All without the confusing genealogies and usually boring details of multiple minor characters and their activities which make many of the original sagas so difficult to read. Rider was influenced by the pioneering saga translations of William Morris and Erick Magnusson in the 1860s and by a trip Rider made to Iceland. It is a great novel despite a title which sounds much like a 1950's - 60's Disney nature program about a racoon or maybe a coyote cub. Of course Haggard can't be blamed for that.
Despite erroneous assertions made elsewhere, Haggard did not dedicate this book to Queen Victoria. It is dedicated to her eldest daughter, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, Princess Royal of Great Britain, Queen of Prussia and Empress of Germany by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III.
A number of Haggard's books are available for free from Amazon including SHE and several Allan Quartermain tales.
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars. Fine pastiche of Icelandic sagas
May 29, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Eric Brighteyes by Henry Rider Haggard
First published in 1890
Review of the free Kindle edition
A Public Domain Book
Publication date: May 17, 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B0084AXXB6
This novel is not a saga or even based upon a particular saga. Rather it is a pastiche of Icelandic sagas in general. it is usually considered successful in capturing the feel and mood of the sagas while entertaining readers. Henry Rider Haggard was known for his romances and adventure novels. This novel does not disappoint. It is a tragedy, an adventure, the story of a great warrior and the ill fated love between the warrior Eric and the fair Grudruda. There are flawed heroes, dastardly villains, witches, second sight, fate, the Norns and Norse fatalism. All without the confusing genealogies and usually boring details of multiple minor characters and their activities which make many of the original sagas so difficult to read. Rider was influenced by the pioneering saga translations of William Morris and Erick Magnusson in the 1860s and by a trip Rider made to Iceland. It is a great novel despite a title which sounds much like a 1950's - 60's Disney nature program about a racoon or maybe a coyote cub. Of course Haggard can't be blamed for that.
Despite erroneous assertions made elsewhere, Haggard did not dedicate this book to Queen Victoria. It is dedicated to her eldest daughter, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, Princess Royal of Great Britain, Queen of Prussia and Empress of Germany by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III.
A number of Haggard's books are available for free from Amazon including SHE and several Allan Quartermain tales.
February 12, 2011
Let me admit at the start that I've been on an Old Norse and Anglo Saxon kick lately. I picked up this book because it was mentioned in a recorded lecture by the Anglo Saxonist Dr. Drout. (This is not an easy book to find. I had to request it through interlibrary loan.) Apparently J.R.R. Tolkein - who was a professor of Anglo Saxon studies at Oxford - referred to this book as one of two that most influenced his ideas for Lord of the Rings. In this novel Haggard attempts to take the flavor of Old Norse epic poetry and translate it into a modern novel. If you are interested in Vikings and Anglo Saxons, but find Beowulf hard to read, then you will enjoy this book. I did. Haggard captures the time and place of the vikings with a combination of old and modern language that is accessible but true to the spirit of the Vikings.
Eric Brighteyes is a handsome, strong and brave (and naive and dimwitted) young man in Iceland who falls in love with Gudruda the Fair, and she falls in love with him. The problem is that Gudruda's half sister, Swanhild, who practices witchcraft for a good time, also falls in love with Eric. Love triangles being the rather precarious circumstances that they are - especially when they involve sorcery, invincible swords, and baresarks (look it up) - this leads to numerous magical and bloody conflicts as Eric tries to create a life with Gudruda. As any good Old Norse poem should, this story ends in bloody but heroic tragedy.
Haggard is masterful in his use of Old Norse traditions and words. His writing style in this book sounds like old English without being old English. It has the style of the King James Bible or Shakespeare, but is not so difficult to read. This is not an intellectual story, because Vikings weren't exactly intellectuals, but they knew how to cleave skulls using swords with cool names.
