The fact that you can tell these stories while showing us where it all happened adds so much to the excellent telling. Love this series, thank you. The outro music from Heilung was very cool too.
Thank you for your comment. We completely agree: nothing complements these gripping stories so well as the chance to tell them in the stunning landscapes where they're set. We're glad you liked it and we hope you'll stay tuned for more. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you Dr Roby for bringing these stories to life. One can see how these Sagas inspire in inform the Icelandic people even today. Your willingness to travel to the actual location really adds so much to the Saga. In this case the scenery is beyond spectacular. Truly awe inspiring. Wow.
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, the scenery really brings the saga to life, especially in a case like this where the landscape -- especially the island fortress -- plays such a key role in the narrative. This series has been a great opportunity for me to visit all these places I've read about for so long, and I'm glad I can also share them with a wider audience. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Dr. Roby, I found your saga stories after I became so interested in watching, with many others, for where and when the volcano in Iceland might erupt. When I started watching the sagas, the first one that was on my youtube "you might be interested" list was saga #4. I watched it -and then I went to find numbers 1, 2, & 3. I watched them all in order that night including #4 again. Since then I have been watching and waiting for the next ones. I love the scenery as you show us where these sagas took place. I use the closed captions to see the Icelandic words and names that are used in the stories... and I find myself trying to pronounce them and rewind and listen to your pronunciation and try to say it. I am so surprised at how much I enjoy listening to the stories and learning some of the words and pronunciation in them. Thank you for bringing them to us that we might learn about some of the history of your country.
Thank you for your interest and support. Really glad you're enjoying the series so much! Our main goal is to bring awareness of Icelandic language and literature to a wider audience, so it's a real joy to read such comments. We'll keep them coming for you! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you. Our main goal is to try and spread the word about medieval Icelandic literature and culture as far as we can, so it's really satisfying to read comments like this. Glad you liked it and we hope you'll stay tuned for more! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
This series is terrific and Dr. Roby is such a great storyteller. Walking through the areas that the sagas took part and giving us the story is icing on the cake!
Thank you for your interest and support. It's really great to hear that the stories are being enjoyed all around the world! Yes, the scenery for this one was especially beautiful, and the weather was unusually cooperative. Hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you for breathing life into the Sagas! This series is incredibly helpful for setting the scene of each one in the context of the landscape of Iceland.
Thank you! Yes, it's been a great experience for me too: finally visiting all these places I've only read about for years. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
@@naplesbeachfan From what I have learned there used to be many more trees but still forests around today. Some of this landscape such as the volcanos I guess make it tough for trees to grow but also some websites mention sheep being part of it. I am not totally sure. Have read there are over 230 species of trees in Iceland so there are still forests and maybe we just aren't seeing them in some of these awesome landscapes.
Thank you so much for your interest in the videos! We're glad you're enjoying them. KTO Yoga Surf is correct: there were many more trees at the beginning of the settlement age (c. 870), with an estimated more than 25% of the landmass covered with birch forest. This was possible at the time, because the climate was warmer than it is today. Unfortunately, human activity led to widespread deforestation. The sagas also attest to this, with forested land becoming much sought after (and fought over!). Until recent times, with a colder climate, very shallow soil cover, and much of the arable land used for grazing sheep, it was impossible for these trees to recover. But now there are efforts to re-forest certain areas, including several reasonably sized forests in the capital region. Thanks again for your interest and questions, and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
@@ktoyogasurf I was in Iceland January1969 to January 1971, and the only trees I saw then were relatively small ones in Reykjavik and a few in some of the larger towns and villages. I returned for a vacation in 1989 and the situation seemed pretty much the same. I vacationed there once again two years ago, and was very surprised to see a few small forests here and there in the countryside. I later found out that planting for reforestation began to be taken more seriously around 1990 and the seedling planted per year increased from about 1 million per year to 6 million per year around 2008. It dropped to about 3 million per year by about 2015, mostly due to budget cuts after the financial crisis, but I was never able to find much information on the project after 2015, although I know it is still moving forward, and still see occasional articles on government discussions of the program in the Grapevine and other Icelandic news sources.
This was absolutely delightful though the story was sad. It’s not hard to imagine that survival long ago in Iceland must have been very difficult. Heroism and perseverance, such a big part of sagas, were necessities of life and the twists and turns of the hero’s story kept me interested until the end. Telling the story in the actual setting brings the story to life. The scenery is gorgeous but I’m glad I didn’t have to make a living off of that land. Thanks for the story time!
