Acquisitions (13): Magnus Magnusson

Magnus Magnusson, ed.: The Icelandic Sagas (1999 & 2002)

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Magnus Magnusson (1929-2007)

The Icelandic Sagas (1999 & 2002)

[Acquired: Friday, June 10, 2016]:

Simon Noyes, illus.: The Icelandic Sagas (vol. 1: 1999)



1. Magnusson, Magnus, ed. The Icelandic Sagas. Vol. 1 of 2. Illustrated by Simon Noyes. 1999. London: The Folio Society, 2000.
   1. Au∂un’s Saga, trans. Hermann Pálsson (1971)
   2. Grænlendiga Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson & Hermann Pálsson (1965)
   3. Eirík’s Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson & Hermann Pálsson (1965)
   4. The Tale of Thorstein Stangarhögg (Staff-Struck), trans. Hermann Pálsson (1971)
   5. Egil’s Saga, trans. Hermann Pálsson & Paul Edwards (1976)
   6. Hrafnkel’s Saga, trans. Hermann Pálsson (1971)
   7. Eyrbyggja Saga, trans. Hermann Pálsson & Paul Edwards (1972)
   8. Vopnfir∂inga Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson (1999)
   9. Bandamanna Saga, trans. Hermann Pálsson (1975)
   10. Gunnlaug’s Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson (1999)
   11. The Tale of Thi∂randi and Thórhall, trans. Magnus Magnusson (1999)
   12. Njál’s Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson & Hermann Pálsson (1960)




John Vernon Lord, illus.: The Icelandic Sagas (vol. 2: 2002)]



2. Magnusson, Magnus, ed. The Icelandic Sagas. Vol. 2 of 2. Illustrated by John Vernon Lord. London: The Folio Society, 2002.
   1. Ívarr’s Tale, trans. Magnus Magnusson (1999)
   2. Gísli’s Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson & Hermann Pálsson (1999)
   3. Ölkofri’s Tale, trans. Magnus Magnusson (1999)
   4. Laxdæla Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson & Hermann Pálsson (1969)
   5. Gunnarr Thi∂randabani’s Tale, trans. Alan Boucher (1981)
   6. Fóstbrœ∂ra Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson & Hermann Pálsson (1999)
   7. Hrei∂arr’s Tale, trans. Magnus Magnusson (1999)
   8. Vatnsdæla Saga, trans. Magnus Magnusson (1999)
   9. Hænsa-Thórir’s Saga, trans. Hermann Pálsson (1975)
   10. Grettir’s Saga, trans. Denton Fox & Hermann Pálsson (1974)

Simon Noyes (1999)]

Given that a previous entry in this list celebrated my purchase of a complete version of the Icelandic Family Sagas, this very substantial (and beautifully bound and illustrated) selection would seem to be a bit unnecessary.

And yet, I've spent so many years collecting the various versions translated by Hermann Pálsson and his various collaborators: Magnus Magnusson, initially, then my old friend Paul Edwards, as well as various others, that persuading myself to buy this collected set wasn't really much of a stretch.

What's more, there's a certain authenticity to Pálsson and Magnusson's approach which seems in some ways preferable to the more massive and complete translation discussed here. This is a list of some of the individual volumes which have been collected into the two volumes listed above:

1. Pálsson, Hermann, & Magnus Magnusson, trans. Njal’s Saga. 1960. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972.
2. Pálsson, Hermann, & Magnus Magnusson, trans. The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America – Grænlendinga Saga & Eirik’s Saga. 1965. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1971.
3. Pálsson, Hermann, & Magnus Magnusson, trans. King Harald’s Saga: Harald Hardradi of Norway – from Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla. 1966. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1971.
4. Pálsson, Hermann, & Magnus Magnusson, trans. Laxdaela Saga. 1969. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1976.
5. Pálsson, Hermann, trans. Hrafnkel’s Saga and Other Stories. 1971. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972.
6. Pálsson, Hermann, & Paul Edwards, trans. Hrolf Gautrekkson: A Viking Romance. New Saga Library 1. Edinburgh: Southgate, 1972.
7. Pálsson, Hermann, & Paul Edwards, trans. Eyrbyggja Saga. New Saga Library 2. Edinburgh: Southgate, 1973.
8. Pálsson, Hermann, & Paul Edwards, trans. Egil’s Saga. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1976.
9. Pálsson, Hermann, & Paul Edwards, trans. Orkneyinga Saga: The History of the Earls of Orkney. 1978. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1982.
10. Pálsson, Hermann, & Paul Edwards, trans. Seven Viking Romances. Penguin Classics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1985.

To be honest, I wouldn't be without either version. This one probably offers a better introduction to the minutiae of the saga world, though. And, really, a new version of one of the greatest bodies of literary work ever created by human beings - who wouldn't want to give it shelf-space?

And, if you're curious, here's a link to the best attempt I can locate online to provide a complete listing of Folio Society books, from 1947 to the present day.

The Icelandic Sagas (1999 & 2002)

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• category - Scandinavia & The Netherlands: Iceland

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