Based on oral tales that originated from
historical events in tenth-century Iceland,
these two sagas follow the fate of a powerful
Viking family across two generations, from its
early Norwegian ancestry to fierce battles to
defend its honor. Gisli SurssonÉs Saga is a
story of forbidden love and divided loyalties,
in which the heroic Gisli vows to avenge the
murder of his "sworn brother" and sets in motion
a chain of events that culminate in tragedy. The
Saga of the People of Eyri continues the story
with Snorri, a cunning leader of the next
generation, who uses his intellect to restore
social order. Blending gripping narrative,
humor, the supernatural, and shrewd observation,
these tales reveal the richness of the saga
tradition and present a vivid record of a
society moving from ruthless individualism to a
Christian ethic of reconciliation and order.