Blackwell Reference Online

This major survey of Old Norse-Icelandic literature and culture comprises 29 chapters written by leading scholars in the field, over a third of whom are Icelanders. At the same time, it conveys a sense of the mainland Scandinavian origins of the Icelandic people, and reflects the ongoing contact between Iceland and other countries and cultures.

The volume highlights current debates among Old Norse-Icelandic scholars specializ ing in different aspects of the subject. Coverage of traditional topicsis complemented by material on previously neglected areas of study, such as the sagas of Icelandic bishops and the translated knights' sagas. Chapters on ‘archaeology’, ‘social institutions’ and ‘geography and travel’ make it possible to view the literature in its wider cultural context, while chapters on ‘reception’ and ‘continuity’ demonstrate the ways in which medieval Norse-Icelandic literature and culture overflow into the modern period.