Yes, life must have been tough. Makes it all the more impressive that this society produced so many great works of literature. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Really awesome story Dr Roby! I had a lot of images in my mind while you were telling the story. Being on site adds a fantastic dimension to the tale. I would love to follow a series of short films with all the sagas you have already told us!
Glad you like them! Yes, it's a really great opportunity for me too. I've been reading about these places for years, so it's a real treat to see them in person! Thanks for your interest and support. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
I have enjoyed these Sagas so much and particularly your version of them. So understandable. Thank you so much for creating them and telling them in your way!! I just finished the History of the Vikings: Children of Ash and Elm, by Neil Price. So much inside there. Your saga versions help put real people to the history. Thank you for all your thinking through the sagas and creating these videos. I appreciate it. Best wishes.
Another wonderful interpretation of a great saga story. Hvalfjörður is a beautiful area; it’s hard to imagine such tragedy and treachery happening here. It is so peaceful and quiet today. Thank you for bringing this story to life. 🇮🇸🇨🇦
Thanks for your continued support! We'll definitely keep them coming and, of course, we'll make sure there's plenty of feud stories in future episodes. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Isn’t the Sampo and the stories around it from Finland? Vainomoinen, Lemonkeinin,the hag? Many many years ago there was a live action movie or child’s TV show, one episode, or The Sampo! Telling the story with actors painted to become the road, and other scenes in the story. Vainomoinen, the great Smith crafts the Sampo, a Mill that will always by full of food. Leminkeinen, the idiot hero loses it to the Hag and tries to get it back.
The landscape tells the tale! The utter starkness and emptiness of the landscape suggests the poverty and desperation of the protagonists of these sagas.
Yes, it's hard for most of us to imagine just how challenging it was, especially for the less wealthy farmers. But the laws and sagas show us that, in the face of such hardship, society can only thrive if there are mechanisms in place to ensure that people take care of one another. Thanks for your interest and we hope you'll stay tuned for more. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Wow, fantastiskt berättande, fascinerande landskap. Jag tyckte verkligen om varje enskilt avsnitt hittills ... och kan inte vänta med att se nästa lilla påminnelse dyker upp och meddela om din nästa video. Fortsätt med den goda vanan och lägg upp dessa vids. Det var också underbart när du citerade några meningar på isländska originalspråket (eller gamla norska kanske :))
well, congrats, you managed to let me watch an almost 30mins long video. this is something that happens not very often. looking forward for forthcoming episodes.
High praise indeed! Thank you for your continued interest and support; we really appreciate it. And we'll keep the videos coming for you. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
A very wonderful recounting, Dr. Roby, and thanks for walking all that way to show us just where the story happened. It is so amazing that she could swim from the island to the headland! It must have been so cold! BTW, I wrote a saga for Valur and Polly. Ask him to show it to you! I had fun writing it. I just haven't read the sagas in Icelandic of course, so I don't know their meter and cadence, but I did my best with some from Old English sagas. Its short. I think you will get a kick out of it!
Thank you, Wendy. I'll be sure to ask him about it. Thanks for your continued interest in the series and we hope you'll stick around for more coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
It must be difficult to tell the story, & navigate the landscape? Nice presentation. To me, the sagas are much less heroic than I expected. So much trouble & strife!
A very good point. The sagas do include lots of fantastical heroics, but these are often (though not always) set in scenes that take place outside of Iceland. A good example would be Hörðr's battle with with the zombie in the grave mound, which is much more fantastical than the small-scale, domestic disputes he has when he returns home: fighting over horses, stealing food, etc. And, indeed, scenes of large-scale or supernatural heroics are particularly common in genres that take place entirely abroad or in another time period, such as the fornaldarsögur and riddarasögur. Thanks for your interest and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in future! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Love these stories! Especially the Njals Saga which I bought when I visited Iceland but find it kind of difficult to read and Dr.Roby's story was super interesting just like the rest of the Sagas =)))
Thank you for your interest in the videos. We're so glad you like them and hope you'll stay tuned for more coming very soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you for your continued interest and support! Yes, it's not a commonly known saga, but there is a good translation in Anthony Faulkes's "Three Icelandic Outlaw Sagas" collection from Everyman. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Just to update my last comment, it looks as though Amazon had some paperbacks wrongly listed under a link to "other buying options" in a sub-link that said "hardcover format". It turns out none were actually hardcover and they no longer have that section listed. I investigated further and it looks the book probably was never printed in hardcover. But I'm still quite happy to have the paperback on the way!
