Episode 20d – Njal’s Saga (Part 4)

Gunnar has been told that he will live to be an old man if he can avoid killing two men from the same bloodline and if he never breaks a settlement.  Achieving this is easier said than done, especially since Gunnar’s personal body count increases every time a challenger appears.  In this episode, Gunnar’s patience will be tested as Morð Valgardsson, Thorgeir Starkaðarson, and Thorgeir Otkelsson plot to finish off their rival once and for all.  But will they have what it takes to bring down Iceland’s champion?  Will Njal be able to rescue his friend once again?  And will Hallgerð forgive Gunnar for the slap, or will she once again seek vengeance?  Find out in part 4 of Njal’s Saga!

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If you’re interested in contributing to our bibliography, please contact us at sagathingpodcast@gmail.com.

If you are interested in writing about women in Njal’s Saga or any other saga for the Medieval Congress at Western Michigan University, submit an abstract and paper proposal form for our panel “The Second Sex: Women and Power in Old Norse-Icelandic Literature.”  Again, please use our email: sagathingpodcast@gmail.com

Purchase your own copy of Njal’s Saga

Music Credits
Intro Music
Prelude and Action by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Previous Episode Review
Bert Firman – Hangin’ Around

Episode Summary
Adrian von Ziegler – Ótroðinn

Outro Music
Stormfront by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 20c – Njal’s Saga (Part 3)

In the third part of Njal’s Saga, we find Gunnar suffering an identity crisis after being pulled into a series of feuds.  As Njal tells him, this is the beginning of Gunnar’s career in killing.  In addition to a lot of fighting, this episode also features a discussion of saga-age masculinity, cheese theft, horse fighting, and famine survival.  Yes, that’s right.  I said cheese theft.  Listen and learn, people.  Listen and learn.

Click here if you’re interested in any of the bibliography we mention. Get in touch with us if you’d like to get involved in the bibliography and resource building for this or any other saga.

Download this episode (right click and save)

 

Purchase your own copy of Njal’s Saga.

If you’re an academic type who wants to write about women in the sagas for our panel “The Second Sex: Women and Power in Old Norse-Icelandic Literature” at the Medieval Congress at Western Michigan University, submit an abstract and paper proposal form to sagathingpodcast@gmail.com

Music Credits

Intro Music

Prelude and Action by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Previous Episode Review

Duke Ellington Orchestra – “Jubilee Stomp”

Episode Summary

Wardruna – Solringen

Outro Music

Stormfront by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 20b – Njal’s Saga (Part 2)

In this episode, we introduce Gunnar Hamundarson and his wise friend Njal Thorgeirsson.  We’ll follow Gunnar on a few adventures before he settles down with the lovely, but dangerous Hallgerd Hoskuldsdottir.  If you thought Hallgerd was harsh in Part 1 of our summer saga, just wait until you see what she’s up to this time around.  Will the friendship of Njal and Gunnar survive the escalating violence spurred on by their wives, or will they be consumed by it and destroyed?  There’s only one way to find out.

Download this episode (right click and save)

For anyone who’s interested, we’ve put together a select bibliography for Njal’s Saga.  We have mentioned a few of these, but there’s plenty more here for your perusal. Obviously, you’ll need a good library to access most of these.

Join the fun with your own copy of Njal’s Saga!

Music Credits:

Intro Music
Prelude and Action by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Previous Episode Review
Iron Horse by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode Summary
Voces Thules – Varizk ér Ok Varizk ér

Outro Music
Stormfront by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/