The Saga of Grettir the Strong 1: Exile, Outlawry, and the Undead

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World

This is the first episode of a narrative series on the Icelandic saga of a famed outlaw. The Saga of Grettir the Strong opens with his grandfather leaving King Harald's Norway for Iceland. We follow its portrayal of Grettir's troubled childhood and his tests of strength against boulders, men, bears, and (for some Halloween appropriate listening) draugr, the undead of the burial mound.

If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here.

I'm on Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble.

Sources:

• Grettir's Saga, translated by Jesse Byock. Oxford University Press, 2009.
• Grettir's Saga, translated by Denton Fox and Hermann Palsson. University of Toronto Press, 1974.
• Three Icelandic Outlaw Sagas, translated by George Johnston and Anthony Faulkes. Everyman, 2001.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices