This is a document containing a summary of the entirety of Njáls saga as translated by Magnus Magnusson and Herman Pálsson for Penguin Classics (I have selected a different translation as linked book since Stuvia will not let me select this translation). It also has a link to a full family tree.
(Brennu-)Njáls saga, or, The Story of Burnt Njáll
As translated by Magnus Magnusson & Hermann Pálsson.
Chapter 1
Mord Fiddle is a powerful chieftain and experienced lawyer. 1 His daughter Unn is the best match in
his surroundings. Hoskuld Dala-Kollson lives in Laxardal. His daughter Hallgerd is beautiful, but her
half-uncle Hrut comments that he does not know how thief’s eyes came into his family. 2 Hoskuld is
not happy about this.
Chapter 2
Hrut and Hoskuld attend the yearly Althing. Hoskuld tells Hrut to get married to Unn. Mord is okay
with that, but only for a very large price. The three agree on the terms and Hrut and Unn get
engaged. On their way home from the Althing, Hurt’s paternal uncle, 3 Ozur, meets up with them and
informs Hrut that his brother Eyvind has passed away, 4 and Hurt is his heir. He must, however,
immediately travel to Norway to protect his inheritance, which clashes with the wedding. Hrut
explains the situation to Mord, and they agree that Unn now has to wait for 3 years. 5
1
You can find the full family tree here!
2
3
He and Hoskuld share a mother, not a father.
4
5
If Hrut doesn’t return after three years, she’s free to marry someone else. If he does, they get wed.
, 2
Chapter 3
Haralds Grey-cloak is the king of Norway at this time. 6 His mother, Queen Gunnhild, hears of Hrut’s
and Ozur’s arrival and sends them a message: if they winters with her, she’ll help them out. They
realise they have no choice. 7 They travel to her residence and present themselves to the king, where
Hrut offers to become one of Harald’s liegemen. Gunnhild vouches for Hurt, so Hrut has to return in
a fortnight to officially become the king’s retainer. 8 In the meantime, Gunnhild takes care of them.
Hrut and the queen sleep together for the full two weeks, the rest of the winter goes well.
Chapter 4
That spring, Gunnhild gives Hrut two manned longships, the king gives another two. Hrut sets out to
reclaim his inheritance.
Chapter 5
On their way, they encounter Atli Arnvidarson, an outlaw. Atli kills one of Hrut’s men, a battle breaks
out and Hrut kills Atli. 9 Gunnhild’s messenger discovers that the person who has Hrut’s inheritance
wants to flee to England. She makes sure he is killed. Hrut returns to court, where he gives 1/3 rd of
his booty from the pirates to the king, and ½ of his inheritance to Gunnhild.
Chapter 6
The next winter goes smoothly, but that spring Hrut wants to go home. He lies to Gunnhild that he
does not have a girl waiting at home. When he leaves, Gunnhild gives him a golden bracelet and tells
him that he will never enjoy the woman in Iceland onto whom Hrut has set his heart. Other women
are fine, but not that one, because he lied about her.
At home, he’s warmly welcomed by his brother. They unload the cargo and Hrut gets married, but
he and Unn never consume their marriage. The next summer at the Althing, Unn goes to her father
and cries her heart out, though she does not say why. Mord confronts Hrut, but since Unn brings no
charges, she has to go home with Hrut. Next summer, she's not allowed to join Hrut at the Althing.
Chapter 7
Unn fixes her own ride to the Althing, where she tells her father that when Hrut and her touch, his
penis gets so big they cannot consummate the marriage, but whenever they draw apart his penis
size is normal. She wants to divorce Hrut. Mord tells Unn to fake being ill next spring, then when it
gets time for the Althing to summon men around her, name witnesses and declare herself divorced
at her husband’s bedstead, then go to Mord. He will fix the rest. Unn does exactly this, and she is
divorced.
Chapter 8
Hrut is shocked to find out about the divorce. Next Althing, Mord wants Hrut to return his daugther’s
dowry.10 Since Mord doesn’t first privately go to Hrut to talk the matter out, but immediately makes
it all public, Hrut refuses to do so. He challenges Mord to single combat. Mord refuses this, 11 and
people think negatively of him for it.
6
Son of Eirik Blood-Axe, son of Harald Fine-hair. Harald’s mother, Gunnhild, is still alive.
7
She has a reputation for making life really difficult for you if you don’t listen to her.
8
It is custom that there is a 2-week waiting period.
9
Ulf the Unwashed, the leader of the ‘medieval FBI’ (according to the translator’s note), who leads the two
ships given by Gunnhild, dies in the battle.
10
Since the divorce is Hrut’s fault (he can't consummate the marriage), Mord has legal claim of the whole
marriage-settlement, Unn’s dowry plus Hrut’s contribution. He claims all this.
11
He knows he will lose. By refusing, he loses the right to the dowry.
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