by C de Burlet

Created on: April 09, 2009   Last Updated: April 10, 2009

It's stated clearly on the front and inside the book that "The Sea Road" is a novel. But before the principle characters are listed, its author Margaret Elphinstone, also includes a note: "The characters and events in this novel are chiefly based on the accounts found in Eirik's Saga, Graenlindinga Saga and Eyrbyggja Saga".

So this is not just an ordinary historical novel. This novel retells part of these sagas concentrating on a specific period and events in Iceland, Greenland and other countries. What's more, where the old sagas tell the stories from the viewpoints of Vikings, early settlers, and explorers, this novel mainly retells events from a woman's point of view. This woman and main character is Gudrid of Iceland, who actually existed.

This saga, for that is what this novel actually is, starts with the explanation of a monk on how and why Gudrid's story became written. After this preface, the story proper starts. As once must have happened with all the real saga, the story is dictated to Agnar the scribe over a period of many days and as remembered by Gudrid.

Gudrid describes her family background, her youth and growing up in Iceland during its settlement days and the transition period from Paganism to Christianity. When Gudrid is a teenager, her father decides to emigrate using the highway of his time: boarding a boat and taking the "sea road". After a dreadful journey, those that survive settle in Greenland. Gudrid's voyages do not end there. She takes part in further voyages which lead her to Canada and Northern America and more follow, until she returns to Iceland after her pilgrimage to Rome and her saga has been written down.

What makes this novel so interesting and well worth reading is not only the recreation of a saga out of other sagas. What Margaret Elphinstone manages to do brilliantly, is convey what life must have been for these early settlers and explorers; men as well as women. How thin the line was between survival and death, success and failure, late Pagan and early Christian practices, to name but a few things. A way of life and a culture from a very distant time, which are now difficult to imagine, come to life, as well as tensions between people which are still very familiar nowadays and very plausible. Despite the construction of story within story and shifts in viewpoints, the pace is fast, characters are convincing, and the story is very absorbing.

No prior knowledge is necessary to read this book, though some knowledge of for instance fairly recent archeological discoveries and theories, or an appreciation of sagas will certainly make this an even better read. However, this "saga" remains a historical novel and with Gudrid being the main character, the story will probably appeal mainly to female readers and that is a shame.

If the note at the beginning of "The Sea Road" and the story itself have whetted your appetite for sagas, there are paperback editions available of all sagas used by the author. But bear in mind that there is quite a difference between this wonderful novel and the sources used by the author to re-create Gudruid's story.

The Sea Road, M. Elphinstone, hard copy published by Canongate Books Ltd, Edinburgh 2000; paperback edition published in 2001, pp 256.

The Vinland Sagas, Penguin Classics, paperback edition of 2008 still available. Contains translations of The Saga of the Greenlanders and Eirik the Red's Saga including extensive notes, information on ships used, maps of the voyages and more.

Eyrbyggja Saga, paperback edition available.

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