Here's a list of some translations into modern english of the old sagas and eddas. The free translations available on the Internet are often not the easiest to read. Other translations are available. The list of books below gives the translator (not author!), then the name of the book and publisher. When appropriate I've included some brief commentary and/or the table of contents. By way of explanation, the word þáttur (plural þættir) refers to a short story in the saga style.

Most of links below take you to Amazon.com where you can purchase the books listed

Sagas and Þættir

• Various Translators, The Complete Sagas of the Icelanders, Leifur Eiríksson, ISBN 9979-9293-0-8 (five volumes). These translations are very easy to read. If you want to purchase this set, be aware that it runs about US$300. More details and ordering information are available from Leifur Eiríksson Publishing - includes:
  1. Eirik the Red's Saga (Eiríks Saga Rauða) translated by: Keneva Kunz
  2. The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grænlendinga Saga) translated by: Keneva Kunz
  3. Egil's Saga (Egils Saga Skallagrímssonar) translated by: Bernard Scudder
  4. Kormak's Saga (Kormaks Saga) translated by: Rory McTurk
  5. The Saga of Hallfred the Troublesome Poet (Hallfreðar Saga Vandræðaskálds) translated by: Diana Whaley
  6. The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of the Hitardal People (Bjarnar Saga Hitdælakappa) translated by: Alison Finlay
  7. The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue (Gunnlaugs Saga Ormstungu) translated by: Katrina C. Attwood
  8. The Tale of Arnor, the Poet of Earls (Arnórs þáttur jarlaskálds) translated by: Judith Jesch
  9. Einar Skulason's Tale (Einars þáttur Skúlasonar) translated by: Scilla Brumfit
  10. The Tale of Mani the Poet (Mána þáttur skálds) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  11. The Tale of Ottar the Black (Óttars þáttur svarta) translated by: Judith Jesch
  12. The Tale of Sarcastic Halli (Sneglu-Halla þáttur) translated by: George Clark
  13. Stuf's Tale (Stúfs þáttur hinn skemmri) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  14. The Tale of Thorarin Short-Cloak (Þórarins þáttur stuttfeldar) translated by: Diana Whaley
  15. The Tale of Thorleif, the Earl's Poet (Þorleifs þáttur jarlsskálds) translated by: Judith Jesch
  16. The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords (Auðunar þáttur vestfirska) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  17. The Tale of Brand the Generous (Brands þáttur örva) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  18. Hreidar's Tale (Hreiðars þáttur) translated by: Robert Kellogg
  19. The Tale of the Story-Wise Icelander (Íslendings þáttur sögufróða) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  20. Ivar Ingimundarson's Tale (Ívars þáttur Ingimundarsonar) translated by: Judith Jesch
  21. Thorarin Nefjolfsson's Tale (Þórarins þáttur Nefjólfssonar) translated by: John Porter
  22. The Tale of Thorstein from the East Fjords (Þorsteins þáttur Austfirðings) translated by: Scilla Brumfit
  23. The Tale of Thorstein the Curious (Þorsteins þáttur forvitna) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  24. The Tale of Thorstein Shiver (Þáttur Þorsteins skelks) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  25. The Tale of Thorvard Crow's-Beak (Þorvarðar þáttur krákunefs) translated by: George Clark
  26. Gisli Sursson's Saga (Gísla Saga Súrssonar) translated by: Martin S. Regal
  27. The Saga of Grettir the Strong (Grettis Saga) translated by: Bernard Scudder
  28. The Saga of Hord and the People of Holm (Harðar Saga og Hólmverja) translated by: Robert Kellogg
  29. Bard's Saga (Bárðar Saga Snæfellsáss) translated by: Sarah M. Anderson
  30. Killer-Glum's Saga (Víga-Glúms Saga) translated by: John McKinnell
  31. The Tale of Ogmund Bash (Ögmundar þáttur dytts) translated by: John McKinnell
  32. The Tale of Thorvald Tasaldi (Þorvalds þáttur tasalda) translated by: John McKinnell
