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Legends of Icelandic Magicians (The Folklore Society Mistletoe Series) by Jacqueline Simpson
otterno11's review
3.0
This is an interesting collection of legends discussing generally heroic wizards, and their less than heroic rivals, in sixteenth and seventeenth century Iceland. The introduction shows it’s age a little bit in its slightly condescending attitude towards the people of the period, but also sets up the strange cultural contexts of the time and place. Iceland’s oppression under Danish rule and the monopoly held on learning by the Lutheran church lead to literacy and reading itself being associated with magic to many in the countryside.
The stories themselves can be quite affecting, standing out a little more than the usual bare bones accounts of folklore, with an eerie feeling created in many of the stories. The raising and sending of ghosts features heavily, as well as dreams. Most interestingly, while the persecutions of witchcraft came to Iceland later than in the mainland of Europe, it was mostly men who were convicted and executed. The gender roles of the wizard legends in Iceland seem fascinating, and some interesting elements seem evident in the included tales, but unfortunately this is not discussed in any way in the analysis included. For the most part, the editors include the tales with little discussion, though the sources are well documented. I’d be interested in a more in depth cultural interpretation of these legends.
The stories themselves can be quite affecting, standing out a little more than the usual bare bones accounts of folklore, with an eerie feeling created in many of the stories. The raising and sending of ghosts features heavily, as well as dreams. Most interestingly, while the persecutions of witchcraft came to Iceland later than in the mainland of Europe, it was mostly men who were convicted and executed. The gender roles of the wizard legends in Iceland seem fascinating, and some interesting elements seem evident in the included tales, but unfortunately this is not discussed in any way in the analysis included. For the most part, the editors include the tales with little discussion, though the sources are well documented. I’d be interested in a more in depth cultural interpretation of these legends.
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