In this epic multi-part episode, we tell the story of Iceland’s most famous and

longest surviving outlaw, Grettir Asmundarson. 

Join us as we trace his life, from its tempestuous beginning to its

tragic end.  Before we delve into his

amazing exploits as an adult, we must look back to his origins. In traditional

saga fashion, we begin with his great grandfather, Onund Treefoot.  We follow

Onund’s efforts to resist the increasing power of King Harald Fairhair and his struggles

to come to terms with the loss of his property and his leg.  Forced to redefine his own identity and to

make a new life in foreign lands, he emerges as the truest hero in the saga,

renowned as “the bravest and most agile of all the one-legged men in

Iceland.”  From Onund, we wend our way

through battles over whale corpses, murder, and legal cases in the genealogy until

we arrive at Grettir himself.  We’ll look

briefly at Grettir’s inglorious youth, his troubled relationship with his

father, Asmund, and the events leading up to his first outlawry.  Will Grettir learn to control his temper and

put his strength to good use? Or will he flout the norms of society and

continue to make his own way more difficult? 

Find out as Saga Thing takes on Grettir’s

Saga (chapters 1-20).

This handy genealogy will help you keep some of the names straight in your minds