John Kennedy (7) (1947–)

Borrowed from Library

I know this seems a bit of an odd read, but I studied Old Norse at University and, while I wasn't the best student at doing endless translations, I did pick up a knowledge (that has surprisingly stayed with me in more detail than I'd thought) and appreciation of the Icelandic Sagas. This lively and entertaining book, written very much on the readable side of the academic register, goes through the translations and translators of the sagas (and associated literature), show more giving a bibliography and then sections on the main translators. We go right through from the gentleman academics making the first attempts at translations in the 18th century, to the collaborative online work being done at the moment. Pleasingly, my Old Norse tutor is mentioned a few times, as he has been involved in translations himself over the years.

A good and interesting read, and it made me want to go back and revisit the sagas (in translation!) show less