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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Acquisitions (11): The Complete Sagas of Icelanders

Vidar Hreinsson et al., ed.: The Complete Sagas of Icelanders (1997)

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Viðar Hreinsson

The Complete Sagas of Icelanders (1997)

[Acquired: Wednesday, November 6, 2013]:

The Complete Sagas of Icelanders (including 49 Stories). General Editor: Viðar Hreinsson, Editorial Team: Robert Cook, Terry Gunnell, Keneva Kunz & Bernard Scudder. Introduction by Robert Kellogg. 5 vols. Iceland: Leifur Eiriksson Publishing Ltd., 1997.

1. Vinland / Warriors and Poets
   • Foreword
     1. By the President of Iceland
     2. By the Icelandic Minister of Education, Culture and Science
     3. By the Former Director of the Manuscript Institute of Iceland
     4. Preface
     5. Credits
     6. Publisher's Acknowledgments
     7. Introduction
   • Vinland and Greenland
     1. Eirik the Red's Saga
     2. The Saga of the Greenlanders
   • Warriors and Poets
     1. Egil's Saga
     2. Kormak's Saga
     3. The Saga of Hallfred the Troublesome Poet
     4. The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of the Hitardal People
     5. The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue
   • Tales of Poets
     1. The Tale of Arnor, the Poet of Earls
     2. Einar Skulason's Tale
     3. The Tale of Mani the Poet
     4. The Tale of Ottar the Black
     5. The Tale of Sarcastic Halli
     6. Stuf's Tale
     7. The Tale of Thorarin Short-Cloak
     8. The Tale of Thorleif, the Earl's Poet
   • Anecdotes
     1. The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords
     2. The Tale of Brand the Generous
     3. Hreidar's Tale
     4. The Tale of the Story-Wise Icelander
     5. Ivar Ingimundarson's Tale
     6. Thorarin Nefjolfsson's Tale
     7. The Tale of Thorstein from the East Fjords
     8. The Tale of Thorstein the Curious
     9. The Tale of Thorstein Shiver
     10. The Tale of Thorvard Crow's-Beak


2. Outlaws / Warriors and Poets
   • Outlaws and Nature Spirits
     1. Gisli Sursson's Saga
     2. The Saga of Grettir the Strong
     3. The Saga of Hord and the People of Holm
     4. Bard's Saga
   • Warriors and Poets
     1. Killer-Glum's Saga
     2. The Tale of Ogmund Bash
     3. The Tale of Thorvald Tasaldi
     4. The Saga of the Sworn Brothers
     5. Thormod's Tale
     6. The Tale of Thorarin the Overbearing
     7. Viglund's Saga
   • Tales of the Supernatural
     1. The Tale of the Cairn-Dweller
     2. The Tale of the Mountain-Dweller
     3. Star-Oddi's Dream
     4. The Tale of Thidrandi and Thorhall
     5. The Tale of Thorhall Knapp


3. Epic / Champions and Rogues
   • An Epic
     1. Njal's Saga
   • Champions and Rogues
     1. The Saga of Finnbogi the Mighty
     2. The Saga of the People of Floi
     3. The Saga of the People of Kjalarnes
     4. Jokul Buason's Tale
     5. Gold-Thorir's Saga
     6. The Saga of Thord Menace
     7. The Saga of Ref the Sly
     8. The Saga of Gunnar, the Fool of Keldugnup
   • Tales of Champions and Adventures
     1. Gisl Illugason's Tale
     2. The Tale of Gold-Asa's Thord
     3. Hrafn Gudrunarson's Tale
     4. Orm Storolfsson's Tale
     5. Thorgrim Hallason's Tale


4. Regional Feuds
   • Regional Feuds
     1. The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal
     2. The Saga of the Slayings on the Heath
     3. Valla-Ljot's Saga
     4. The Saga of the People of Svarfadardal
     5. The Saga of the People of Ljosavatn
     6. The Saga of the People of Reykjadal and of Killer-Skuta
     7. The Saga of Thorstein the White
     8. The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord
     9. The Tale of Thorstein Staff-Struck
     10. The Tale of Thorstein Bull's Leg
     11. The Saga of Droplaug's Sons
     12. The Saga of the People of Fljotsdal
     13. The Tale of Gunnar, the Slayer of Thidrandi
     14. Brandkrossi's Tale
     15. Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Saga
     16. Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Tale
     17. Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Dream
     18. Egil Sidu-Hallsson's Tale


5. Epic / Wealth and Power
   • An Epic
     1. The Saga of the People of Laxardal
     2. Bolli Bollason's Tale
   • Wealth and Power
     1. The Saga of the People of Eyri
     2. The Tale of Halldor Snorrason I
     3. The Tale of Halldor Snorrason II
     4. Olkofri's Saga
     5. Hen-Thorir's Saga
     6. The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi
     7. The Saga of the Confederates
     8. Odd Ofeigsson's Tale
     9. The Saga of Havard of Isafjord
   • Religion and Conflict in Iceland and Greenland
     1. The Tale of Hromund the Lame
     2. The Tale of Svadi and Arnor Crone's-Nose
     3. The Tale of Thorvald the Far-Travelled
     4. The Tale of Thorsein Tent-Pitcher
     5. The Tale of the Greenlanders
   • Reference Section
     1. Maps and Tables
     2. Illustrations and Diagrams
     3. Glossary
     4. Cross-Reference Index of Characters
     5. Contents of Volumes I-V

I've been coveting this rather monstrous tome for quite some time. As you can see, it's intended as a kind of one-stop shop for all things Icelandic saga-related. For a fanatic such as myself, I'm afraid that it only becomes a matter of time before one has to get it. Luckily it's my birthday today ...

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• category - Scandinavia & The Netherlands: Iceland

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