Tag Archives: Saga

“No Man Am I, You Look Upon a Woman”: Women in the Northern World

            I was 14 when I saw The Two Towers in the cinema, and I never forgot it. The narrative leads inexorably to the Rohirrim, who even then I recognised as something from England’s ancient past. They wore mail, fought with spears and round shields, lived in wooden halls and had fantastically Old English soundingContinue reading ““No Man Am I, You Look Upon a Woman”: Women in the Northern World”

The Time for Fated Men: Destiny & Free Will in the Northern World

People Linked by Destiny             Some months ago, I was explaining the Law of Surprise to a friend. The law is a device in the world of Andrej Sapkowski’s The Witcher, and runs like this. Let us say that I am beset by bandits on the road. You hear my cries for help and, skilledContinue reading “The Time for Fated Men: Destiny & Free Will in the Northern World“

Vengeance, Voyage & Adventure: Reading the Icelandic Sagas

Listen!             The voice calls through the hall. The wind howls outside, and the fire crackles. The family gather round on benches. The speaker, maybe a parent or skald, by this single word has captured your attention, and they unfold their tale…             This article is about the Icelandic sagas, the great tales that beganContinue reading “Vengeance, Voyage & Adventure: Reading the Icelandic Sagas”