Eric Brighteyes is a handsome, strong and brave (and naive and dimwitted) young man in Iceland who falls in love with Gudruda the Fair, and she falls in love with him. The problem is that Gudruda's half sister, Swanhild, who practices witchcraft for a good time, also falls in love with Eric. Love triangles being the rather precarious circumstances that they are - especially when they involve sorcery, invincible swords, and baresarks (look it up) - this leads to numerous magical and bloody conflicts as Eric tries to create a life with Gudruda. As any good Old Norse poem should, this story ends in bloody but heroic tragedy.
Haggard is masterful in his use of Old Norse traditions and words. His writing style in this book sounds like old English without being old English. It has the style of the King James Bible or Shakespeare, but is not so difficult to read. This is not an intellectual story, because Vikings weren't exactly intellectuals, but they knew how to cleave skulls using swords with cool names.
September 11, 2012
''Eric Brighteyes'' is a fantasy tragedy set mostly in Iceland and its surroundings. The story revolves around a star-crossed love triangle between Eric, Gudrud, and Swanhild.
The language is written in what I like to call Epic English, with a lot of thees and thous, and it's done quiet well. If you ever read The Worm Ouroboros by ER Erikson, you'll feel that this is somewhat similar.
Despite the ending being revealed already in the beginning of the book with a prophecy, yet the way these characters struggle against their destinies is easy to relate to. Anyone who has felt trapped in their job or situation, or anyone who is overwhelmed by the though that one day they too will die, can relate to these characters as they struggle to grasp and hold on to their happiness despite the fact that they are hurtling towards destruction. Inbetween there are pleny of prophecies, witcheries and ghosts to add to the atmosphere.
Although bleak, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the struggle to find meaning in a world filled with death is one that resonates with me. I recommend it.
The language is written in what I like to call Epic English, with a lot of thees and thous, and it's done quiet well. If you ever read The Worm Ouroboros by ER Erikson, you'll feel that this is somewhat similar.
Despite the ending being revealed already in the beginning of the book with a prophecy, yet the way these characters struggle against their destinies is easy to relate to. Anyone who has felt trapped in their job or situation, or anyone who is overwhelmed by the though that one day they too will die, can relate to these characters as they struggle to grasp and hold on to their happiness despite the fact that they are hurtling towards destruction. Inbetween there are pleny of prophecies, witcheries and ghosts to add to the atmosphere.
Although bleak, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the struggle to find meaning in a world filled with death is one that resonates with me. I recommend it.
April 1, 2019
The villain is always the really interesting one. Eric Brighteyes is on stage for the vast majority of the story and is framed as its tragic hero, but this could just as easily have been titled "Swanhild the Fatherless".
In one remarkable scene she agrees--the most tepid agreement possible--to accept damnation in exchange for a last-ditch attempt at winning Eric for herself, so that she would know bliss in life for eternal horror and separation from him afterwards. Her initial plan fails, of course, and the follow-on plans do as well, in stages that reveal greater desperation, disregard for society, and outright insanity of purpose.
Like all the characters involved, she is well aware of her fate and of the facts leading up to it. Despite heavy invocation of the Norns and of capital-F Fate, this is all in the realm of human failings. There are many times when a detached party--Skallagrim, usually--point out that the entire situation is avoidable if only the listener--Eric Brighteyes--leave off from the current course.
Nobody ever does.
In one remarkable scene she agrees--the most tepid agreement possible--to accept damnation in exchange for a last-ditch attempt at winning Eric for herself, so that she would know bliss in life for eternal horror and separation from him afterwards. Her initial plan fails, of course, and the follow-on plans do as well, in stages that reveal greater desperation, disregard for society, and outright insanity of purpose.
Like all the characters involved, she is well aware of her fate and of the facts leading up to it. Despite heavy invocation of the Norns and of capital-F Fate, this is all in the realm of human failings. There are many times when a detached party--Skallagrim, usually--point out that the entire situation is avoidable if only the listener--Eric Brighteyes--leave off from the current course.
Nobody ever does.
