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A review by diana_eveline
Egil's Saga by Unknown
4.0
"Yet I will
first recount
my father's death
and mother's loss
carry from my word-shrine
the timber that I build
my poem from,
leafed with language."
This is the dramatic and eventful family saga of the clan of Egil Skallagrimsson. It is straightforward prose (almost bluntly so) full of deep poetry, relating the tales of brave warriors, dishonest jealous clansmen, powerful women and feats accomplished through magic runes.
I confess, I got lost in the names multiple times because there are far too many to keep track of and they are too similar to one another. The narrative was very enjoyable to read and the poetry is surprisingly good. Some of the scenes are quite funny too, a welcome change from the gruesome and cruel ones. Egil is quite the character, contrary in nature by being both a sensitive poet and a fearless warrior. The poem I cited above this is his, one of my favourite passages from the book. He has a way with words, constructing (as he here says) a shrine out of his feelings by putting them into words. Very powerful, I am pleasantly surprised.
first recount
my father's death
and mother's loss
carry from my word-shrine
the timber that I build
my poem from,
leafed with language."
This is the dramatic and eventful family saga of the clan of Egil Skallagrimsson. It is straightforward prose (almost bluntly so) full of deep poetry, relating the tales of brave warriors, dishonest jealous clansmen, powerful women and feats accomplished through magic runes.
I confess, I got lost in the names multiple times because there are far too many to keep track of and they are too similar to one another. The narrative was very enjoyable to read and the poetry is surprisingly good. Some of the scenes are quite funny too, a welcome change from the gruesome and cruel ones. Egil is quite the character, contrary in nature by being both a sensitive poet and a fearless warrior. The poem I cited above this is his, one of my favourite passages from the book. He has a way with words, constructing (as he here says) a shrine out of his feelings by putting them into words. Very powerful, I am pleasantly surprised.