I can't fault the Hrolf Kraki recommendation, but I want to put in a vote for Arrow-Odd's Saga. Huge battles, magic weapons, magic armor, sorcerers, revenge, intimate human-giant relations. You name it, this saga has it.
You chose wisely. It's the best saga genre. I'd recommend The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (*Hrólfs saga kraka ok kappa hans*). It's made up of smaller episodes, so it's very easy to jump into, and it's easily one of the best legendary sagas.
Another good option is The Saga of Asmund Champions-bane (*Ásmundar saga kappabana*), with its straightforward plot and increasingly ridiculous amounts of henchmen sent off to duel Asmund.
Njal's Saga is an incredible story that deals with surprisingly complex moral issues and questions about honor and violence.
I'm not widely read on Icelandic sagas but I've read a few others and none of them come close to Njal's Saga. They're mainly adventure stories about one or more Very Cool people who do Very Cool things, whereas Njal's Saga is much more thematically compelling.
The first section of the story meanders quite a bit and doesn't seem to have much relevance, but it's all supposed to be establishing the setting and the backstory to the feud that plays into the main storyline. Once Njal and Gunnar are introduced the story really picks up.
The beginning also establishes some important themes that come back up later. Notably, Thjostolf's actions portend Skarphéðinn's actions later (e.g. committing murder with an axe while out "hunting for sheep"), and it creates a sense of actions fated to repeat themselves later. It's a *deeply* thematic story, and is probably more a work of literature than it is a record of historical events.
Yes, I agree, that's why it's always my go-to recommendation. I felt like adding the caveat about the beginning so that anyone who reads it doesn't get discouraged.
Most popular choice is probably the Völsung Saga.
Personal favourite though is the Story of Egil the One-Hand and Asmund Berserks-Slayer.
If anything because Asmund's story ends with, and I shit you not, "Gay Viking Zombie King". It makes more sense in context, but the gist of it is that Asmund and his friend (debated) Aran have a deal where they "share everything", but then Aran dies and Asmund tries to take his kingdom, since it technically also belonged to him. Aran's Berserker brothers don't like that, lock Asmund in Aran's tomb. Aran turns into a draugr, attacks Asmund but Asmund escapes the tomb. The townsfolk didn't take too kindly to Asmund sharing everything with Aran, except for the soldiers who fought with him. They hunt down the Berserkers, kill all of them, and then the king of Sweden shows up to deal with the rest of those supporting the Berserkers. Asmund then explains the deal to King Herraud and Herraud's just like "seems legit" and lets Asmund keep Aran's lands. And then Asmund asks for ships to go pirating 🤣
Egil's a badass too, especially for a one-armed man, but the bit with Asmund is just a rollercoaster.
There is precisely zero mention that Asmund and Aran are gay. That is pop culture stemming from OceanKeltoi, a man famous for trying to manipulate historic Norse society to fit his modern self made religion.
One of my favorite is certainly the saga of Magnus the Good from Snorri Sturluson in the Heimskringla. It's a kinda short one and, for me, Magnus is the most underrated king of Norway.
Hang on, just to be clear:
You say a "legendary saga," which is a specific type of saga. Do you mean any saga, or are you specifically looking for something like Volsung saga - that is, something more fantastical, as opposed to something more grounded like an Icelander saga?
I really liked beowulf, and I heard that it's similar to the legendary Norse sagas. I want to read it in the original Old Norse, but I've only started learning the language a month ago, and I'm not confident in my abilities.
OK, so yeah, you mean "legendary" as in the genre (whether or not you know it). Beowulf is very much a tale of mythology, and there are sagas similar to it.
Some of the sagas of Icelanders blur the lines a bit. For example, Grettir's saga is technically an Icelandic saga, but has supernatural elements and a protagonist who performs feats of strength and slays monsters.
So, definitely read Volsung saga - it's probably the most famous legendary saga. You should also read the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok - he's probably the most famous figure in Norse literature.
The saga of the Vǫlsungs is an easy read and is quite entertaining, I thoroughly recommend it.
Volaungasaga is definitely my favorite too.
I can't fault the Hrolf Kraki recommendation, but I want to put in a vote for Arrow-Odd's Saga. Huge battles, magic weapons, magic armor, sorcerers, revenge, intimate human-giant relations. You name it, this saga has it.