July 2, 2025
Haggard does a phenomenal job of matching the style - both in prose and storytelling - of the stories he is using as a basis. His goal of turning a saga into a modern, readable narrative was accomplished in full. He ups the fantastic in this story, but still remains true to the ways the sagas involve the supernatural. The story itself is a well-mixed combination of the Nibelungenleid, Grettis Saga, Laxdaelasaga, Egils Saga, Njals Saga, Tristrams Saga, and elements from the Eddas. If you are a fan of any of these, I cannot recommend this book enough, but if you are unfamiliar that does not preclude you from heeding my recommendation. It is, in the end, an enthralling and tragic romance of both the medieval and modern variety, and just plain enjoyable to read.
February 6, 2016
Not for me. The writing is archaic and could be hard to follow. Too much dialogue and not much exciting action. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of fighting but reading all those pages of Eric vanquishing his foes almost effortlessly becomes tedious. The plot was linear and oh so transparent. Mostly though, it was the poor choices all the characters made over and over; especially Eric that just ruined the book for me. This book came highly recommended, I just couldn't enjoy it. The only positive thing I have to say about the book is the price: free.
March 4, 2020
এই বইটা সম্পর্কে বলতে চাইলে বলব, এটা চিরচেনা হ্যাগার্ডীয় নীতির বাইরে। কিন্তু জাদু, অপূর্ব সুন্দরী নায়িকা, হ্যান্ডসাম আর শক্তিশালী নায়ক- এইটুকু তো অন্তত সহ্য করতেই হবে :P যাই হোক... মূল ঘটনায় আসি। সাধারণত প্রেমের বইগুলোর ক্ষেত্রে দেখা যায় নায়ক নায়িকা মন দিয়ে বসে আছে আর ফ্যাকরা বাঁধায় নায়িকার বাপ মা (বেশিরভাগ ক্ষেত্রে) দুনিয়ার কাহিনীর পর অত:পর নায়ক নায়িকার মধুর মিলন। কিন্তু আশ্চর্যজনকভাবে খেয়াল করলাম গল্প কিছুটা আগানোর পর (নায়ক নায়িকা মন দেয়া নেয়ার কিছুকাল পর) একটু ধানাইপানাই করে নায়িকার বাপও রাজি হয়ে যায় তাদের বিয়েতে। যাচ্চলে! তাইলে বাদ বাকি দেড়শ দুইশ পেজের কি হবে? সেজন্য কাহিনীতে মশলা মাখাতে আবির্ভাব হয় দ্বিতীয় নায়িকার। বলাই বাহুল্য যে কোন গল্পে এক নায়ক আর দুই নায়িকা থাকা মানে এক জন হয় মরে যাবে নয়তো স্যাক্রিফাইস করবে। কিন্তু দেখা যায় আমাদের দ্বিতীয় নায়িকাও ছাড়বার পাত্রী না.. নায়িকার মতো তাঁরও রূপ আছে গুণ আছে সেই বা নায়কের দাবী ছাড়বে ক্যান? শুরু হল টানাপোড়ন।
এদিকে গুটিবাজি করে চললেন হ্যাগার্ড সাহেব। সেও নায়ক বেচারাকে নিয়ে বিভিন্ন এক্সপেরিমেন্ট করতে লাগলেন। যদিও এই ত্রিভুজ প্রেমের পরিণতির লিখন বহুকাল আগেই স্বপ্নে দেখেন নায়িকার বাবা। তাই বলে নিয়তিকে তো আর এড়ানো যায় না!
জাদু, নিয়তি, প্রেম, ষড়যন্ত্র আর কর্মফল নিয়ে স্যার হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের অনবদ্য এক কাহিনী। প্রথমে রূপকথা রূপকথা ভাব আসলেও বেশ মজা নিয়েই পড়েছি।
#বই_হোক_অক্সিজেন
#HappyA_reading
এদিকে গুটিবাজি করে চললেন হ্যাগার্ড সাহেব। সেও নায়ক বেচারাকে নিয়ে বিভিন্ন এক্সপেরিমেন্ট করতে লাগলেন। যদিও এই ত্রিভুজ প্রেমের পরিণতির লিখন বহুকাল আগেই স্বপ্নে দেখেন নায়িকার বাবা। তাই বলে নিয়তিকে তো আর এড়ানো যায় না!
