So whats up with UNICEF UK?

Lets see now.........

I have published / republished 28 books from which I freely donate 33% of my, the Publisher's profit, to Unicef UK.
Now, you would think they would be grateful, but OH NO, its just "Give us the money mate and bugger off! We're not interested in anything else!"


Why do I write this? Well, republishing 28 books (I have republished a lot more) takes an awful lot of time and money - £121 per book to be exact, or £3,388, US$5,627 at todays exchange rate. Wanting to use the skills I have learned to benefit my fellow man, I have done from the goodness of my heart and in my spare time.

The books are printed commercially by one of the worlds foremost Print on Demand printers (Lightning Source) to an ecological template, reducing carbon emissions. In short the quality of the finished product is of the highest standard.

From each sale of these 28 books, I donate 33% of my profit to UNICEF, which is about £1 per book for an online sale via the Abela website or £0.48p for books sold via the retail network. But this is not good enough for UNICEF UK.
They are not in the least bit interested. In fact they have told me in no uncertain terms what I can do with my books - and, oh, to give them the money when I have done whatever it is I am supposed to do with them - and myself.


So, do you think UNICEF are justified in their stance, or is this just a big charity chasing the big "dollars" and running rough-shod all over the small guys who really want to help? I would really appreciate your feedback.

Legend of the Last Vikings - Taklamakan - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award
Replace Indiana Jones' Fedora with a Helmet

and swap his bull-whip for a sword

but keep the leather Jacket

then add a dash of Romance

and you have

VIKING ACTION and ADVENTURE
from Norway along the Silk Route
into China's notorious Taklamakan desert
in the genre of Indiana Jones!

Synopsis: As the Viking age is brought to an end in 1066 with ignominious defeat at the battle of Stamford Bridge, a rag-..tag group of Vikings conclude the quiet life is not for them and they decide to go-..a-..Viking one last time.

They retrace a journey of their youth across the European Steppe and down the mighty Dniepr river Heading for Byzantium. A chance discovery in a Kiev library leads them to venture even further afield - to Astrakhan, across the Caspian sea, up the mighty Oxus river, through Parthia and Bactria and along the ancient Silk Route into Asia and Tian Xia (China) and the notorious Taklamakan desert -.. so called by local inhabitants because those who venture in, seldom venture out.

Engaged in a battle not of their choosing, they inflict fatalities on the sinister and evil Black Scorpions who want to exact their revenge. Pursued, they flee by night across the Roof of the World and meet the remnants of the "lost" European tribe of Asia, the Hepthalites, who offer them protection in their city, hidden in the Tien Shan -.. the Celestial Mountains. A place where romance is kindled and love unexpectedly blossoms.

During their winter sojourn in the Hidden City they gather more clues, and in the spring continue with their quest, on into the Taklamakan desert. More danger and peril lies in wait for this rag-..tag Viking crew as they travel along the Silk Route, the world's first super-..highway.

At the eastern end of their journey they meet the Lang Ren, the Wolf people of Lou Lan, outcasts thieves and criminals living in an abandoned city in the desert. A city without water. A city about to die. A city in which the final clue to their quest is uncovered.

What fate awaits this rejected element of Asian society? Can this motley crew intercede on their behalf? What will the outcome be?

Beautifully bound, this book is available in paperback and hardback with dustjacket.

US$1 from every copy sold will be donated to the Tearfund.

For more information, a sample of the text or to order
go to
Legend of the Last Vikings
or to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingLegend.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

ERIC BRIGHTEYES - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

ERIC Thorgrimursson (nicknamed 'Brighteyes' for his most notable trait), strives to win the hand of his beloved, Gudruda the Fair. Her father Asmund, a priest of the old Norse gods, opposes the match, thinking Eric a man without prospects. But deadlier by far are the intrigues of Swanhild, Gudruda's half-sister, a sorceress, who desires Eric for herself. She persuades the chieftain Ospakar Blacktooth to woo Gudrida, making the two men enemies. Battles, intrigues, and treachery follow.