What a great series. Thank you! When you mentioned an island in the fjord about 35 miles to the NE of Reykjavik, I thought "I remember that Island!" I remember a small roadside sign pointing it out. For some reason I thought the sign was on the South side of the fjord but that wouldn't make sense. I dunno. Even though I don't believe a word of it, interesting story.
Yes, I think many people drive by without noticing it. And yes, you're right: this is a good example of a saga whose historical accuracy must have been questioned by even the most credulous medieval audiences. The island just seems too small to accommodate all those outlaws. Thanks for your interest in the series and we hope you'll stick around for more videos coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Hi Josh. Thanks for your interest! We're sorry for the delay, but we have several new "Saga Stories" videos in the pipeline and the first one should be released in the next week or so. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Vel gert félagi þetta eru virkilega flott myndbönd hjá þér! Njála is the first and only Íslendingasaga I have read and its probably my favourite book ever. its epicness and buty is out of this world. I am going to read Króka refs-saga next as that one was recommend to me by my teacher he said it was very different and very adventurous.
Takk kærlega fyrir! Yes, Króka-Refs saga is certainly very different from what are usually considered the "classics" of the genre. Hope you enjoy it, and that you'll stick around for more Saga Stories videos coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Of course we appreciate your stories! So convoluted, but fascinating... and how do you remember them? Do you make some intricate diagrams along the way?
It can be a challenge keeping it all clear in your head and, as you can see, we try to do as much as we can in only one take. When I first started studying the sagas, I did indeed make diagrams (especially family trees), but I have found reading them to be an acquired skill and you just get better with practice. Thanks for your interest in the series and we hope you'll stay tuned for more. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
You are showing 8 Saga Stories, but on our smart TV TH-cam channel only 6 are still showing. And looks like the same here. So are those only available to the High 5 Club? Happy to join to get access. Love the Saga Stories!
Hello Sarah. There are 6 published videos, plus one that will be released tomorrow (Friday 13th :) Number 8 showing on the playlist is just an error on TH-cam.
Thanks for your interest. We do have plans for a Vínland sagas video at some point, so we hope you'll enjoy that when it comes out. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Very interesting and well presented. One question…the sagas mention farmers…what did they farm in such an inhospitable landscape? Sheep rather than crops?
Thanks for your question. Yes, you're absolutely right. According to the sagas, the primary mode of food production going on in Iceland during the settlement period was (as it still is today) animal husbandry, especially sheep. This also required grass to be grown and dried as hay for winter fodder. However, the climate in Iceland was warmer back then and it's possible that other crops could be cultivated. For example, Ölkofra þáttr (which we look at in our video on Þingvellir) talks about barley being grown for ale. Thanks for your interest in the videos and we hope you'll stick around for more! Bets wishes, Matthew Roby
Hi, trying to find out why Icelanders call the new volcano Ballareldar. What/Who is Ballar? Bölur? Gellir? Kellir? Rolf saga? If the name is from a saga, I would love to see a Saga story video on it.
I haven't heard any Icelanders calling it that. If they call it anything other than eldgosið, it's usually Fagradalsfjall. From what I can see, the name Ballareldar -- presumably a rude joke, as böllur (ballar in genitive singular) refers to male genitalia -- is primarily being used by one volcano blogger. Glad you're enjoying the videos and I hope you'll stick around for more Saga Stories coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Hey Matthew, many and honest thanks to your Icelandic Sagas, you perform on Reykjavik Grapevine. I love this Sagas and all the details. Very impressive style and telling this stories by moving near the original places and showing the landscape. For my point of view you give good entertainment and show respect to the exciting history of the Icelandic people. In summer july we'll be in Iceland, of course we plan to visit some places of the Sagas. May be later with some little movies or pictures on TH-cam. By the way: I have several Saga books, written in German, my favourite is written by Helmut Hinrichsen & Max Schmid / Eine Märchen- und Sagenreise ISLAND, produced by BENTELLI. My favourite Saga is the life of Fjalla - Eyvindur, many places in Iceland and: do you know the movie from 1918, director Victor Sjöström? Original swedish title is "Berg-Ejvind och hans hustru" keep well and best greetings Hans 😎
I don't know very much about Fjalla-Eyvindur, since he was post-medieval, but my partner speaks Swedish so we'll definitely try and find this film! Also interesting to see that the lullaby "Sofðu unga ástin mín" came from a play about him. Thanks for your interest and support and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
@@TheReykjavikGrapevine Hey Matthew, I sent you two interesting and informative YT links for movies concerning Eyvindur on your private FB account. A PN in your chatroom. I hope they can be useful for you. Best regards Hans and Iceland Fans
So when you state that "Geir is less wise than Hardar", what you mean is that Geir is an idiot? By the way, I love the dry sense of humor in those retellings (like: while he is an outlaw and a murderer and a thief, he is still a very honorable man...). It is the same dry sense of humor that I enjoyed in Halldor Laxness' work.
