Old Norse Reading Group

Orðhenglar

Orðhenglar at the feet of Snorri Sturluson, Reykholt, Iceland

Orðhenglar:

Is a group that meets approximately every three weeks for advanced reading (and translation) of Old Norse-Icelandic texts in an informal setting, usually at Birkbeck. (Orðhengill is Icelandic for ‘pedant’; Orðhenglar is the plural). Readers at all levels (other than complete beginners) are welcome, but full participation is encouraged. Please contact Alison Finlay for details.

The Old Norse texts we have read include:

Sverris saga
Eiríks saga víðförla
Möttuls saga
Svínfellinga saga
Jómsvíkinga saga
Færeyinga saga
Jóns saga helga
Hungrvaka
Söguþáttur Jóns Halldórssonar biskups
Skíðaríma
Sturlu saga

Occasional reading weekends have been held; in Borgarfjörður, Iceland in October 1999, and in Durham in June 2000.

Publication:

Fótarkefli, a light-hearted ‘festschrift’ in two volumes in honour of Professor Peter Foote, on his 75th birthday in May 1999. This includes essays, many on the subject of feet (I), and a collaborative translation of Svínfellinga saga (II).

Editors, Alison Finlay, Richard North, Svanhildur Óskarsdóttir. Copies are available at £2 for each volume