জাদু, নিয়তি, প্রেম, ষড়যন্ত্র আর কর্মফল নিয়ে স্যার হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের অনবদ্য এক কাহিনী। প্রথমে রূপকথা রূপকথা ভাব আসলেও বেশ মজা নিয়েই পড়েছি।
#বই_হোক_অক্সিজেন
#HappyA_reading
January 4, 2023
This was a beautiful version from the Professor's Bookshelf series of books that inspired JRR Tolkien. Be prepared for thouests and harkens and other archaic forms of speech because the book is entirely written that way. For me personally, the archaic prose lend beauty to the tragic saga of one Eric Brighteyes, Icelands greatest hero. This is my favorite Haggard book to date, and I really like many of his books. Be prepared for many fabrics of Norse lore consisting of witchcraft, Valkyries, Fate, battles, Althings (Things), dragonships, Carles, Jarls, Kings, Iceland, the Orkneys, England (London) and many more. The saga consists of a tragic love story and a Finnish witch woman scorned.
Want to read
March 6, 2014
Gutenberg link: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2721
DEDICATION
Madam,
You have graciously conveyed to me the intelligence that during the weary weeks spent far from his home—in alternate hope and fear, in suffering and mortal trial—a Prince whose memory all men must reverence, the Emperor Frederick, found pleasure in the reading of my stories: that "they interested and fascinated him."
While the world was watching daily at the bedside of your Majesty's Imperial husband, while many were endeavouring to learn courage in our supremest need from the spectacle of that heroic patience, a distant writer little knew that it had been his fortune to bring to such a sufferer an hour's forgetfulness of sorrow and pain.
This knowledge, to an author, is far dearer than any praise, and it is in gratitude that, with your Majesty's permission, I venture to dedicate to you the tale of Eric Brighteyes.
The late Emperor, at heart a lover of peace, though by duty a soldier of soldiers, might perhaps have cared to interest himself in a warrior of long ago, a hero of our Northern stock, whose days were spent in strife, and whose latest desire was Rest. But it may not be; like the Golden Eric of this Saga, and after a nobler fashion, he has passed through the Hundred Gates into the Valhalla of Renown.
To you, then, Madam, I dedicate this book, a token, however slight and unworthy, of profound respect and sympathy.
I am, Madam,
Your Majesty's most obedient servant,
H. Rider Haggard.
November 17, 1889.
To H.I.M. Victoria, Empress Frederick of Germany.
INTRODUCTION
"Eric Brighteyes" is a romance founded on the Icelandic Sagas. "What is a saga?" "Is it a fable or a true story?" The answer is not altogether simple. For such sagas as those of Burnt Njal and Grettir the Strong partake both of truth and fiction: historians dispute as to the proportions. This was the manner of the saga's growth: In the early days of the Iceland community—that republic of aristocrats—say, between the dates 900 and 1100 of our era, a quarrel would arise between two great families. As in the case of the Njal Saga, its cause, probably, was the ill doings of some noble woman. This quarrel would lead to manslaughter.
April 1, 2019
H Rider Haggard -- best known for his adventure tales set in Africa, like "King Solomon's Mines" and "She" -- wrote one of, if not the first, modern English sagas in the Icelandic model. (William Morris' "House of the Wolfings" was published at about the same time, from what I've read so far it also models itself on the Icelandic saga.)
Haggard wrote this shortly after a visit to Iceland, and he did his best to incorporate the best of the sagas -- poetic descriptions of landscapes, seascapes, and battle, clever word-play and dialogue, and above all the muscular paganism of the Viking world -- while leaving out the most tedious part (long catalogs of lineages and digressions about minor characters). So this is a lot more accessible than similar works like E.R. Eddison's "Styrbiorn the strong" or Poul Anderson's "Hrolf Krakis saga" -- both of which are excellent in their ways and worth reading too!
