Njál's Saga

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In the most unlikely setting, during devastating winters and unimaginably harsh conditions, some of Europe's most celebrated literature was born. In 13th century Iceland, stories about the heroic Vikings that first settled the country were recorded. These stories, called Sagas (meaning 'story' in Icelandic), have always caused pride with the Icelandic nation and will forever be it's number one cultural heritage. The undisputed masterpiece among the Sagas is Njal's Saga, a spine-chilling story of love, honour, revenge, and patriotism, vividly describing the lives of a host of memorable characters, ranging from respected arbitrators and lawyers to deadly warriors and fighters. If you buy one item in Iceland this should be it. The Sagas inspired the works of J.R.R. Tolkein. The Sagas were written on vellum; a parchment made from calfskin. The material is extremely long-lasting and most of the original books are still in good condition. The oldest fully preserved version of Njal's Saga is from the early 14th century and is stored at the campus of The University of Iceland.