  33. The Saga of the Sworn Brothers (Fóstbræðra Saga) translated by: Martin S. Regal
  34. Thormod's Tale (Þormóðar þáttur) translated by: Diana Whaley
  35. The Tale of Thorarin the Overbearing (Þórarins þáttur ofsa) translated by: Scilla Brumfit
  36. Viglund's Saga (Víglundar Saga) translated by: Marianne Kalinke
  37. The Tale of the Cairn-Dweller (Kumlbúa þáttur) translated by: Marvin Taylor
  38. The Tale of the Mountain-Dweller (Bergbúa þáttur) translated by: Marvin Taylor
  39. Star-Oddi's Dream (Stjörnu-Odda draumur) translated by: Marvin Taylor
  40. The Tale of Thidrandi and Thorhall (Þiðranda þáttur og Þórhalls) translated by: Terry Gunnell
  41. The Tale of Thorhall Knapp (Þórhalls þáttur knapps) translated by: John Porter
  42. Njal's Saga (Brennu-Njáls Saga) translated by: Robert Cook
  43. The Saga of Finnbogi the Mighty (Finnboga Saga Ramma) translated by: John Kennedy
  44. The Saga of the People of Floi (Flóamanna Saga) translated by: Paul Acker
  45. The Saga of the People of Kjalarnes (Kjalnesinga Saga) translated by: Robert Cook and John Porter
  46. Jokul Buason's Tale (Jökuls þáttur Búasonar) translated by: John Porter
  47. Gold-Thorir's Saga (Gull-Þóris Saga) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  48. The Saga of Thord Menace (Þórðar Saga Hreðu) translated by: Katrina C. Attwood
  49. The Saga of Ref the Sly (Króka-Refs Saga) translated by: George Clark
  50. The Saga of Gunnar, the Fool of Keldugnup (Gunnars Saga Keldugnúpsfífls) translated by: Sarah M. Anderson
  51. Gisl Illugason's Tale (Gísls þáttur Illugasonar) translated by: Judith Jesch
  52. The Tale of Gold-Asa's Thord (Gull-Ásu-Þórðar þáttur) translated by: Scilla Brumfit
  53. Hrafn Gudrunarson's Tale (Hrafns þáttur Guðrúnarsonar) translated by: Diana Whaley
  54. Orm Storolfsson's Tale (Orms þáttur Stórólfssonar) translated by: Matthew Driscoll
  55. Thorgrim Hallason's Tale (Þorgríms þáttur Hallasonar) translated by: Scilla Brumfit
  56. The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal (Vatnsdæla Saga) translated by: Andrew Wawn
  57. The Saga of the Slayings on the Heath (Heiðarvíga Saga) translated by: Keneva Kunz
  58. Valla-Ljot's Saga (Valla-Ljóts Saga) translated by: Paul Acker
  59. The Saga of the People of Svarfadardal (Svarfdæla Saga) translated by: Fredrik J. Heinemann
  60. The Saga of the People of Ljosavatn (Ljósvetninga Saga) translated by: Theodore M. Anderson and William Ian Miller
  61. The Saga of the People of Reykjadal and of Killer-Skuta (Reykdæla Saga og Víga-Skútu) translated by: George Clark
  62. The Saga of Thorstein the White (Þorsteins Saga Hvíta) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  63. The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord (Vopnfirðinga Saga) translated by: John Tucker
  64. The Tale of Thorstein Staff-Struck (Þorsteins þáttur stangarhöggs) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  65. The Tale of Thorstein Bull's-Leg (Þorsteins þáttur uxafóts) translated by: George Clark
  66. The Saga of Droplaug's Sons (Droplaugarsona Saga) translated by: Rory McTurk
  67. The Saga of the People of Fljotsdal (Fljótsdæla Saga) translated by: John Porter
  68. The Tale of Gunnar, the Slayer of Thidrandi (Gunnars þáttur Þiðrandabana) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  69. Brandkrossi's Tale (Brandkrossa þáttur) translated by: John Porter
  70. Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Saga (Þorsteins Saga Síðu-Hallsonar) translated by: Katrina C. Attwood
  71. Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Tale (Þorsteins þáttur Síðu-Hallssonar) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  72. Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Dream (Draumur Þorsteins Síðu-Hallssonar) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  73. Egil Sidu-Hallsson's Tale (Egils þáttur Síðu-Hallsonar) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  74. The Saga of the People of Laxardal (Laxdæla Saga) translated by: Keneva Kunz
  75. Bolli Bollason's Tale (Bolla þáttur) translated by: Keneva Kunz
