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Dialogues with the Viking Age: Narration and Representation in the Sagas of the Icelanders
The sagas of the Icelanders form a unique and invaluable part of the medieval European cultural heritage. They were written by unknown authors in the 13th and 14th centuries and describe the lives of leading Icelandic families two or three centuries earlier.
This book contains an introduction to and a critical discussion of the Sagas of the Icelanders or the Icelandic Family Sagas, as they are often called. The author presents the historical and literary background of the saga genre, analyzes the narrative form and describes the world view expressed in the sagas.
Vesteinn Olason sees the sagas as dialogues between the authors and their past, conversations between the Middle Ages and the Age of the Vikngs. He joins in that conversation from a modern standpoint and leads the reader into the sagas step by step, gradually helping him to develop a deeper understanding both of individual works and of the genre as a whole.
This book falls roughly into two four parts. The first deals with the contextualizing knowledge that is needed to ensure that our conversations with the sagas are free from misunderstanding. This is followed by a discussion of the sagas as narrative art and possible ways of developing an understanding of the world the sagas depict. The final part draws the threads together and reflects on the development of the genre and its special importance for today.
Dr. Vesteinn Olason is Professor of Icelandic Literature at the University of Iceland.
(Taken from the back cover of the book)
This book contains an introduction to and a critical discussion of the Sagas of the Icelanders or the Icelandic Family Sagas, as they are often called. The author presents the historical and literary background of the saga genre, analyzes the narrative form and describes the world view expressed in the sagas.
Vesteinn Olason sees the sagas as dialogues between the authors and their past, conversations between the Middle Ages and the Age of the Vikngs. He joins in that conversation from a modern standpoint and leads the reader into the sagas step by step, gradually helping him to develop a deeper understanding both of individual works and of the genre as a whole.
This book falls roughly into two four parts. The first deals with the contextualizing knowledge that is needed to ensure that our conversations with the sagas are free from misunderstanding. This is followed by a discussion of the sagas as narrative art and possible ways of developing an understanding of the world the sagas depict. The final part draws the threads together and reflects on the development of the genre and its special importance for today.
Dr. Vesteinn Olason is Professor of Icelandic Literature at the University of Iceland.
(Taken from the back cover of the book)
297 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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