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    The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki

    Author Anonymous
    Introduction by Jesse L. Byock
    Translated by Jesse L. Byock
    Notes by Jesse L. Byock
    Paperback
    $17.00 US
    Penguin Adult HC/TR | Penguin Classics
    On sale Feb 01, 1999 | 144 Pages | 9780140435931
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    Composed in medieval Iceland, Hrolf's Saga is one of the greatest of all mythic-legendary sagas, relating half-fantastical events that were said to have occurred in fifth-century Denmark. It tells of the exploits of King Hrolf and of his famous champions, including Bodvar Bjarki, the 'bear-warrior': a powerful figure whose might and bear-like nature are inspired by the same legendary heritage as Beowulf. Depicting a world of wizards, sorceresses and 'berserker' fighters - originally members of a cult of Odin - this is a compelling tale of ancient magic. A work of timeless power and beauty, it offers both a treasury of Icelandic prose and a masterful gathering of epic, cultic memory, traditional folk tale and myths from the Viking age and far earlier.

    For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
    Translated with an Introduction by Jesse L. Byock

    Introduction
    The Sagas of Ancient Times and Heroic Lays
    Skjold and the Skjoldung Dynasty: The Legendary Past
    Archaeology and the Legendary Hleidargard
    The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki and Beowulf
    Beowulf and Bodvar Bjarki: The Bear Warriors
    Berserkers
    Myth in the Saga
    Christian Influence

    Map: The World of The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki
    Note on the Translation

    The Saga
    1. King Frodi Kills His Brother King Halfdan
    2. The Search
    3. The Boys Helgi and Hroar Revealed
    4. The Death of King Frodi
    5. King Helgi Rules Denmark and King Hroar Marries
    6. King Helgi Attempts to Marry Queen Olof
    7. King Helgi's Vengeance: The Girl Yrsa; The Ring
    8. Jarl Hrok Claims King Hroar's Ring
    9. Vengeance and King Hroar's Son Agnar
    10. King Helgi and Queen Yrsa
    11. The Elfin Woman and the Birth of Skuld
    12. King Adils and King Helgi Meet
    13. King Adils' Pride and Queen Yrsa's Displeasure
    14. Svipdag and the Berserkers
    15. Svipdag and His Brothers Join King Hrolf's Men
    16. King Hrolf Tricks King Hjorvard
    17. King Hring of Norway Marries Hvit
    18. The Love of Bera and Bjorn
    19. Bjorn Rejects Queen Hvit's Advances: The Curse
    20. Bjorn's Transformation into a Bear and the Birth of Bodvar
    21. Thorir Becomes King of the Gauts
    22. Bodvar's Vengeance
    23. Bodvar and His Brothers
    24. King Hrolf's Champions
    25. Bodvar Encourages King Hrolf to Recover His Inheritance
    26. Three Strange Nights with Hrani
    27. King Adils' Deceitful Welcome
    28. King Adils Attempts to Defeat King Hrolf
    29. Queen Yrsa Gives King Hrolf His Inheritance and More
    30. King Adils is Conquered by Gold and King Hrolf Angers Hrani
    31. Queen Skuld Incites King Hjorvard
    32. Queen Skuld Attacks King Hrolf at Yule
    33. The Great Battle
    34. The Death of King Hrolf Kraki

    Notes
    Genealogical Tables: The Family of King Hrolf Kraki; The Family of Bodvar Bjarki; The Family of Svipdag
    Equivalent Characters in Old Norse, Old English and Latin Accounts of King Hrolf Kraki
    Glossary of Proper Names

    About

    Composed in medieval Iceland, Hrolf's Saga is one of the greatest of all mythic-legendary sagas, relating half-fantastical events that were said to have occurred in fifth-century Denmark. It tells of the exploits of King Hrolf and of his famous champions, including Bodvar Bjarki, the 'bear-warrior': a powerful figure whose might and bear-like nature are inspired by the same legendary heritage as Beowulf. Depicting a world of wizards, sorceresses and 'berserker' fighters - originally members of a cult of Odin - this is a compelling tale of ancient magic. A work of timeless power and beauty, it offers both a treasury of Icelandic prose and a masterful gathering of epic, cultic memory, traditional folk tale and myths from the Viking age and far earlier.

    For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

    Table of Contents

    Translated with an Introduction by Jesse L. Byock

    Introduction
    The Sagas of Ancient Times and Heroic Lays
    Skjold and the Skjoldung Dynasty: The Legendary Past
    Archaeology and the Legendary Hleidargard
    The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki and Beowulf
    Beowulf and Bodvar Bjarki: The Bear Warriors
    Berserkers
    Myth in the Saga
    Christian Influence

    Map: The World of The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki
    Note on the Translation

    The Saga
    1. King Frodi Kills His Brother King Halfdan
    2. The Search
    3. The Boys Helgi and Hroar Revealed
    4. The Death of King Frodi
    5. King Helgi Rules Denmark and King Hroar Marries
    6. King Helgi Attempts to Marry Queen Olof
    7. King Helgi's Vengeance: The Girl Yrsa; The Ring
    8. Jarl Hrok Claims King Hroar's Ring
    9. Vengeance and King Hroar's Son Agnar
    10. King Helgi and Queen Yrsa
    11. The Elfin Woman and the Birth of Skuld
    12. King Adils and King Helgi Meet
    13. King Adils' Pride and Queen Yrsa's Displeasure
    14. Svipdag and the Berserkers
    15. Svipdag and His Brothers Join King Hrolf's Men
    16. King Hrolf Tricks King Hjorvard
    17. King Hring of Norway Marries Hvit
    18. The Love of Bera and Bjorn
    19. Bjorn Rejects Queen Hvit's Advances: The Curse
    20. Bjorn's Transformation into a Bear and the Birth of Bodvar
    21. Thorir Becomes King of the Gauts
    22. Bodvar's Vengeance
    23. Bodvar and His Brothers
    24. King Hrolf's Champions
    25. Bodvar Encourages King Hrolf to Recover His Inheritance
    26. Three Strange Nights with Hrani
    27. King Adils' Deceitful Welcome
    28. King Adils Attempts to Defeat King Hrolf
    29. Queen Yrsa Gives King Hrolf His Inheritance and More
    30. King Adils is Conquered by Gold and King Hrolf Angers Hrani
    31. Queen Skuld Incites King Hjorvard
    32. Queen Skuld Attacks King Hrolf at Yule
    33. The Great Battle
    34. The Death of King Hrolf Kraki

    Notes
    Genealogical Tables: The Family of King Hrolf Kraki; The Family of Bodvar Bjarki; The Family of Svipdag
    Equivalent Characters in Old Norse, Old English and Latin Accounts of King Hrolf Kraki
    Glossary of Proper Names

    Author

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