Why read Egil's Saga?

Book cover of Egil's Saga

Book description

Egil's Saga or Egill's saga is an Icelandic saga (family saga) on the lives of the clan of Egill Skallagrímsson (Anglicised as Egil Skallagrimsson), an Icelandic farmer, viking and skald. The saga spans the years c. 850–1000 and traces the family history from Egil's grandfather to his offspring.
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Snorri Sturluson

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Why read it?

1 author picked Egil's Saga as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Sam Martin

Author

As a descendant of Rus Vikings, I find anything dealing with barbarians and pre-Christian faith fascinating. There is nothing in the world quite like Nordic justice.

This tale follows the life and times of Egil Skalagrimmson in the 10th century. At times, Egil is an eloquent, thought-provoking shaman-like character, and at others, he is a maniac bent on homicide as a means to settle the score. The imagery of Nordic life is unmatched, as is the imagery of how disputes, pacts, and society function in a time that isn’t as far gone as many realize.

From Sam's list on The best books that make you question reality.