Faroe-Islander Saga: A New English Translation

by Robert K. Painter

Overview

This new English translation of the Faroe-Islander Saga (Faereyinga saga)--a great medieval Icelandic saga--tells the story of the first settlers on these wind-swept islands at the edge of the Scandinavian world. Written by an anonymous 13th-century Icelander, the saga centers on the enduring animosity between Sigmundur Brestirsson and Thrandur of Gota, rival chieftains whose bitter disagreements on the introduction of Christianity to the Faroe Islands set the stage for much violence and a feud which then unfolds over generations of their descendants.

Making the saga accessible to a wider English readership, the translation is accompanied by a brief introduction, explanatory notes, genealogical and chronological tables, detailed maps and an excerpt from Jomsvikings' Saga which informs missing passages from the Faroe-Islander Saga manuscripts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476623269
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	12/01/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Robert K. Painter has translated works from German and Old Icelandic into English for such journals of literary translation as Exchanges and Metamorphoses. He teaches linguistics at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Robert K. Painter has translated works from German and Old Icelandic into English for such journals of literary translation as Exchanges and Metamorphoses. He teaches linguistics at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Note on the Translation
1. The First Settlers in the Faroe Islands
2. Thrandur of Göta
3. Thrandur Earns a Fortune
4. Brestir and Beinir of Skufey
5. The Incident on South Island
6. Hafgrimur Seeks Allies
7. Standoff at Little Dimun
8. Hrafn ­Holmgard-Traveler
9. The Boys Are Set Free
10. Shelter from the Storm
11. Ulfur the Farmer
12. Sigmundur Comes of Age
13. Departure from the Farm
14. Ulfur’s Story
15. Thorkell and Ragnhild
16. Thorkell in Exile
17. Earl Hakon’s Court
18. Sigmundur in Denmark
19. Sigmundur in Sweden
20. Sigmundur’s Reputation Grows
21. Haraldur ­Iron-Skull
22. Össur Hafgrimsson
23. Departure from Norway
24. Return to the Faroe Islands
25. Earl Hakon’s Settlement
26. Sigmundur and Thurid
27. The Jomsvikings
28. King Olaf Tryggvason
29. Sigmundur Converts to Christianity
30. Christianity Comes to the Faroe Islands
31. Thrandur Forced to Accept Christianity
32. King Olaf Turns on Thrandur
33. Sigmundur and King Olaf
34. Earl Eirikur and Earl Svein
35. The Earls Welcome Sigmundur
36. A Growing Feud
37. Hostilities Escalate
38. A Narrow Escape
39. A Partnership Comes to an End
40. Thora Sigmundursdottir
41. The Truth Comes Out
42. The End of the Feud
43. King Olafur Haraldursson
44. A Bad Omen
45. Trouble Brews Abroad
46. The King Broods
47. Karl-Maerskur
48. Thrandur’s Foster Sons Take Action
49. A Cunning Trap
50. Thorhallur the Wealthy
51. Unwelcome Guests Arrive
52. Gautur the Red on Sandey
53. Leifur Thorirsson
54. Death and an Omen
55. Another Narrow Escape
56. An Opportunity Arises
57. Flight from Austurey
58. The Vengeance of the ­Skuf-Islanders
59. The Saga Ends
Appendices
A: Excerpt of Jómsvíkinga saga, Chapters 31–33
B: Earl Hakon and Þorgerðr Horðabrúðr
C: Social Background and Technical Terms
D: Chronology
E: Genealogical Tables
References and Further Reading
Index of Proper Names
General Index