Haggard's hero is a fairly typical type of saga hero: brave and honorable, strong and handsome, and doomed by tragic character flaws and choices. The story has a fairly simple set-up: two half-sisters both love the hero, and his choice between them causes the scorned sister to wreak a drawn-out, perfidious revenge.
Along the way Eric fights a berserker, makes powerful enemies who have him outlawed, and sets sail on a viking expedition where he joins the court of an English king. His fights against warriors, witchcraft, and the deadly forces of nature at land and sea, and eventually returns to Iceland to face his destiny.
The pacing and action are excellent, and his slightly archaic language evokes the sagas well. The plot details all feel appropriate to the genre, but are also inventive and don't just copy the sources. The elements of magic and mysticism are also appropriate, and reminded me of the more fantastic sagas like "Grettrs Saga."
I listened to a dramatic reading of this via LibriVox, and the reader's enthusiasm for the story made it an especially good LibriVox recording, though some of the voicing, especially for the female characters, was unintentionally funny.
Haggard wrote this shortly after a visit to Iceland, and he did his best to incorporate the best of the sagas -- poetic descriptions of landscapes, seascapes, and battle, clever word-play and dialogue, and above all the muscular paganism of the Viking world -- while leaving out the most tedious part (long catalogs of lineages and digressions about minor characters). So this is a lot more accessible than similar works like E.R. Eddison's "Styrbiorn the strong" or Poul Anderson's "Hrolf Krakis saga" -- both of which are excellent in their ways and worth reading too!
Haggard's hero is a fairly typical type of saga hero: brave and honorable, strong and handsome, and doomed by tragic character flaws and choices. The story has a fairly simple set-up: two half-sisters both love the hero, and his choice between them causes the scorned sister to wreak a drawn-out, perfidious revenge.
Along the way Eric fights a berserker, makes powerful enemies who have him outlawed, and sets sail on a viking expedition where he joins the court of an English king. His fights against warriors, witchcraft, and the deadly forces of nature at land and sea, and eventually returns to Iceland to face his destiny.
The pacing and action are excellent, and his slightly archaic language evokes the sagas well. The plot details all feel appropriate to the genre, but are also inventive and don't just copy the sources. The elements of magic and mysticism are also appropriate, and reminded me of the more fantastic sagas like "Grettrs Saga."
I listened to a dramatic reading of this via LibriVox, and the reader's enthusiasm for the story made it an especially good LibriVox recording, though some of the voicing, especially for the female characters, was unintentionally funny.
April 22, 2016
A brilliant imitation of the saga style--at times you forget you're not reading the real deal. However, his tale falls short in comparison to Bengtsson's (The Long Ships) and Smiley's (The Greenlanders), both of which, in their own way, rise above the merely imitative and give the saga a modern twist.
April 21, 2010
Apparently this was one of two books that Tolkien claimed as influencing The Lord of the Rings--and I can easily see that, as Haggard tries to create a work in the spirit, and somewhat in the style, of the old Norse legends. I'm not going to claim that Haggard even at his best is the same order of classic as the best by Charles Dickens, the Brontes, George Eliot or Thomas Hardy. But like fellow Victorians Arthur Conan Doyle or Robert Louis Stevenson or Rudyard Kipling, Haggard really could spin a good yarn, and the fantasy genre in general owes him a great debt. Ten of his books are on my bookshelves. I gobbled those up in my teens and most I remember very, very well even decades later. My favorite of his novels involve Ayesha, known as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, especially the book Wisdom's Daughter. But, with perhaps the exception of The World's Desire, Haggard's tale of Odysseus, this is my second favorite of the Haggard books I've read and if Ayesha is the most formidable and unforgettable of Haggard heroines, Eric for me is his most memorable hero, even over the more famous Allan Quartermain of King Solomon's Mines.