"Hordar who is still an honorable man, tries to stay calm an follow legal procedure, but ends up ... killing his neighbor and burning his house down" - ah, it happens to the best of us.... we try but then we fail.
Thanks for your interest! Yes, it's a similar story with some other saga characters, especially Grettir. We kind of root for him, but he inevitably ends up doing some pretty horrible things. The sagas tell us that they are honourable and well-meaning and just have bad luck, but you have to wonder how ironic that is sometimes. We'll be doing a Grettis saga video soon, so I hope you'll stay tuned for that. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
All these sagas contain such an incredible amount of killing and violence that makes more credible all the Indridason, Sigurdardottir, Jonasson and others' Nordic Noir books. In fact, Nordic Noir are just fairy tales in comparison.
Try as I might, I simply find myself utterly incapable to add anything to teh appreciation and commendations expressed here by other viewers. Let the Sagas speak, and us be silent and listen....
The fact that you can tell these stories while showing us where it all happened adds so much to the excellent telling. Love this series, thank you. The outro music from Heilung was very cool too.
Thank you for your comment. We completely agree: nothing complements these gripping stories so well as the chance to tell them in the stunning landscapes where they're set. We're glad you liked it and we hope you'll stay tuned for more. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you Dr Roby for bringing these stories to life. One can see how these Sagas inspire in inform the Icelandic people even today. Your willingness to travel to the actual location really adds so much to the Saga. In this case the scenery is beyond spectacular. Truly awe inspiring. Wow.
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, the scenery really brings the saga to life, especially in a case like this where the landscape -- especially the island fortress -- plays such a key role in the narrative. This series has been a great opportunity for me to visit all these places I've read about for so long, and I'm glad I can also share them with a wider audience. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Dr. Roby, I found your saga stories after I became so interested in watching, with many others, for where and when the volcano in Iceland might erupt. When I started watching the sagas, the first one that was on my youtube "you might be interested" list was saga #4. I watched it -and then I went to find numbers 1, 2, & 3. I watched them all in order that night including #4 again. Since then I have been watching and waiting for the next ones. I love the scenery as you show us where these sagas took place. I use the closed captions to see the Icelandic words and names that are used in the stories... and I find myself trying to pronounce them and rewind and listen to your pronunciation and try to say it. I am so surprised at how much I enjoy listening to the stories and learning some of the words and pronunciation in them. Thank you for bringing them to us that we might learn about some of the history of your country.
Thank you for your interest and support. Really glad you're enjoying the series so much! Our main goal is to bring awareness of Icelandic language and literature to a wider audience, so it's a real joy to read such comments. We'll keep them coming for you! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Brilliant story telling. Brilliant camera work. This is how all Saga's should be told.
We're glad you think so, as we have plans to tell many more this way! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you! A great way to bring these stories to a wider audience. 🙏🏼
Thank you. Our main goal is to try and spread the word about medieval Icelandic literature and culture as far as we can, so it's really satisfying to read comments like this. Glad you liked it and we hope you'll stay tuned for more! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
This series is terrific and Dr. Roby is such a great storyteller. Walking through the areas that the sagas took part and giving us the story is icing on the cake!
It is soo beautiful there .Thank you so much , I quite enjoy these Sagas. It is very interesting. Great Tidings from Florida USA.
Thank you for your interest and support. It's really great to hear that the stories are being enjoyed all around the world! Yes, the scenery for this one was especially beautiful, and the weather was unusually cooperative. Hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Once again, another brilliant story for this wonderful and fascinating series. Thanks very much for sharing!
Thank you for your continued support, and for your kind words. We're glad you liked it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you for your Saga Stories. Love them💕
Thank you for breathing life into the Sagas! This series is incredibly helpful for setting the scene of each one in the context of the landscape of Iceland.
