Bøker av Jesse Byock

Composed in medieval Iceland, Hrolf's Saga is one of the greatest of all mythic-legendary sagas, relating half-fantastical events that were said to have occurred in fifth-century Denmark. It tells of the exploits of King Hrolf and of his famous champions, including Bodvar Bjarki, the 'bear-warrior': a powerful figure whose might and bear-like nature are inspired by the same legendary heritage as Beowulf. Depicting a world of wizards, sorceresses and 'berserker' fighters - originally members of a cult of Odin - this is a compelling tale of ancient magic. A work of timeless power and beauty, it offers both a treasury of Icelandic prose and a masterful gathering of epic, cultic memory, traditional folk tale and myths from the Viking age and far earlier.

Norreno - Antico islandese: manuale di base è un'introduzione allo studio della lingua norrena, parlata dai popoli scandinavi nel periodo medievale, e per la lettura in originale delle saghe islandesi. Non viene data per acquisita alcuna conoscenza grammaticale pregressa, ed è concepito sia per lo studio autonomo sia sotto la supervisione di un insegnante. Il metodo utilizzato è il cosiddetto metodo "naturale", poco seguito in Italia per lo studio delle lingue antiche, ma molto comune nel Nord-Europa: anziché proporre dense tabelle grammaticali da memorizzare fuori contesto, seguite da una massiccia dose di esercizi composti dagli autori, con il presente metodo, si inizierà immediatamente con la lettura di brani originali dalle saghe islandesi, assieme ad episodi dei miti scandinavi e da altre fonti medievali. Soluzioni su oldnorse.org.La lingua e la mentalità del mondo nordico medievale prendono appunto vita in questi testi. Per le soluzioni agli esercizi, si visiti il sito: www.oldnorse.org. Questo manuale è accompagnato da un eserciziario per il consolidamento delle competenze acquisite: Norreno - Antico islandese: Eserciziario. www.oldnorse.org e juleswilliampress.com

The Saga of the People of Weapon's Fjord (Vápnfirðinga Saga) is a masterpiece of saga telling. It recounts blood feud in Iceland during the Viking Age and takes the reader deep into struggles for power and honor in Iceland's East Fjords. Two young chieftains begin as inseparable friends. As they mature, they slide into bitter competition for regional dominance. The contest continues into the next generation and spreads across Iceland's northern and eastern regions. As one learns, honor and friendship have many interpretations but revenge is mostly expected.This new bilingual edition offers all the tools necessary to read a major Icelandic saga in both English and the original Old Norse. Each Old Norse saga chapter has its own specific vocabulary, so that the reader is freed from dependence on separate dictionaries. Notes and discussions explain language, geography, law, and society. An extensive series of maps, freshly drawn for this edition, provide an accurate picture of the landscape. After completing the Saga of the People of Weapon's Fjord, you will be equipped to read any of Iceland's longer sagas. For more about sagas, Old Norse language, runes, and the Viking Age visit our website: www.oldnorse.org

A new saga translation of The Tale of Thorstein Staff-Struck in a dual-language English and Old Norse format with annotations, vocabulary, maps, and notes. All the tools necessary to read a complete short saga in both English and the original Old Norse. Each chapter contains a specific vocabulary of Old Norse words and phrases. www.oldnorse.org. The rear of the book offers a full vocabulary removing the need to consult outside dictionaries. The combination of English translation, Old Norse text, and targeted Old Norse word lists is supplemented with maps, notes, and cultural sections about Iceland's feuding society. This edition is an example of textual archaeology, unearthing a crucial saga text from Iceland's East Fjords recounting the lives of people in Weapon's Fjord a thousand years ago. For more information visit www.oldnorse.org

The epic Viking Age stories that inspired J. R. R. Tolkien and Wagner's Ring cycleWritten in thirteenth-century Iceland but based on ancient Norse poetry cycles, The Saga of the Volsungs combines mythology, legend and sheer human drama. It tells of the cursed treasure of the Rhine, a sword reforged and a magic ring of power, and at its heart are the heroic deeds of Sigurd the dragon slayer, who acquires magical knowledge from one of Odin's Valkyries. One of the great books of world literature, the saga is an unforgettable tale of princely jealousy, unrequited love, greed, vengeance and the downfall of a dynasty. Translated with an Introduction by Jesse L. Byock

Medieval Iceland was unique amongst Western Europe, with no foreign policy, no defence forces, no king, no lords, no peasants and few battles. It should have been a utopia yet its literature is dominated by brutality and killing. The reasons for this, argues Jesse Byock, lie in the underlying structures and cultural codes of the islands' social order. 'Viking Age Iceland' is an engaging, multi-disciplinary work bringing together findings in anthropology and ethnography interwoven with historical fact and masterful insights into the popular Icelandic sagas, this is a brilliant reconstruction of the inner workings of a unique and intriguing society.