these texts have therefore remained important sources for ethnologists, folklorists and
historical anthropologists studying histoire de mentalité.
Yet it is as literary works, foreshadowing the modern novel, that the sagas are today
primarily read and admired, not just in Scandinavian or Germanic countries, but all over
the world. To the general reader their value as art has turned out to be more important
than their value as sources.
BIBLIOGRAPHYClover, C.J. and Lindow, J. (eds) ( 1985 ) Old Norse-Icelandic Literature. A Critical Guide (Islandica
XLV), Ithaca, NY and London: Cornell University Press.
Jónas Kristjánsson ( 1988 ) Eddas and Sagas. Iceland’s Medieval Literature, trans. P. Foote, Reykjavík:
Hið íslenzka bókmenntafélag.
Lönnroth, L. ( 1991 ) ‘Sponsors, writers and readers of early Norse Literature’, in R. Sampson (ed.)
Social Approaches to Viking Studies, Glasgow: Cruithne.
Meulengracht Sørensen, P. ( 1993 ) Saga and Society. An Introduction to Old Norse Literature, trans.
J. Tucker (Studia Borealia 1 ), Odense: Odense University Press.
Steblin-Kamenskij, M.I. ( 1973 ) The Saga Mind, trans. K. H. Ober, Odense: Odense University
Press.
–– Lars Lönnroth––