Thank you! Yes, it's been a great experience for me too: finally visiting all these places I've only read about for years. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
WOW at 7:00 that scenery! Iceland is breathtaking. Love listening to these Saga Stories. Y'all do a great job making these stories understandable. 👍
I haven’t seem a tree. Are there trees in Iceland? Have tou seen any?
@@naplesbeachfan From what I have learned there used to be many more trees but still forests around today. Some of this landscape such as the volcanos I guess make it tough for trees to grow but also some websites mention sheep being part of it. I am not totally sure. Have read there are over 230 species of trees in Iceland so there are still forests and maybe we just aren't seeing them in some of these awesome landscapes.
Thank you so much for your interest in the videos! We're glad you're enjoying them. KTO Yoga Surf is correct: there were many more trees at the beginning of the settlement age (c. 870), with an estimated more than 25% of the landmass covered with birch forest. This was possible at the time, because the climate was warmer than it is today. Unfortunately, human activity led to widespread deforestation. The sagas also attest to this, with forested land becoming much sought after (and fought over!). Until recent times, with a colder climate, very shallow soil cover, and much of the arable land used for grazing sheep, it was impossible for these trees to recover. But now there are efforts to re-forest certain areas, including several reasonably sized forests in the capital region. Thanks again for your interest and questions, and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
I just love how Dr. Matthew Roby always gives full detailed explanatory answers on people's comments!!! 👏🏻
@@ktoyogasurf I was in Iceland January1969 to January 1971, and the only trees I saw then were relatively small ones in Reykjavik and a few in some of the larger towns and villages. I returned for a vacation in 1989 and the situation seemed pretty much the same. I vacationed there once again two years ago, and was very surprised to see a few small forests here and there in the countryside. I later found out that planting for reforestation began to be taken more seriously around 1990 and the seedling planted per year increased from about 1 million per year to 6 million per year around 2008. It dropped to about 3 million per year by about 2015, mostly due to budget cuts after the financial crisis, but I was never able to find much information on the project after 2015, although I know it is still moving forward, and still see occasional articles on government discussions of the program in the Grapevine and other Icelandic news sources.
These saga stories are fascinating. A view of medieval Iceland which is new to me. Well done and I look for more!
Thank you for your continued interest and support! Glad you're enjoying them. We'll keep them coming! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
This was absolutely delightful though the story was sad. It’s not hard to imagine that survival long ago in Iceland must have been very difficult. Heroism and perseverance, such a big part of sagas, were necessities of life and the twists and turns of the hero’s story kept me interested until the end. Telling the story in the actual setting brings the story to life. The scenery is gorgeous but I’m glad I didn’t have to make a living off of that land. Thanks for the story time!
Yes, life must have been tough. Makes it all the more impressive that this society produced so many great works of literature. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Really awesome story Dr Roby! I had a lot of images in my mind while you were telling the story. Being on site adds a fantastic dimension to the tale.
I would love to follow a series of short films with all the sagas you have already told us!
Thank you for your continued interest and support. We really appreciate it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
His voice is so soothing and relaxing. Wanna listen to him forever. Very nice video
Thanks very much! Hope you'll stay tuned for more coming soon!
Matt...I love your stories!
Thanks for your continued interest and support. We'll keep them coming! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
I love the way you present these sagas...walking the land brings a great experience to these sagas.
Glad you like them! Yes, it's a really great opportunity for me too. I've been reading about these places for years, so it's a real treat to see them in person! Thanks for your interest and support. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
I have enjoyed these Sagas so much and particularly your version of them. So understandable. Thank you so much for creating them and telling them in your way!! I just finished the History of the Vikings: Children of Ash and Elm, by Neil Price. So much inside there. Your saga versions help put real people to the history. Thank you for all your thinking through the sagas and creating these videos. I appreciate it. Best wishes.
Thank you for your kind words. Glad to hear you're enjoying the series so much! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Another wonderful interpretation of a great saga story. Hvalfjörður is a beautiful area; it’s hard to imagine such tragedy and treachery happening here. It is so peaceful and quiet today. Thank you for bringing this story to life. 🇮🇸🇨🇦
Thanks for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed it and we hope you'll stick around for more Saga Stories coming soon!
Good! A lovely surprise for today! Thank you for taking the time and energy to do this!