  76. The Saga of the People of Eyri (Eyrbyggja Saga) translated by: Judy Quinn
  77. The Tale of Halldor Snorrason I (Halldórs þáttur Snorrasonar hinn fyrri) translated by: Anthony Maxwell
  78. The Tale of Halldor Snorrason II (Halldórs þáttur Snorrasonar hinn síðari) translated by: Terry Gunnell
  79. Olkofri's Saga (Ölkofra Saga) translated by: John Tucker
  80. Hen-Thorir's Saga (Hænsna-Þóris Saga) translated by: Peter A. Jorgensen
  81. The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi (Hrafnkels Saga Freysgoða) translated by: Terry Gunnell
  82. The Saga of the Confederates (Bandamanna Saga) translated by: Ruth C. Ellison
  83. Odd Ofeigsson's Tale (Odds þáttur Ófeigssonar) translated by: Scilla Brumfit
  84. The Saga of Havard of Isafjord (Hávarðar Saga Ísfirðings) translated by: Fredrik J. Heinemann
  85. The Tale of Hromund the Lame (Hrómundar þáttur halta) translated by: Diana Whaley
  86. The Tale of Svadi and Arnor Crone's-Nose (Svaða þáttur og Arnórs kerlingarnefs) translated by: Scilla Brumfit
  87. The Tale of Thorvald the Far-Travelled (Þorvalds þáttur víðförla) translated by: John Porter
  88. The Tale of Thorstein Tent-Pitcher (Þorsteins saga tjaldstæðings) translated by: Diana Whaley
  89. The Tale of the Greenlanders (Grænlendinga þáttur) translated by: John Porter
• Various translators, The Sagas of the Icelanders, Viking, ISBN 0670889903 (U.S.)/0713993561 (U.K.), also available in paperback. This book contains:
  1. Egil's Saga (Egils Saga Skallagrímssonar)
  2. The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal (Vatnsdæla Saga)
  3. The Saga of the People of Laxardal (Laxdæla Saga)
  4. Bolli Bollason's Tale (Bolla þáttur)
  5. The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi (Hrafnkels Saga Freysgoða)
  6. The Saga of the Confederates (Bandamanna Saga)
  7. Gisli Sursson's Saga (Gísla Saga Súrssonar)
  8. The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue (Gunnlaugs Saga Ormstungu)
  9. The Saga of Ref the Sly (Króka-Refs Saga)
  10. The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grænlendinga Saga)
  11. Erik the Red's Saga (Eiríks Saga Rauða)
  12. The Tale of Thorstein Staff-struck (Þorsteins þáttur stangarhöggs)
  13. The Second Story of Halldor Snarrason (Halldórs þáttur Snorrasonar hinn síðari)
  14. The Tale of Sarcastic Halli (Sneglu-Halla þáttur)
  15. The Tale of Thorstein Shiver (Þáttur Þorsteins skelks)
  16. The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords (Auðunar þáttur vestfirska)
  17. The Tale of the Story-Wise Icelander (Íslendings þáttur sögufróða)
• George Johnston, The Schemers and Viga-Glum: Bandamanna and Viga-Glum's Saga, Porcupine's Quill, ISBN 0-88984-189-6
• Alison Finlay, The Saga of Bjorn : Champion of the Men of Hitardale, ISBN 1874312265
• George Johnston, Thrand of Gotu: Two Icelandic Sagas, Porcupine's Quill, ISBN 0-88984-180-2 - contains:
  1. The Saga of the Faroe Islanders (Færeyinga saga)
  2. The Saga of the Greenlanders (Grænlendinga saga)
• John Porter, Bandamanna Saga, Llanerch Publishers, ISBN 1897853130
• Jesse Byock, The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (Hrólfs saga kraka ok kappa hans), Penguin, ISBN 0-14-043593-X
• Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards, Seven Viking Romances, Penguin - includes:
  1. Arrow-Odd (Örvar-Odds saga)
  2. King Gautrek (Gautreks saga)
  3. Halfdan Eysteinsson (Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar)
  4. Bosi and Herraud (Bósa saga og Herrauðs)
  5. Egil and Asmund (Egils saga einhenda og Asmundar saga berserkjabana)
  6. Thorstein Mansion-Might (Þorsteins þáttr bæjarmagns)
  7. Helgi Thorisson (Helga þáttr Þórissonar)
• Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson, Laxdæla Saga, Penguin
• Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards, Orkneyinga Saga, Penguin
• Hermann Pálsson, Hrafnkel's Saga, Penguin
• Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards, Egil's Saga (Egils Saga Skallagrímssonar), Penguin