December 17, 2012
Haggard's classic Viking romantic tragedy is one of the finest novels of its genre. It is a fast-paced story filled with all the great elements literature, including a hero often blind to those who betray him to his tragic end. Haggard's rich use of language makes the reader feel the frigid desperation of the a winter storm on the Northern Atlantic, the bloodlust of a desperate duel between two raging Viking warriors, as well as the fire of young love that leads the lovers to their doom. The most amazing fact is Haggard wrote this epic tale in a mere four months!
Read
March 13, 2008this reads almost exactly like the traditional icelandic sagas (which are great!). it had more of a romantic slant to it, tho it did not detract from the feeling much.
April 23, 2009
While I enjoyed this book greatly it could be difficult to read at points because it was written to mimic the style of the Icelandic oral tradition of storytelling. But it is well worth the effort.
April 23, 2020
My eight year old enjoyed this book. I thought it was fine, a well told tale, but not really worth reading. The actual Viking sagas are good enough. This Victorian re-telling had too many historical inaccuracies - it had more to say about the Victorians than the Vikings. (Viking brides did not wear white, were not obsessed with purity, did not faint all the time, did not tremble, etc.) With my next kid I will stick to the sagas and skip this one.
February 8, 2025
(1891) 4.5 stars. First let me number myself among those who picked up this book because of Stanley Kubrick, who really wanted to film it. It was a fun exercise trying to picture the treatment he would've given the scenes. My guess is that, as Barry Lyndon satisfied some of what he wanted to achieve with the Napoleon script, The Shining--with its snow, and gore, and clairvoyants, and flashes of eerie and violent imagery--did for Eric Brighteyes.
A welcome departure from his 50-odd novels about lost races in Africa, Haggard here tries his hand at an Icelandic saga, but in the form of a novel, "clipped," as he says in his intro, of the peculiarities--the myriad characters, subplots, genealogies etc.--that make the real thing so heavy going for readers. (Haggard compares this trait unfavorably to the artistry of Homer. However, he calls the sagas second only to Homer. If interested, see those of Njal or Grettir).
The novel may appear episodic at first but is in fact picking up the pieces as it goes along for a classic structure, so that by the end the hero is at one of his lowest moments right when he can get his revenge. I was slow to warm up to this book, but once I did, about 60 pages in, I got more and more invested. Even at this early date Haggard is quite the pro, and does a number of things that I thought conventionally successful, such as:
*Giving his hero a berserker sidekick. (It's always fun to have a crazy friend on your side). And of course the fugue state he goes into when he goes berserk, snapping out of it only when the butchery is over, is extremely cool.
*Having Eric's mother defend him when no one else would. You don't want your hero to get too low. That scene was good and necessary and it also made sense that a great man like Eric should have such a strong mother.
But the author's most surprising success--surprising since it's so hard to do--is the love story. It's so pathetic that you can't help but ache for the lovers a little.
This is a barren, punishing world, without free will. The Vikings are straitjacketed to their fates, and reminded of it in relentless premonitions and warnings (even a decapitated head tells Eric how he will die). I became interested in how the characters cope with this. Slowly you begin to discern the hero's perspective, and admire him for it, not resisting or trying to avoid his doom, but resigned instead to enjoy whatever reward is allotted to him, even if it's only an hour in his dear love's arms. In the end, the ever-gloomy Haggard suggests repeatedly, we're all fated to die anyway, so what difference does it make.
Eric and Gudruda's long-awaited reunion is sweet and well imagined. It's very effective, and affecting, that Haggard has the pair at last take heart and try to buck their destiny. The sickbed scene and their marriage are also touching and sad. Perhaps I should've expected this in an homage to Viking sagas but Haggard gives you, and his doomed heroes, a glimpse of the transition that was going on during this period, when the land was about to be converted from Odin to Christ. And with this Haggard does offer the lovers some final hope amid the unremitting fatalism, floating the prospect of a future together in heaven. It's a hard-hearted reader who doesn't eagerly accept this version of a happy ending for them.
