Gripla - 20.12.2004, Page 262

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son’s lost Latin biography of King Óláfr Tryggvason and the relationship of
that text to Kristni saga and the Kristni flættir in Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en
mesta. The shade of Gunnlaugr Leifsson also stalks the introduction to Jóns
saga helga, for another of his lost works is his Latin vita of St Jón.
While some of these biskupa sögur are primarily of historical interest and
are never likely to compete with the major Íslendingasögur or konungasögur
for the attention of readers who are not professional historians, other texts
have much to offer in terms of vividly realised characterisation, memorable
narrative episodes, and even humour. One thinks, for example of Bishop
Fri›rekr’s encounter with Konrá›’s spáma›r in fiorvalds fláttr ví›förla, or of
fiangbrandr’s exploits in Kristni saga and some of the Kristni flættir. Jóns saga
also contains several appealing anecdotes: it is said, for example, that during
rebuilding work at Hólar Jón’s builder, fióroddr Gamlason became an expert
in grammatica by overhearing Jón’s instructing ordinands (ÍF XV:204). In
Lárentíus saga the relationship between Laurentius and his tutor in canon law,
Jón flæmingi, provides several amusing anecdotes that reveal much about the
future bishop’s personality. When Jón asks Laurentius to help him obtain the
vacant living of Maríukirkja, for example, Laurentius points out Jón cannot
speak Norse and so would be unable to preach to his parishioners. Jón claims
to be able to and gives a very brief example ending in Latin: ‘nonne sufficit,
domine?’ (ÍF XVII:243) Laurentius laughs, pointing out that Jón’s use of the
word lentin for Lent would not be understood by his parishioners. In chapter
fi15 Laurentius plays a practical joke on the unfortunate Jón, convincing him
to greet an Icelander with words that do not mean what the great scholar
educated at Paris and Orleans thinks they do. It is not only historians who will
derive pleasure from such stories.
There was a real need for a new edition of the biskupa sögur that would
provide accessible texts along with up-to-date editorial material. This Íslenzk
fornrit edition is a notable and very welcome achievement which admirably
meets this need, and will do so all the more fully when completed by the
forthcoming editions of the sagas of Gu›mundr Arason. All those who have
worked on this edition, the editors and also the many other people they thank
in their acknowledgements, have together produced a fitting monument for an
important anniversary; the best response to their work would be for others to
join them in giving renewed scholarly and critical attention to these texts.