The sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald the Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)

audiobook

The sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald the Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)

by Snorri Sturluson

EN·~6 hours·2 chapters

Chapters

2 total
1

The printed book’s only clue about authorship is in the Notes. All other information comes from the Norwegian edition and some illustrators’ initials.

6:33:57
2

LONDON - WILLIAMS AND NORGATE - MCMXI

0:23

Description

In the mist‑shrouded fjords of early Norway, a widowed queen‑consort named Astrid flees the ruin of her husband’s reign, cradling a newborn son destined for greatness. She and a loyal band of protectors take refuge on a remote lake island, then brave the harsh winter nights to seek safety among allies. Their perilous trek leads them to the homestead of Astrid’s own father, where they briefly find shelter and a fleeting sense of normalcy.

Yet peace remains elusive. Rival chieftains—Harald Grey‑Cloak and his brother Gudrod—press forward, while the powerful matriarch Gunnhild dispatches spies to locate the hidden child of the fallen king. As word reaches her that Astrid still bears the heir, she sends a contingent of armed messengers to capture the infant. The saga unfolds with tense pursuits, secret alliances, and the desperate struggle of a mother protecting her son against a world hungry for power.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~6 hours (378K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Louise Hope, Charlene Taylor, Ted Garvin and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Release date

2007-07-17

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson

d. 1241

A towering figure in medieval Iceland, this poet, historian, and political leader helped preserve much of what the world knows about Norse mythology and the early kings of Scandinavia. His works, especially the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, still shape how readers imagine the Viking Age.

View all books

You may also like