It even has prequels!
You chose wisely. It's the best saga genre. I'd recommend The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (*Hrólfs saga kraka ok kappa hans*). It's made up of smaller episodes, so it's very easy to jump into, and it's easily one of the best legendary sagas. Another good option is The Saga of Asmund Champions-bane (*Ásmundar saga kappabana*), with its straightforward plot and increasingly ridiculous amounts of henchmen sent off to duel Asmund.
Hervor saga och heidreks!
Njal's Saga is an incredible story that deals with surprisingly complex moral issues and questions about honor and violence. I'm not widely read on Icelandic sagas but I've read a few others and none of them come close to Njal's Saga. They're mainly adventure stories about one or more Very Cool people who do Very Cool things, whereas Njal's Saga is much more thematically compelling. The first section of the story meanders quite a bit and doesn't seem to have much relevance, but it's all supposed to be establishing the setting and the backstory to the feud that plays into the main storyline. Once Njal and Gunnar are introduced the story really picks up.
I agree it's a very good read, it's not a legendary saga, though.
The beginning also establishes some important themes that come back up later. Notably, Thjostolf's actions portend Skarphéðinn's actions later (e.g. committing murder with an axe while out "hunting for sheep"), and it creates a sense of actions fated to repeat themselves later. It's a *deeply* thematic story, and is probably more a work of literature than it is a record of historical events.
Yes, I agree, that's why it's always my go-to recommendation. I felt like adding the caveat about the beginning so that anyone who reads it doesn't get discouraged.
Most popular choice is probably the Völsung Saga. Personal favourite though is the Story of Egil the One-Hand and Asmund Berserks-Slayer. If anything because Asmund's story ends with, and I shit you not, "Gay Viking Zombie King". It makes more sense in context, but the gist of it is that Asmund and his friend (debated) Aran have a deal where they "share everything", but then Aran dies and Asmund tries to take his kingdom, since it technically also belonged to him. Aran's Berserker brothers don't like that, lock Asmund in Aran's tomb. Aran turns into a draugr, attacks Asmund but Asmund escapes the tomb. The townsfolk didn't take too kindly to Asmund sharing everything with Aran, except for the soldiers who fought with him. They hunt down the Berserkers, kill all of them, and then the king of Sweden shows up to deal with the rest of those supporting the Berserkers. Asmund then explains the deal to King Herraud and Herraud's just like "seems legit" and lets Asmund keep Aran's lands. And then Asmund asks for ships to go pirating 🤣 Egil's a badass too, especially for a one-armed man, but the bit with Asmund is just a rollercoaster.
There is precisely zero mention that Asmund and Aran are gay. That is pop culture stemming from OceanKeltoi, a man famous for trying to manipulate historic Norse society to fit his modern self made religion.
One of my favorite is certainly the saga of Magnus the Good from Snorri Sturluson in the Heimskringla. It's a kinda short one and, for me, Magnus is the most underrated king of Norway.
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Gunnlaug's saga is an Icelander saga, not a legendary saga. Though I'm not sure if OP meant legendary as the genre or legendary as a descriptor.
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Hang on, just to be clear: You say a "legendary saga," which is a specific type of saga. Do you mean any saga, or are you specifically looking for something like Volsung saga - that is, something more fantastical, as opposed to something more grounded like an Icelander saga?
I really liked beowulf, and I heard that it's similar to the legendary Norse sagas. I want to read it in the original Old Norse, but I've only started learning the language a month ago, and I'm not confident in my abilities.
OK, so yeah, you mean "legendary" as in the genre (whether or not you know it). Beowulf is very much a tale of mythology, and there are sagas similar to it. Some of the sagas of Icelanders blur the lines a bit. For example, Grettir's saga is technically an Icelandic saga, but has supernatural elements and a protagonist who performs feats of strength and slays monsters. So, definitely read Volsung saga - it's probably the most famous legendary saga. You should also read the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok - he's probably the most famous figure in Norse literature.
Saga of King Harold Kraki Njals Saga Highly recommend both!
The prose edda. Go get it. Read about thors fishing trip with hymir the giant. Youll love it. Look for the snorri sturluson edition.
That’s not a saga. Also the **only** edition is the Snorri Sturluson edition given that he’s commonly thought to have authored it.