• Christine Fell, Egils saga (Egils Saga Skallagrímssonar), Everyman's Library, ISBN 0-460-87265-6
• Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards, Vikings in Russia: Yngvar's Saga and Eymund's Saga, Edinburg University Press, ISBN 0-85224-623-4
• Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson, King Harald's Saga [from Heimskringla], Penguin
• Eleanor Haworth and Jean Young, The Fljotsdale Saga and the Droplaugarsons, Everyman's Library, ISBN 0-460-87004-1 - includes
  1. The Fljotsdale Saga (Fljótsdæla Saga)
  2. The Droplaugarsons (Droplaugarsona Saga)
• Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson, The Vinland Sagas, Penguin - includes:
  1. Grænlendinga Saga
  2. Erik's Saga (Eiríks Saga Rauða)
• Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards, Eyrbyggja Saga, Penguin
• Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson, Njal's Saga (Brennu-Njáls Saga), Penguin
• Carl F. Bayerschmidt and Lee M. Hollander, Njál's Saga (Brennu-Njáls Saga), American-Scandinvian Foundation (published in 1955, but apparently still in print as of 1997)
• George Johnston, G.A. Hight, and Anthony Faulkes, Three Icelandic Outlaw Sagas, Everyman, ISBN 046088221X - includes
  1. The Saga of Gisli (Gísla Saga Súrssonar) translated by George Johnston
  2. The Saga of Grettir (Grettis Saga) translated by G.A. Hight
  3. The Saga of Hord (Harðar Saga og Hólmverja) translated by Anthony Faulkes
• Gwyn Jones, Eirik the Red and other Icelandic Sagas, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-281528-8 - includes:
  1. Hen-Thorir (Hænsna-Þóris Saga)
  2. The Vapnfjord Men (Vopnfirðinga Saga)
  3. Thorsteinn Staff-Struck (Þorsteins þáttur stangarhöggs)
  4. Hrafnkel the Priest of Frey (Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða)
  5. Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða)
  6. Thidrandi Whom the Goddesses Slew (Þiðranda þáttur og Þórhalls)
  7. Authun and the Bear (Auðunar Þáttur Vestfirzka)
  8. Gunnlaug Wormtongue (Gunnlaugs Saga Ormstungu)
  9. King Hrolf and his Champions (Hrólfs Saga Kraka)
• Jesse L. Byock, Saga of the Volsungs (Völsunga saga), University of California Press, ISBN 0-520-06904-8
• George K. Anderson, The Saga of the Völsungs Together with Excerpts from the Nornagestsþáttr and Three Chapters from the Prose Edda, University of Delaware Press, ISBN 0-87413-172-3
• Lee M. Hollander, The Saga of the Jómsvíkings, University of Texas Press, ISBN 0-292-77623-3
• Jón Skaptason and Phillip Pulsiano, Bárðar Saga, Garland Publishing, ISBN 0-8240-9424 7
• E. Paul Durrenberger and Dorothy Durrenberger, The Saga of Gunnlaugur Snake's Tongue (Gunnlaugs Saga Ormstungu), Associate University Presses, ISBN 0-8386-3465-6
• W. Bryant Bachman, Jr. and Guðmundur Erlingsson, Swarfdale Saga and other Tales, University Press of America, ISBN 0-8191-9513-8 - includes:
  1. Svarfdale Saga (Svarfdæla saga)
  2. The Saga of Valla Ljot (Valla-Ljóts saga)
  3. The Story of Thorleif Jarl's Skald (Þorleifs þáttur jarlsskálds)
• W. Bryant Bachman, Jr., Four Old Icelandic Sagas and other Tales, University Press of America, ISBN 0-8191-4704-4 - includes:
  1. The Saga of Clever Ref (Króka-Refs Saga)
  2. The Story of Thorstein of the East Fjords (Þorsteins þáttur Austfirðings)
  3. The Saga of Valla Ljot (Valla-Ljóts Saga)
  4. The Story of Thorvard Crow-Nose
  5. The Story of Shuttle Halli
  6. The Story of Gold Asa-Thord
  7. The Saga of the Oath-Bound Men
  8. The Story of Gisl Illugason
  9. The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of Hitardale
• W. Bryant Bachman, Jr., The Sagas of King Half and King Hrolf, University Press of America, ISBN 0-8191-8122-6
• W. Bryant Bachman, Jr. and Guðmundur Erlingsson, Heidarviga Saga, University Presses of America, ISBN 0761800913
• W. Bryant Bachman, Jr. and Guðmundur Erlingsson, Six Old Icelandic Sagas, University Press of America, ISBN 0-8191-9156-6 - includes five of the fornaldarsögur and one of the riddarsögur:
  1. Hromund's Saga (Hrómundar saga Gripssonar)
  2. The Saga of Yngvar the Explorer (Yngvars saga viðförla)
