author
Sir George Webbe Dasent
1817–1896
Best known for bringing Norwegian folktales to English readers, this Victorian scholar helped popular favorites like "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" travel far beyond Scandinavia. His work blends a storyteller’s charm with a deep love of old northern literature.
1 Audiobook
The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and Counsellor
by Sir George Webbe Dasent
About the author
Born in St. Vincent in 1817, George Webbe Dasent was educated in London and Oxford before entering diplomatic service in Stockholm. His years in Sweden sparked a lasting interest in Scandinavian language, myth, and folklore.
He became one of the most influential English interpreters of Nordic tradition, translating works from Icelandic and Old Norse and publishing the much-loved Popular Tales from the Norse in 1859. He also wrote on travel, history, and legend, helping introduce English-speaking readers to a wider world of northern storytelling.
Dasent later worked in public service and was also a contributor to The Times. He died in 1896, but his retellings and translations remain an important doorway into Norse and Norwegian folk literature.