Illustrated Njáls saga edition heads to print

The Njála Association is completing an illustrated luxury edition of Brennu-Njáls saga, with the book scheduled to go to print on Monday, mbl.is reports.

The edition is based on Jón Böðvarsson’s acclaimed version and features modern Icelandic spelling and detailed explanations of words. It is richly illustrated by Þórhildur Jónsdóttir from Lambey in Fljótshlíð.

Nearly 700 people have bought the book during its pre-sale, making it the association’s first publishing project. Guðni Ágústsson, chairman of the Njála Association, said the response had provided significant encouragement.

Supporters can still order the book in advance and have their names included on a tabula gratulatoria, or list of well-wishers, in its pages.

Preserving cultural heritage

Ágústsson said the association was founded to promote Brennu-Njáls saga’s standing in Icelandic literature and to help preserve the Icelandic language and the country’s cultural heritage.

“This is an important role that we can only fulfil with a large group of members and strong support from the business community,” he said. “This book will be the cornerstone of the substantial work ahead. Hopefully, this genuine centrepiece will find a worthy place in Icelandic homes.”

He described the saga as a complex story of love and jealousy, conflict and revenge, honour and humiliation, sincerity and deceit, featuring villains and noble figures, glamorous men and slaves, beautiful women and schemers.

Unknown author

The author of Njáls saga is unknown. The work is based on oral stories passed down through many generations before it was written.

Ágústsson said that more than ten generations had preserved, reshaped, developed and refined accounts of the events through oral tradition.

He also said he believed the presence and guidance of the historian Snorri Sturluson had played an important role in the achievement of writing the saga. Snorri was raised at the educational centre in Oddi and later lived at Reykholt, he said.

Ágústsson said the writing of the Icelanders’ sagas was a remarkable achievement for the small population living in Iceland at the time. He added that neighbouring Nordic countries had barely put pen to parchment then, and that writing on this scale was almost unknown in those countries, apart perhaps from Ireland.