A review by brynhammond
Viking Age Iceland by Jesse L. Byock

5.0

I liked this one as a study of the society. The way society operated. It even has chapter names like 'The Sagas: An Ethnography of Medieval Iceland'. She conveys how they knew they had a chance to build a bit differently from back home in Norway, in 'The Founding of a New Society'; 'The Effect of Emigrating from Europe'. A lot were disgusted with events in Norway, when they sailed off. I came away with a healthy respect for their institutions, too. I also remember the study of feud in this book, how feud functioned, its place in the justice system: that was a strong point.

The whole is very much grounded in actual cases, whether from the sagas or archaeology or both, seen in detail. The case study approach that tells you so much.