To give the feel of bygone days, the author commits to a somewhat bygone tone, whose restricted register hobbles what I consider his greatest gift--that beautiful prose of his, so deft yet potent. It's similar to what Longfellow did to himself when he modeled Hiawatha on a Finnish epic. The grandeur sapped the color from his pen. Something about those Viking sagas is death to the English tongue. For this reason I can't give the novel 5 stars, and might not revisit it as I would his others, even though it's stronger than his others in many ways.
Marginalia:
*The book is dedicated to the daughter of Queen Victoria, also called Victoria. Apparently her husband the German emperor was a big fan and read Haggard on his deathbed.
*Vikings were litigious!
A welcome departure from his 50-odd novels about lost races in Africa, Haggard here tries his hand at an Icelandic saga, but in the form of a novel, "clipped," as he says in his intro, of the peculiarities--the myriad characters, subplots, genealogies etc.--that make the real thing so heavy going for readers. (Haggard compares this trait unfavorably to the artistry of Homer. However, he calls the sagas second only to Homer. If interested, see those of Njal or Grettir).
The novel may appear episodic at first but is in fact picking up the pieces as it goes along for a classic structure, so that by the end the hero is at one of his lowest moments right when he can get his revenge. I was slow to warm up to this book, but once I did, about 60 pages in, I got more and more invested. Even at this early date Haggard is quite the pro, and does a number of things that I thought conventionally successful, such as:
*Giving his hero a berserker sidekick. (It's always fun to have a crazy friend on your side). And of course the fugue state he goes into when he goes berserk, snapping out of it only when the butchery is over, is extremely cool.
*Having Eric's mother defend him when no one else would. You don't want your hero to get too low. That scene was good and necessary and it also made sense that a great man like Eric should have such a strong mother.
But the author's most surprising success--surprising since it's so hard to do--is the love story. It's so pathetic that you can't help but ache for the lovers a little.
This is a barren, punishing world, without free will. The Vikings are straitjacketed to their fates, and reminded of it in relentless premonitions and warnings (even a decapitated head tells Eric how he will die). I became interested in how the characters cope with this. Slowly you begin to discern the hero's perspective, and admire him for it, not resisting or trying to avoid his doom, but resigned instead to enjoy whatever reward is allotted to him, even if it's only an hour in his dear love's arms. In the end, the ever-gloomy Haggard suggests repeatedly, we're all fated to die anyway, so what difference does it make.
Eric and Gudruda's long-awaited reunion is sweet and well imagined. It's very effective, and affecting, that Haggard has the pair at last take heart and try to buck their destiny. The sickbed scene and their marriage are also touching and sad. Perhaps I should've expected this in an homage to Viking sagas but Haggard gives you, and his doomed heroes, a glimpse of the transition that was going on during this period, when the land was about to be converted from Odin to Christ. And with this Haggard does offer the lovers some final hope amid the unremitting fatalism, floating the prospect of a future together in heaven. It's a hard-hearted reader who doesn't eagerly accept this version of a happy ending for them.
To give the feel of bygone days, the author commits to a somewhat bygone tone, whose restricted register hobbles what I consider his greatest gift--that beautiful prose of his, so deft yet potent. It's similar to what Longfellow did to himself when he modeled Hiawatha on a Finnish epic. The grandeur sapped the color from his pen. Something about those Viking sagas is death to the English tongue. For this reason I can't give the novel 5 stars, and might not revisit it as I would his others, even though it's stronger than his others in many ways.
Marginalia:
*The book is dedicated to the daughter of Queen Victoria, also called Victoria. Apparently her husband the German emperor was a big fan and read Haggard on his deathbed.
*Vikings were litigious!
