Wayward heroes / Halldór Laxness ; translated from the Icelandic by Phillip Roughton.

Author
Halldór Laxness, 1902-1998 [Browse]
Uniform title
Format
Book
Language
English
Published/​Created
  • Brooklyn, NY : Archipelago Books, 2016.
  • ©2016
Description
467 pages ; 18 cm

Availability

Copies in the Library

Location Call Number Status Location Service Notes
Firestone Library - Stacks PT7511.L3 G4713 2016 Browse related items Request

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    Summary note
    A masterfully written tragicomedy about the oath-brothers Thorgeir and Thormod, inspired by the old Icelandic sagas Saga of the Sworn Brothers and Saga of Saint Olaf. The brothers fight for glory, raid for treasure and seduce women against the backdrop of a new cult of Christianity. But where the old sagas depict their heroes as glorious champions, Laxness does the opposite. As Thormod avenges Thorgeir's death, he demonstrates the senselessness of violence and the endlessly cyclical nature of obsession.
    Notes
    • "Published in 1952, Wayward Heroes is part of the body of works for which Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1955. It is a masterfully written tragicomedy about the oath-brothers Thorgeir and Thormod, inspired by the old Icelandic sagas Saga of the Sworn Brothers and Saga of Saint Olaf. The brothers fight for glory, raid for treasure, and seduce women against the backdrop of a new cult of Christianity. But where the old sagas depict their heroes as glorious champions, Laxness does the opposite. As Thormod avenges Thorgeir's death, he demonstrates the senselessness of violence and the endlessly cyclical nature of obsession"-- Provided by publisher.
    • Originally published in Icelandic as Gerpla (Reykjavík : Vaka-Helgafell, 1988. 4. útg.).
    Language note
    Translated from the Icelandic.
    ISBN
    • 9780914671091 ((paperback))
    • 091467109X ((paperback))
    LCCN
    2016027339
    OCLC
    932385674
    Other standard number
    • 40026608304
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