You’ve heard the names—Olaf the Saint, Harald Hardrada, the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok (who features in its later tales). You’ve been captivated by the world of Vikings, not just as raiders, but as explorers, kings, and poets. And now, you’re ready to go to the source. You’ve decided to buy the Heimskringla.
But a quick search reveals a challenge: there isn’t just one “Heimskringla.” You’re faced with multiple translations, different publishers, and editions ranging from budget paperbacks to lavish hardcovers. Which one is right for you?
This guide is your compass. We’ll navigate the rich landscape of English translations of Snorri Sturluson’s masterpiece, exploring the nuances of each major version to help you find the perfect volume for your bookshelf.
First, What Exactly is the Heimskringla?
Before we dive into translations, let’s set the stage. The Heimskringla is a collection of sagas about the Norse kings, written in Old Norse in Iceland around 1230 by the chieftain, poet, and historian Snorri Sturluson. The name, meaning “The Circle of the World,” comes from the first two words of the earliest saga in the manuscript: Kringla heimsins.
It begins with the semi-mythical Swedish Yngling dynasty, descends from the gods Odin and Frey, and follows the line of Norwegian monarchs through to the reign of King Magnus Erlingsson in the 12th century. It is not a dry chronicle of dates and battles; it is a vibrant, dramatic, and often startlingly human narrative. Snorri was a master storyteller, weaving together history, myth, poetry (skaldic verse), and political insight.
Reading the Heimskringla is to step into a world where the fates of nations are decided by axe and sword, where the old pagan gods clash with the new Christian God, and where complex characters—ambitious, cruel, pious, and wise—strive to forge a kingdom from a collection of fjords and valleys.
The Great Translator Divide: Lee M. Hollander vs. Samuel Laing (Revised by Rasmus B. Anderson)
When you start looking, two names will dominate the conversation: Hollander and Laing. Choosing between them is the single most important decision you’ll make.
1. Samuel Laing (1844) – The Revised Classic
Laing’s translation is the old warhorse. First published in 1844, it’s the version most often found in public domain and free eBook formats. However, the version you’ll buy today is almost certainly the 1906 revision by Rasmus B. Anderson.
- The Vibe: Archaic, grand, and Victorian. Laing’s prose has a certain 19th-century majesty. It can feel a bit like reading the King James Bible or a Victorian novel.
- The Pros:
- Accessibility: Its public domain status makes it the cheapest option. Many free digital versions are based on Laing.
- Historical Weight: For some, this older style of English feels appropriately “epic” for a saga about kings.
- The Cons:
- Dated Language: The prose can be clunky and difficult for a modern reader. It often feels like a translation of a translation, losing the directness of the Old Norse.
- Inaccuracy: Scholarship from the 19th century is, understandably, outdated. Laing takes more liberties and makes more errors in interpreting the complex kennings (metaphors) of skaldic verse.
- Best For: The curious reader on a tight budget, the lover of Victorian prose, or someone who wants a free digital copy to see if the Heimskringla is for them before investing in a premium edition.
2. Lee M. Hollander (1964) – The Modern Gold Standard
For most scholars and serious enthusiasts, Hollander’s translation for the University of Texas Press is the definitive English version. Published in 1964 and revised in subsequent printings, it was a monumental achievement.
- The Vibe: Vigorous, poetic, and faithful. Hollander, a renowned scholar of Old Norse, sought to capture the spirit and rhythm of Snorri’s prose. His translation is both accurate and powerfully literary.
- The Pros:
- Linguistic Fidelity: Hollander masterfully renders the terse, direct, and powerful style of the original Icelandic. The dialogue crackles, the battles feel immediate.
- Treatment of Poetry: This is Hollander’s crowning glory. Instead of translating the skaldic verses into plain prose, he attempts to replicate their complex metre and alliterative style in English. The result is challenging, beautiful, and authentic.
- Excellent Apparatus: His edition includes a robust introduction, notes, maps, genealogical tables, and an index—all invaluable for understanding the text.
- The Cons:
- The Poetry Can Be Dense: His faithful rendering of the skaldic verses is admirable but can be difficult for a beginner to parse. You have to slow down and savor them.
- Slightly Less “Smooth”: In his quest for fidelity, the prose can sometimes feel less fluid than a purely literary translation, but it is infinitely more powerful for it.
- Best For: The serious reader, the student, the history buff, and anyone who wants the most authentic and respected literary experience. This is the one to buy if you plan on reading it cover to cover.
Other Notable Editions and Translators
Beyond the two titans, there are other valuable editions to consider.