April 15, 2019
I found this book really exciting. I read it while listening to the audio book, which really helped me comprehend it better. This book is set in and around Iceland. It is about a Viking called Eric Brighteyes who loves a maiden named Gudruda, but another maiden named Swanhild likes Eric even though he does not like her back, so Swnhild does anything (even kill people) to get Eric while he is doing great deeds. I really enjoyed both the action and the drama. The pictures were great as well as the story its self. I kind of was unhappy when it ended, because I wanted there to be more, because it was so good. I really liked how Rider Haggard made the reader feel sad for the main character, for example, when Eric had just married Gudruda, then she was murdered by Gizur during the night on Swanhild's orders. This book really gave me a taste of about everthing drama, action, emotional scenes, and dislike towards people. I have thoroughly enjoyed H. Rider Haggard's literature, and I will keep on reading his astonishing books. In the end this book was great and obviously deserved a five star rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2019
Extraordinary. So close to an Icelandic saga you can get without it being an original. (I read the Swedish translation by Thure Trolle – ”Erik Ejegod”, Aktiebolaget Chelius & Co, 1917)
August 21, 2013
Lots of prophesying going on in "Eric Brighteyes" - it seems almost any character is up to it - bad or good, dead or alive. So we know what's going to happen, and so do the protagonists (although they don't seem to make much effort to escape their fate). We may know what's going to happen, but not how, and this is what really matters. There's a lot of fighting and killing - the tragedy is right up there with Hamlet - hardly anyone left alive. I loved the part where Eric gets back from exile and only his old dog is there to greet him - shades of Odysseus all over.
Things I learned:
Don't go to an Icelandic wedding. (There will be blood.)
Don't make promises not to change your hairstyle.
Definitely get a baresarker for a buddy, but keep him away from booze!!
It's not so great to be gorgeous.
I sometimes found the style tedious (more my mood than a criticism, by the way), but the end - the end! So stirring and worthwhile - loved it! A parade of all the people he has killed, and then a last battle.
For saga-lovers, I recommend.
Things I learned:
Don't go to an Icelandic wedding. (There will be blood.)
Don't make promises not to change your hairstyle.
Definitely get a baresarker for a buddy, but keep him away from booze!!
It's not so great to be gorgeous.
I sometimes found the style tedious (more my mood than a criticism, by the way), but the end - the end! So stirring and worthwhile - loved it! A parade of all the people he has killed, and then a last battle.
For saga-lovers, I recommend.
August 24, 2020
This is one of my favorite Rider Haggard novels. An epic Viking romance, it's a pioneering work for modern, adult fantasy literature. Like one would expect, "Eric Brighteyes" is filled with epic quests, beautiful women, dark magic, and bloody conflicts. Written in an epic prose, inspired by the Norse myths of old, Rider Haggard melded an ancient, mythic style with modern, novelistic techniques. This was done at a time that people had first begun to take inspiration from classic, epic literature from Greece, Rome, Egypt and Europe and create new tales with new heroes. That is essentially how "fantasy literature" was established during the late Victorian period by people such as Rider Haggard, William Morris, and Andrew Lang.
May 27, 2013
Because the Icelandic saga represents one of the first instances of prose in Western literature, it provides us with a rich world that is now completely gone.
We still know very little about the origin of the original sagas and because of that, it ensures that it can't date.
As is the case with this example, written by one of my favourite authors.
It has everything.
Family feud. Dark sorcery. Intrigue and adventure.
We still know very little about the origin of the original sagas and because of that, it ensures that it can't date.
As is the case with this example, written by one of my favourite authors.
It has everything.
Family feud. Dark sorcery. Intrigue and adventure.
May 3, 2013
I was just become so disturbed after reading this book, I still can not believe that this was written by Haggard who was, is and always will be my hero. It was so annoying and not that strong enough to grab the readers' attraction. As the plot was about the vikings it could be much more stunning but I don't know why Haggard has missed the opportunity here. I will strongly recommend others NOT to read the this Eric Brighteyes,it will certainly be pure wastage of time.
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