  3. The Saga of Ali Flekk
  4. The Saga of Illugi, Grid's Foster Son (Illuga saga Griðarfóstra)
  5. Sorli's Story (Sörla þáttr eða Heðins saga ok Högna)
  6. The Saga of Asmund the Champion-Killer (Ásmundar saga kappabana)
• W. Bryant Bachman, Jr., Forty Old Icelandic Tales, University Press of America, ISBN 0-8191-8499-3 - this is a collection of Icelandic þættir - includes:
  1. The Story of Bodvar Bjarki
  2. The Story of Hauk the Tall
  3. The Story of Harald the Greenlander
  4. The Story of Thorleif Jarl's Skald
  5. The Story of Ogmund the Hard-Hit
  6. The Story of Helgi and Ulf
  7. The Story of Eindridi Flat-Foot
  8. The Story of Thorstein Shiver
  9. The Story of Thorvald Tasaldi
  10. The Story of Red the Strong
  11. The Story of Eymund of Skara
  12. The Story of Eindridi and Erling
  13. The Story of Thormod Coal-Brow's Skald
  14. The Story of Toki
  15. The Volsi Story
  16. The Story of Thorgrim Hallason
  17. The Story of Hrafn Gudrunson
  18. The Story of Thorstein the Eastfjorder
  19. The Story of Hreidar
  20. The Story of Audun the Westfjorder
  21. The Story of Brand the Unselfish
  22. The Story of Stuf
  23. The Story of Odd Ofeigson
  24. The Story of Shuttle-Halli
  25. The First Story of Halldor Snorrason
  26. The Second Story of Halldor Snarrason
  27. The Story of Thorstein the Saga-Teller
  28. The Story of Thorvald Crow-Nose
  29. The Story of Blood Egil
  30. The Story of Gisl Illugason
  31. The Story of Einar Skulason
  32. The Story of Gold Asa-Thord
  33. The Story of Ivar Ingimundson
  34. The Story of Thorarin Short-Cloak
  35. The Story of Mani the Icelander
  36. The Story of Hromund the Lame
  37. The Story of Ale-Cap
  38. The Story of Thorstein Goad-Struck
  39. The Story of Brandkrossa
  40. The Story of Jokul Buason
• Peter Fisher, History of the Danes by Saxo Grammaticus; Bks.1-9, DS Brewer, ISBN 0859915026 - not strictly a saga, but it belongs here anyway.
• W. Bryant Bachman, Jr. and Guðmundur Erlingsson, The Saga of Finnbogi the Strong (Finnboga Saga Ramma), ISBN 0-8191-7594-3
• Lee M. Hollander, Heimskringla: The History of the Kings of Norway, University of Texas Press, ISBN 0-292-73061-6

Eddas

• Carolyne Larrington, The Poetic Edda, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-282383-3. This is my favourite general-purpose translation of the Poetic Edda
• Patricia Terry, Poems of the Elder Edda, University of Pennsylvania Press, ISBN 0-8122-8220-5. Another solid translation.
• Lee M. Hollander, The Poetic Edda, University of Texas Press, ISBN 0-292-76499-5. Holdander imitates the form of the the original alliterative poetry in modern english. Unfortunately, to do this Hollander alters the meaning of the text significantly in places.
• Ursula Dronke, The Poetic Edda Volume II: Mythological Poems, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-811181-9. This includes an english translation, the original old norse, and detailed commentary on each poem. Highly recommended, even though I disagree with some of the commentary and analysis. The following poems are included:
  1. Völuspá
  2. Rígsþula
  3. Völundarkviða
  4. Lokasenna
  5. Skírnismál
• W.H. Auden and Paul B. Taylor, Norse Poems, Faber and Faber Ltd., (U.K. book - can be ordered from Amazon.co.uk).
• Jean I. Young, The Prose Edda, University of California Press, ISBN 0-520-01231-3. Includes the prologue, the Deluding of Gylfi, and Selections from Poetic Diction
• Anthony Faulkes, Edda, Everyman, ISBN 0-460-87616-3. (Prose Edda). Get this one for a complete and reasonably accurate Prose Edda translation.
• Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda, ISBN 0889467838 - presumably this is a reprint of the Edda translation by Bellows from the American-Scandanavian Foundation, but I've never seen this particular edition. Expensive (about US$100).
• Olive Bray, The Elder Edda, reprint edition published by AMS Press, ISBN 0-404-60012-3. This is a reprint of a 1908 translation of the mythological poems.

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