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iamleeg's review against another edition
5.0
Harald Sigurdsson seems to have been a bit of a Cnut then.
siria's review against another edition
3.0
This is a solid, serviceable translation of part of the Heimskringla. I'll admit that medieval Scandinavian history is not my strong point, so I can't speak to how accurately it captures the sense of the original, but it read clearly and easily (even though I didn't like how the footnotes were arranged). I would have appreciated more and better integrated/connected genealogical tables, though; the kinship relationships were clearly extremely important to medieval Icelandic/Norse society, but it was hard to keep track of all the various interrelationships.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
Haralds Saga Hardradi is a section from Snorri's Heimskringla, which usually has around a 50% chance of being reasonably accurate history or just some nonsense Snorri made up because it sounded cool. This particular edition is my preferred version, translated and annotated by Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson, whose critical commentary on the text provides an excellent framework for a newcomer.
merricatct's review against another edition
4.0
1066 was a landmark year in English/European history - William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings, etc. But what often gets left out is the fact that, just 19 days before the Battle of Hastings, the English king fought (and won) a battle against another invader, King Harald Sigurdsson (Hardrada) of Norway. It's one of my favourite historical "what ifs" - what if Harald had won at Stamford Bridge? Or what if King Harold of England hadn't force-marched his army to meet William at Hastings after defeating Harald; would he have won if his army had been better rested?
Well, spoiler alert, we know how it ended. But this saga tells the story of Harald's life and rule leading up to his defeat and death, and it's a fascinating story. Harald certainly lived an interesting life - he spent years in exile, joined the Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire, fought for years against the king of Denmark, and was considered the last great Viking king. His death marks the end of the Viking Age.
This translation was good - clear, to the point, and the translators provide plenty of historical context. I see that they've translated other sagas, so I'll definitely seek those out!
The saga itself aside, I also loved the translators' introduction about the author himself, Snorri Sturluson. He was discussed in the book on the Lewis Chessmen I read earlier this year, and he's really an interesting historical figure. I was glad to learn more. Mental note: see if there's a biography written about him!
2016 reading challenge: a book from antiquity
Well, spoiler alert, we know how it ended. But this saga tells the story of Harald's life and rule leading up to his defeat and death, and it's a fascinating story. Harald certainly lived an interesting life - he spent years in exile, joined the Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire, fought for years against the king of Denmark, and was considered the last great Viking king. His death marks the end of the Viking Age.
This translation was good - clear, to the point, and the translators provide plenty of historical context. I see that they've translated other sagas, so I'll definitely seek those out!
The saga itself aside, I also loved the translators' introduction about the author himself, Snorri Sturluson. He was discussed in the book on the Lewis Chessmen I read earlier this year, and he's really an interesting historical figure. I was glad to learn more. Mental note: see if there's a biography written about him!
2016 reading challenge: a book from antiquity
adamjcalhoun's review against another edition
4.0
A surprisingly readable and entertaining account of King Harald's life by some near-contemporaneous Icelandic scholars. Lots of great Tolkien-esque poems. The dude was an asshole, but so was pretty much everyone else.
woodlandbooklover's review
informative
3.0
The 1966 introduction is very helpful in prepping modern readers to the tradition of the saga, and lets us know up front that the historical accuracy of Sturluson's claims can be shaky at times. The footnotes throughout are helpful in contextualizing what is going on. As far as the saga itself, it's hard to see the triumph and bravery in all these kings stealing, killing, plundering, looting, and burning other nations. Like today, the common people are the ones who suffer the most when nations go to war to increase their power and wealth. It's sad that in all these centuries, so much is still the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Slavery
littlenyssa's review
5.0
Tremendously interesting life, ranging from Scandinavia to Constantinople to the Middle East to England.