Saga

About the Book

This work was inspired by a poem found in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Tales of a Wayside Inn” The story is set in Norway, England and Denmark, circa 1000 AD The tremendous conflict between advancing Christianity and entrenched Paganism sweeps the characters into a maelstrom of war, political intrigue, murder, greed and the success or failure of personal ambitions. Political enemies have murdered the family of Olaf Tryggvesson of Norway and four-year-old Olaf has been sold into slavery. He is found and rescued by his uncle, who sees an opportunity for revenge by setting Olaf, grandson of the late King Harold of Norway on the throne. Young Olaf is placed in the court of Novgorad Russia to be trained in the ways of power while his uncle Sigurd seeks alliances with the Roman Church and King Svein of Denmark to further the plan. Upon gaining maturity, Olaf is married to the daughter of King Burislav of Poland as a political move, then enlisted in the violence of Denmark’s attempt to invade and conquer England. His reputation as a skilled military leader, together with his amassing a huge fortune in the spoils of war, soon enables him to invade Norway and to claim the throne. Olaf’s lukewarm acceptance of Christianity soon alienates the Roman Church as an ally and his growing military power and independence causes Svein of Denmark to view his former comrade-in-arms with alarm. Olaf reacts to every turn in his fortunes by returning to the violence, which is his consistent area of expertise. The death of his first wife and the attempt of his second wife to murder him lead him to embark on military adventures dangerous to all around him. Finally he must plan one last battle to defeat his foes. On the eve of the battle he recognizes his own failings as King and protector of his native people. He vows to subjugate his passions for the good of the people, but his immediate problem is to defeat Svein, his former mentor. Olaf is killed in the battle, thus laying Norway helpless in the hands of foreign opportunists. The casual reader will find sufficient action and conflict to hold interest, while the more serious mind may reflect on parallels between Olaf’s methods and those of the early Church adopting a pragmatic “Accept or Die” tactic that abandoned its basic tenets.

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