The Banff Centre is thrilled to be one of 500 organisations to receive a donation of a set of Icelandic Sagas. The literature collection, translated into English, is a gift to Canadians from the Icelandic nation.

Published by Leifur Eiriksson Publishing in Iceland, the translated Sagas are in a five-volume boxed set which contains the first complete English translation of the Sagas of Iceland. There are 40 Sagas, and 49 shorter tales of the Icelanders. The compilation of this set is a saga in itself: work on the set began in 1993, and has involved over 30 anglophone translators who are also specialists in Icelandic language and literature.

The significance of this donation cannot be overstated. Saga literature is considered a national treasure to Iceland, while elsewhere they are heralded as one of the world’s greatest literary achievements. The original Sagas were preserved in hundreds of manuscripts, the first dating back to the 13^th century and scripted on vellum. These Sagas describe the events surrounding the discovery and settlement of Iceland; they combine wisdom with entertainment, and lyrical prose with fascinating history.

This set will be available to Banff Centre program participants as well as the broader community. It is a unique opportunity for readers to access both a historical and linguistic study of Iceland’s past and of the Viking language. The Banff Centre’s Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives extends its appreciation for being selected as a recipient of this valuable gift.