Thanks, as ever, Wanda! It's our pleasure. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
The blood fued stories are the most interesting of the Sagas. Please keep them coming!
Thanks for your continued support! We'll definitely keep them coming and, of course, we'll make sure there's plenty of feud stories in future episodes. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Isn’t the Sampo and the stories around it from Finland? Vainomoinen, Lemonkeinin,the hag? Many many years ago there was a live action movie or child’s TV show, one episode, or The Sampo! Telling the story with actors painted to become the road, and other scenes in the story. Vainomoinen, the great Smith crafts the Sampo, a Mill that will always by full of food. Leminkeinen, the idiot hero loses it to the Hag and tries to get it back.
Very interesting saga, brought to life walking the landscape it happen in.
Thank you for your support. We're glad you liked it, and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
The landscape tells the tale! The utter starkness and emptiness of the landscape suggests the poverty and desperation of the protagonists of these sagas.
Brilliant! Great saga. Thanks very much. Stay safe. 🙏
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Another great Saga story. Thank you.
Thank you for your continued interest! Glad you enjoyed it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Excellently done, if a very grim tale. Life in medieval Iceland must have been very tough. Thanks Mathew.
Yes, it's hard for most of us to imagine just how challenging it was, especially for the less wealthy farmers. But the laws and sagas show us that, in the face of such hardship, society can only thrive if there are mechanisms in place to ensure that people take care of one another. Thanks for your interest and we hope you'll stay tuned for more. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Awesome job on the saga story. Matthew Keep up the good work
Thank you! Glad you're enjoying them. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thank you for sharing with us
It is beautiful place come with sad stories 💔
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Excellent summary of a complicated story.
Thank you! Yes, it can certainly be challenging to keep all the details straight in my head. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
This was a fantastic story my fist time on this site, I have subscribed and wait for more , thanks for the best scenery and the way you tell it !
Thanks for your interest. Glad you're enjoying the series. We'll keep them coming! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Wow, fantastiskt berättande, fascinerande landskap. Jag tyckte verkligen om varje enskilt avsnitt hittills ... och kan inte vänta med att se nästa lilla påminnelse dyker upp och meddela om din nästa video. Fortsätt med den goda vanan och lägg upp dessa vids. Det var också underbart när du citerade några meningar på isländska originalspråket (eller gamla norska kanske :))
Tack så mycket! Med vänliga hälsningar, Matthew Roby
Excellent. Brilliant. Riveting.
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Very interesting, thank you!
Thank you very much for this interesting saga!
Glad you enjoyed it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
well, congrats, you managed to let me watch an almost 30mins long video. this is something that happens not very often. looking forward for forthcoming episodes.
High praise indeed! Thank you for your continued interest and support; we really appreciate it. And we'll keep the videos coming for you. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Great story and matching location...........thanks
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Something magical happened at 22:48 😍
I love this series!
Anticipating the next one already.
Thanks for your continued interest in the series! We look forward to bringing you another one soon. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thankyou wonderful storytelling
Glad you enjoyed it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
A very wonderful recounting, Dr. Roby, and thanks for walking all that way to show us just where the story happened. It is so amazing that she could swim from the island to the headland! It must have been so cold! BTW, I wrote a saga for Valur and Polly. Ask him to show it to you! I had fun writing it. I just haven't read the sagas in Icelandic of course, so I don't know their meter and cadence, but I did my best with some from Old English sagas. Its short. I think you will get a kick out of it!
Thank you, Wendy. I'll be sure to ask him about it. Thanks for your continued interest in the series and we hope you'll stick around for more coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
It must be difficult to tell the story, & navigate the landscape? Nice presentation. To me, the sagas are much less heroic than I expected. So much trouble & strife!
A very good point. The sagas do include lots of fantastical heroics, but these are often (though not always) set in scenes that take place outside of Iceland. A good example would be Hörðr's battle with with the zombie in the grave mound, which is much more fantastical than the small-scale, domestic disputes he has when he returns home: fighting over horses, stealing food, etc. And, indeed, scenes of large-scale or supernatural heroics are particularly common in genres that take place entirely abroad or in another time period, such as the fornaldarsögur and riddarasögur. Thanks for your interest and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in future! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Love these stories! Especially the Njals Saga which I bought when I visited Iceland but find it kind of difficult to read and Dr.Roby's story was super interesting just like the rest of the Sagas =)))
Thank you for your interest in the videos. We're so glad you like them and hope you'll stay tuned for more coming very soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Thanks it was lovely ❤
Muy completo y entretenido el documental. Gracias por mostrar los textos en ingles y aprender asi también vuestro idioma. Saludos desde Chile.
