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/
Saga Thing 
I’m, as always, enjoying your podcast but confused by the marital dynamics in this saga.
Njal and Gunner are apparently unable or unwilling to stop their wives’ murderous feud, but why? Do they love their spoused too much to divorce or threaten them in someway? Are they too scared of their wives (or wives’ relatives)? Would their honour be damaged by broadcasting their family problems far and wide?
In a world where a creepy man can divorce his wife and with no delay get engaged to a teenager, wouldn’t another divorce, beat or otherwise discipline a wife who is driving a massive wedge between him and his BFF. I am not advocating wife-beating, but it was it not part of medieval culture that the man headed the family and was responsible for the behaviour of its members?
I realise that I should read the saga myself, but I listen to your show more for the cultural and historical aspects than the stories themselves. And the enthusiastic way you relate the bloodyshed, especially supernatural bloodshed!
LikeLike
Sarah,
Good timing on your question. John and I are about to record the next episode. We’ll attempt to address this there.
LikeLike
Thank you. I’m looking forward to it!
LikeLike