THE VOLUMES

Volume I: Sturlunga Saga

AM 122 a fol. Sturlunga Saga is a compilation of originally independent sagas from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and is the most extensive work in the whole of Iceland’s early literature. Written in the first half of the 14th century. 224 pages plus an introduction of 20 pages by Jakob Benediktsson, University of Iceland.

Volume II: Codex Scardensis

This manuscript, which has also been called Lives of the Apostles from Skard, is written in two hands of the 14th century. It is the most complete medieval Icelandic collection of the Lives of the Apostles, and has the fullest retention of some of the Lives. 189 pages plus an introduction of 20 pages by Desmond Slay, University College of Wales.

Volume III: The Sagas of King Sverrir and King Hakon the Old

AM 81 a fol. This work records the history of Norway from 1177 to 1263, with King Sverrir and King Hakon as the central figures. Written in the 15th century. 248 pages plus an introduction of 20 pages by Ludvig Holm-Olsen, University of Bergen.

Volumes IV: Lives of Saints

Perg. Fol. No. 2 in the Royal Library, Stockholm. This Manuscript, written in the 14th century, contains the lives of saintly men and women and is one of the prime sources of our knowledge of this facet of the Icelanders´ literary activity. 184 pages plus an introduction of 36 pages by Peter Foote, University College London.

V: Bergsbók

Perg. Fol. No. 1 in the Royal Library, Stockholm. Contains the sages of the two kings, Olaf Tryggvason and Saint Olaf. The Olafs Saga Helga in this manuscript is of special interest, partly because it has to some extent a different form from that found elsewhere, and partly because the text contains interpolations from an otherwise unknown source. Written in the 14th century 1 colour plate and 422 pages plus an introduction of 24 pages by G. Lindblad, University of Stockholm.

VI: Thomasskinna.

Gl. Kgl. Saml. In the Royal Library, Copenhagen. The text consists of a long account of the life of Archbishop Thomas Becket and a version of Olafs Saga Helga which is of interest because it contains interpolations from an otherwise lost source. Written in the 15th century. 336 pages by Agnete Loth, The Arnamagnæan Institute, Copenhagen.

Volume VII: Sagas of Icelandic Bishops

AM 219 fol. AM 220 I-VI fol. And AM 221 fol. Fragments of 8 manuscripts treating the lives of Icelandic bishops. Written in the 13th – 16th centuries. 92 pages plus an introduction of 64 pages by Stefan Karlsson, The Arnamagnæan Institute, Reykjavik.

Volume VIII: Hulda. Sagas of the Kings of Norway 1035-1177

AM 66 fol. The sagas cover the period from about 1035-1177, telling the history of the Norwegian kings during the civil war period and ending with the arrival of Sverrir in Norway. 324 pages plus an introduction of 24 pages by Jonna Louis-Jensen, The Arnamagnæan Institute, Copenhagen.

Volume IX: Skálholtsbók Eldri

AM 351 fol. amongst the medieval manuscripts it is usually copies of the law-book i.e. the so-called Jónsbók that are the most beautiful and the best preserved ones. The sagas were meant to be read privately or aloud for entertainment, and their constant use ended with the manuscripts` disintegration, but the law-book was reckoned to have more practical value and was consequently treated more gently. AM 351 fol. is held to be one of the best. 1 colour plate and 282 pages plus an introduction of 62 pages by Chr. Westergaard-Nielsen, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Volume X: Romances

An anthology of 12 romances (perg. 4to No. 6, the Royal Library, Stockholm). Preserves the unique copy of on saga, the only medieval copy of another, and the best copies of several others. 180 pages plus an introduction of 32 pages by Desmond Slay, University of Wales.

Volume XI: Fornaldersagas and Late Medieval Romances

AM 586, 4to, and AM 589 a-f, 4to. The contents of the manuscripts are popular Icelandic stories, mostly about fight and love in foreign countries. Written in the 15th century and meant for entertainment. 188 pages plus an introduction of 17 pages by Agnete Loth, The Arnamagnæan Institute, Copenhagen.

Volumes XII: The Sagas Ywain and Tristan and other Tales

AM 489, 4to (c.1450) containing six sagas, three of which are original Icelandic works, one is a version of Tristan material and two are translations (possibly first made into Old Norwegian) of the French works Florie et Blancheflor and Ywain (12th century). 124 pages plus an introduction of 26 pages by Foster W. Blaisdell, Indiana University, Bloomington, U.S.A.

Volume XIII: Catilina and Jugurtha by Sallust and Pharsalia by Lucan in Old Norse: Rómverjasaga

AM 595 a-b, 4to (beginning of the 14th century). The contents are Old Icelandic translations of the Latin works Catalinæ conjuratio and Bellum Jurgurthinum by Sallust and Pharsalia by Lucan. 76 pages plus an introduction of 24 pages by Jakob Benediktsson, University of Iceland.

Volume XIV: The Great Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and Olaf the Saint.

AM 61 fol. Is one of the largest of the late medieval Iceland manuscripts in the Arnamagnæan Institute; it contains the so-called “Longest saga of Olaf Tryggvason” and the “Great saga of Saint Olaf”, generally ascribed to Snorri Sturluson. 266 pages plus an introduction of 32 pages by Ólafur Halldórsson, The Arnamagnæan Institute, Reykjavik.

Volume XV: Codex Trajectinus

The Utrecht manuscript of the prose Edda, being a copy written on paper about 1600 from a now lost 13the century vellum manuscript. 118 pages plus an introduction of 23 pages by Antony Faulkes, University of Birmingham.

Volume XVI: The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue and three other Sagas

Perg. 4:0 No. 18 in the Royal Library, Stockholm. Written by different scribes during the 14th century; it contains also Heiarviga saga and Olafs saga Tryggvasonar by Oddr Snorrason, a Benedictine monk. 112 pages plus an introduction of 48 pages by Bjarni Einarsson, The Arnamagnæan Institute, Reykjavik.

Volume XVII: The King’s Mirror

AM 243 fol., which is the Icelandic main manuscript of the Old Norse work. The king’s Mirror (speculum Regale, Konungs Skuggsjá). 88 pages plus an introduction of 27 pages by Ludvig Holm-Olsen, University of Bergen.

Volume XVIII: Karlamagnús Saga

AM 180 a fol. And AM 180 b fol. Containing Karlamagnús saga (a number of French Chansons de geste translated into Old Norse in the 13th century) and some religious texts. 112 pages plus an introduction by E.F. Halvorson, University of Oslo.

Volume XIX: A Saga of St. Peter

Perg. 4:0 No. 19 in the Royal Library, Stockholm. Contains a life of Peter the Apostle in Old Norse. 154 pages plus an introduction by Peter Foote, University College London.

Volume XX: The Saga of King Olaf Tryggvason

AM 62 fol. One of the more important manuscripts of the great saga of Olaf Tryggvason (the main manuscript of which, AM 61 fol., was publish as vol. XVI in this series, 1982). 106 pages plus an introduction by Ólafur Halldórsson, the Arnamagnæan Institute, Reykjavik.

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