Gracias!
Thanks for another great video. I don't think I've heard of this saga before, but now I'll be searching for the book!
Thank you for your continued interest and support! Yes, it's not a commonly known saga, but there is a good translation in Anthony Faulkes's "Three Icelandic Outlaw Sagas" collection from Everyman. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
@@TheReykjavikGrapevine Thank you so much. I'm about to order it right now. I found a new hardcover copy on Amazon to add to my collection!
Just to update my last comment, it looks as though Amazon had some paperbacks wrongly listed under a link to "other buying options" in a sub-link that said "hardcover format". It turns out none were actually hardcover and they no longer have that section listed. I investigated further and it looks the book probably was never printed in hardcover. But I'm still quite happy to have the paperback on the way!
Late to the listening but very cool story and can't wait to hear more now that I'm back.
Hard life in those times.
Keep it up! I am enjoying the story's.👍✌🤯
Thanks for your interest! Glad you're enjoying them. There's some more very interesting ones coming soon. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
What a great series. Thank you! When you mentioned an island in the fjord about 35 miles to the NE of Reykjavik, I thought
"I remember that Island!" I remember a small roadside sign pointing it out. For some reason I thought the sign was on the South
side of the fjord but that wouldn't make sense. I dunno. Even though I don't believe a word of it, interesting story.
Yes, I think many people drive by without noticing it. And yes, you're right: this is a good example of a saga whose historical accuracy must have been questioned by even the most credulous medieval audiences. The island just seems too small to accommodate all those outlaws. Thanks for your interest in the series and we hope you'll stick around for more videos coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Wonderful, #5 has arrived. saved for later!
Thanks for your continued support! I hope you enjoy it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Will these continue? I love this series so much
Hi Josh. Thanks for your interest! We're sorry for the delay, but we have several new "Saga Stories" videos in the pipeline and the first one should be released in the next week or so. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Vel gert félagi þetta eru virkilega flott myndbönd hjá þér! Njála is the first and only Íslendingasaga I have read and its probably my favourite book ever. its epicness and buty is out of this world. I am going to read Króka refs-saga next as that one was recommend to me by my teacher he said it was very different and very adventurous.
Takk kærlega fyrir! Yes, Króka-Refs saga is certainly very different from what are usually considered the "classics" of the genre. Hope you enjoy it, and that you'll stick around for more Saga Stories videos coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Of course we appreciate your stories! So convoluted, but fascinating... and how do you remember them? Do you make some intricate diagrams along the way?
It can be a challenge keeping it all clear in your head and, as you can see, we try to do as much as we can in only one take. When I first started studying the sagas, I did indeed make diagrams (especially family trees), but I have found reading them to be an acquired skill and you just get better with practice. Thanks for your interest in the series and we hope you'll stay tuned for more. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Merci, pour cette ballade, paysages fabuleux, la nature à l’état pure...si seulement votre reportage était en français....
Malheureusement mon français n'est pas assez bon. Merci d'avoir regardé! From Matthew Roby
There ya go, the both of you on your epic walks😃. At 4.51, omg, that mountain range, serious volcanic activity went on there😲. Amazeballs! 😍🇦🇺
Yes, it keeps us in shape! Thanks for your interest and support. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
You are showing 8 Saga Stories, but on our smart TV TH-cam channel only 6 are still showing. And looks like the same here. So are those only available to the High 5 Club? Happy to join to get access. Love the Saga Stories!
Hello Sarah. There are 6 published videos, plus one that will be released tomorrow (Friday 13th :) Number 8 showing on the playlist is just an error on TH-cam.
very interesting but tragic story
Mathew as a future topic perhaps discuss the saga of the Icelanders who ended up on Baffin Island?
Thanks for your interest. We do have plans for a Vínland sagas video at some point, so we hope you'll enjoy that when it comes out. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Very interesting and well presented. One question…the sagas mention farmers…what did they farm in such an inhospitable landscape? Sheep rather than crops?
Thanks for your question. Yes, you're absolutely right. According to the sagas, the primary mode of food production going on in Iceland during the settlement period was (as it still is today) animal husbandry, especially sheep. This also required grass to be grown and dried as hay for winter fodder. However, the climate in Iceland was warmer back then and it's possible that other crops could be cultivated. For example, Ölkofra þáttr (which we look at in our video on Þingvellir) talks about barley being grown for ale. Thanks for your interest in the videos and we hope you'll stick around for more! Bets wishes, Matthew Roby
Heart goes out to Hurther (phonetic speling, I'm sorry Iceland!) I blame his mother
Takk !
awesome
Thanks! Glad you liked it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Nice story. Monty Python showed it. But The Sampo is the Crown Jewel of mythical histories.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Dr Roby, esp liked the third part!! Brave strong Female involvement! Still no Trolls??
Yes, the sagas are rightly famous for their strong women. Trolls and other monsters on the way, I assure you! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Hi, trying to find out why Icelanders call the new volcano Ballareldar. What/Who is Ballar? Bölur? Gellir? Kellir? Rolf saga? If the name is from a saga, I would love to see a Saga story video on it.
I haven't heard any Icelanders calling it that. If they call it anything other than eldgosið, it's usually Fagradalsfjall. From what I can see, the name Ballareldar -- presumably a rude joke, as böllur (ballar in genitive singular) refers to male genitalia -- is primarily being used by one volcano blogger. Glad you're enjoying the videos and I hope you'll stick around for more Saga Stories coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Haha, ok, I will certainly not use that name then. Thanks for answering! I love your videos!
Hey Matthew,
many and honest thanks to your Icelandic Sagas, you perform on Reykjavik Grapevine.
I love this Sagas and all the details.
Very impressive style and telling this stories by moving near the original places and showing the landscape.
For my point of view you give good entertainment and show respect to the exciting history of the Icelandic people.
In summer july we'll be in Iceland, of course we plan to visit some places of the Sagas.
May be later with some little movies or pictures on TH-cam.
By the way:
I have several Saga books, written in German, my favourite is written by Helmut Hinrichsen & Max Schmid / Eine Märchen- und Sagenreise ISLAND, produced by BENTELLI.
My favourite Saga is the life of Fjalla - Eyvindur, many places in Iceland and:
do you know the movie from 1918,
director Victor Sjöström?
Original swedish title is
"Berg-Ejvind och hans hustru"
keep well and best greetings
Hans 😎
I don't know very much about Fjalla-Eyvindur, since he was post-medieval, but my partner speaks Swedish so we'll definitely try and find this film! Also interesting to see that the lullaby "Sofðu unga ástin mín" came from a play about him. Thanks for your interest and support and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
@@TheReykjavikGrapevine Hey Matthew, I sent you two interesting and informative YT links for movies concerning Eyvindur on your private FB account. A PN in your chatroom.
I hope they can be useful for you.
Best regards
Hans
and
Iceland Fans
The stealing from mounds never goes well!
Absolutely right. Thanks for your continued support and interest, Wanda! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
What a hilarious story... I wonder what those guys have been smoking back then... :)
MARY ME!!! :)
HEY! Second time watching this i notice a UFO at 14.09.
So when you state that "Geir is less wise than Hardar", what you mean is that Geir is an idiot? By the way, I love the dry sense of humor in those retellings (like: while he is an outlaw and a murderer and a thief, he is still a very honorable man...). It is the same dry sense of humor that I enjoyed in Halldor Laxness' work.
"Hordar who is still an honorable man, tries to stay calm an follow legal procedure, but ends up ... killing his neighbor and burning his house down" - ah, it happens to the best of us.... we try but then we fail.
Thanks for your interest! Yes, it's a similar story with some other saga characters, especially Grettir. We kind of root for him, but he inevitably ends up doing some pretty horrible things. The sagas tell us that they are honourable and well-meaning and just have bad luck, but you have to wonder how ironic that is sometimes. We'll be doing a Grettis saga video soon, so I hope you'll stay tuned for that. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
Yikes!
The Godfather meets Lady Macbeth
Yeah
All these sagas contain such an incredible amount of killing and violence that makes more credible all the Indridason, Sigurdardottir, Jonasson and others' Nordic Noir books.
In fact, Nordic Noir are just fairy tales in comparison.
Try as I might, I simply find myself utterly incapable to add anything to teh appreciation and commendations expressed here by other viewers. Let the Sagas speak, and us be silent and listen....
Wise words. Thank you very much for your interest and support. We're glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
:)
Thanks for watching! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby
It is nothing but a G Thang Baby.. 2 locek'd up niggas now we crazy
Can't get past that hairstyle.