The Everyman’s Library Edition
This is a repackaging of the Laing/Anderson translation. The primary reason to buy this is the physical object itself. Everyman’s Library produces beautiful, durable, cloth-bound hardcovers with sewn bindings that will last a lifetime. If you love the feel of a classic book and want a handsome edition for your library, and you’re content with the Laing translation, this is a fantastic choice.
The Penguin Classics Snorri Sturluson: Heimskringla
This edition, translated by Alison Finlay and Anthony Faulkes, is a more recent and excellent contender. While it is an abridged version (it doesn’t include all the sagas in the full Heimskringla), it presents a significant portion of the most important material.
- The Vibe: Clear, modern, and highly readable.
- The Pros:
- Modern Scholarship: Benefits from decades of research since Hollander.
- Accessible Prose: The translation is very clean and easy to read, making it a fantastic entry point for newcomers.
- Helpful Notes: As with all Penguin Classics, the editorial material is excellent and designed for the general reader.
- The Cons:
- It’s Abridged: You are not getting the complete Heimskringla. If you want the full saga from the Ynglings to Magnus, this isn’t it.
- Simpler Poetry: The skaldic verses are translated into clear, straightforward prose, which makes them understandable but loses their poetic form.
- Best For: The first-time reader who wants a no-fuss, highly readable introduction to the core narratives of the Heimskringla.
Making Your Choice: A Quick Decision Matrix
| Your Profile | Recommended Translation | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| The Purist & Enthusiast | Lee M. Hollander | The most faithful and scholarly complete translation, with unparalleled treatment of poetry. |
| The First-Time Reader | Penguin Classics (Finlay & Faulkes) | A modern, accessible, and well-edited abridgment that is easy to dive into. |
| The Budget-Conscious & eBook Reader | Samuel Laing (Public Domain) | Free or very cheap, perfect for sampling the saga on a Kindle or tablet. |
| The Lover of Beautiful Books | Everyman’s Library (Laing) | A stunning, durable hardcover that looks and feels like a classic, despite the older translation. |
What to Look For in a Physical Edition
Once you’ve chosen your translator, consider the book itself.
- Maps, Maps, Maps! The action moves from Denmark to Sweden, to Norway, to England, to the Byzantine Empire and beyond. A good set of maps is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Both the Hollander and Penguin editions have them.
- Genealogical Tables: The kings, jarls, and heroes are all interconnected through a complex web of marriage and bloodlines. A family tree is incredibly helpful for keeping track of who’s who.
- Introduction and Notes: A strong introduction provides historical context about Snorri’s life, 13th-century Iceland, and the nature of the sagas as history versus literature. Footnotes are essential for explaining cultural concepts, place names, and the identities of minor characters.
- Index: A good index allows you to use the book as a reference work. Want to find every mention of a particular jarl or battle? You’ll need an index.
Beyond the Purchase: How to Approach Your Reading
The Heimskringla is a monumental work. Don’t feel you need to race through it from page one. Here’s how to get the most out of it:
- You Don’t Have to Read Linearly: The Heimskringla is a series of sagas. It’s perfectly acceptable to jump to the most famous ones first, like The Saga of Harald Fairhair (who unified Norway) or The Saga of Olaf Tryggvason and The Saga of St. Olaf, which detail the dramatic and often violent conversion of Norway to Christianity.
- Read it as Literature: Pay attention to Snorri’s characterizations. Notice the dry wit, the understatement in the face of incredible events (the famous “saga style”), and the gripping dialogue. These are not just historical records; they are masterpieces of storytelling.
- Embrace the Ambiguity: Snorri was a Christian writing about a pagan past. He sometimes presents the old gods as historical, powerful chieftains (the “euhemerism” technique), and at other times, the supernatural intervenes directly. Part of the joy is living in that ambiguous space between myth and history, just as his original audience did.
The Final Word
Buying the Heimskringla is an investment in one of the great literary and historical treasures of the medieval world. It is the book that shaped Scandinavia’s understanding of its own past and continues to captivate readers a millennium later.
For my money, the Lee M. Hollander translation remains the pinnacle. It respects you as a reader, challenges you with its poetic integrity, and delivers the raw, powerful voice of Snorri Sturluson across eight centuries. It is a book to be studied, savored, and returned to throughout a lifetime.
Whichever path you choose, you are about to embark on an unforgettable journey. You will stand on the deck of longships, hear the clash of axes in the shield-wall, and witness the tumultuous birth of a nation. Welcome to the world of the Norse kings. Welcome to the Heimskringla.