Njals Saga

Njal’s Saga is a late medieval Icelandic family saga authored around 1280 but set around the year 1000. It combines legend and history—many of its protagonists were historical figures, and other historical sources corroborate some of the major events the saga mentions. However, the author also embellishes characters and events as he describes them in the saga.

The saga recounts intermarriage, friendships, and tragic blood feuds between multiple Icelandic families who trace their ancestry back to the island’s colonization by Norwegians during the 900s. The tale is named for one of the saga’s central characters, an Icelandic farmer called Njal who possesses second sight and is known for his legal acumen. Much of the story highlights Njal’s close friendship with his neighbor, Gunnar, despite feuds between their wives, who dislike one another. Gunnar often seeks Njal’s advice and receives prophetic insight from him. However, Gunnar ultimately fails to heed Njal’s prophetic warnings, which results in his death. Gunnar’s death ends up causing strife and misunderstandings between several Icelandic families. As a result, Njal’s house is set on fire by his enemies, and Njal dies in the fire.

This guide uses the Penguin Classics 1997 edition of Njal’s Saga, translated by Robert Cook.