From the pen of the master of Victorian action and adventure this novel actually seems rather less dated in the early 21st century than Haggard's other work or the general run of Victorian adventure fiction. Improvements in our understanding of the Viking period have done surprisingly little to falsify Haggard's imagination of its setting, and the book should still hold appeal to any reader interested in the period.

Clearly influenced of the pioneering saga translations by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson in the late 1860s ERIC BRIGHTEYES set a standard of quality and fidelity to the saga style that remained unmatched until Poul Anderson's novel The Broken Sword 60 years later.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/brighteyes.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/brighteyes.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

NORTHLAND HEROES - two Norse Sagas rewritten especially for children and young adults - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting the heroic deeds of the great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of Beowulf and Frithiof (Fridtjhof) rewritten in a simpler format for children and Young Adults.

The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest and emulation. This little book is offered to our young adults and children. "The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop Tegnér's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof" which charts Frithiof's and Ingeborg's undying love for each other and the lengths Frithiof had to go to, to eventually win her hand. If ever a story was to teach the young about perseverance and endurance, this is it.

The epic Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. The original is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past. It follows the life of Beowulf, his rites of passage and his maturing from boy to man through facing and overcoming adversity and evil. This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great feats, and great their feats were. A time when the successful application of brain and brawn gained a man high standing in the community and possibly even higher office in the land.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/heroes.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/heroes.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

THE SAGA OF VIGA GLUM - An Ancient Viking Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

The Sagas, of which this tale is one, were composed for the men who have left their mark in every corner of Europe. There is no page of modern history in which the influence of the Vikings and their conquests have not had an effect--Russia, Constantinople, Greece, Palestine, Sicily, the coasts of Africa, Southern Italy, France, the Spanish Peninsula, England, Scotland, Ireland, and every rock and island round them, have been visited at one time or another by the men of Scandinavia, and their influence is still being felt today.

This saga paints a picture of Icelandic society. But the society presented is not one of pastoral simplicity and repose. The actors within were real men and women and the events portrayed actually occurred - for this is a true story. Bloodshed and violence are common and Viga-Glum, or "Murdering Glum," the hero of this story, is not by any means a perfect character, even when measured by the standards of the time in which he lived. A time when a man's standing in the community was dictated by courage and his wealth, the author tells us that for twenty years he was the first man in Eyjafirth, and for twenty years more there was no better man there.

Viga-Glum is described as one who was naturally indolent, shy, and moody; but when he could be brought to act, his courage and determination were indomitable. When he had to achieve a purpose he was thoroughly unscrupulous; neither blood nor false oaths stood in his way - just what one would expect from a Viking. The finishing touch to this part of his character is added by the peculiarity, that whenever he was intent on slaying a man, he was apt to be seized with a fit of uncontrollable laughter which ended in tears.

So join us in this ancient tale of love, lust, honour, murder, Beserkers, romance and damsels in distress.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VigaGlum.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/VigaGlum.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAK THE SKALD - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

This is the story of a poet, poor and proud, with all the strength of a Viking and all the weakness of genius. He loves a fine lady, a spoiled child; who bewitches him, and jilts him, and jilts him again.

In true Viking style he fights for her, kills for her, writes verse for her, and rises, for her sake, to the height of all that a man in his age could achieve.
Then, after years, he has her at his feet, and learns of her heartlessness and worthlessness. He bids her farewell; but in the end dies with her name on his lips.


The motive of the book is very modern, yet at the same time as ancient as the human race itself. It is dramatic and imaginative in the sense that it is told by one who was an artist in his craft of saga-telling. The diction is of the simplest and there is no fine writing, but the plot is balanced like a Greek play and the action drives along to its close.


The result is conveyed without a word of moralizing. The characters are broadly drawn, and their types are still valid today. Without needless detail, there are touches enough of realism. It reads like a novel, and yet it is a true story.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF.

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/Cormac.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/Cormac.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Gisli the Outlaw - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

THE EVENTS described in the saga of Gisli the Soursop reach from about the year AD930 to AD980. In a time when the law of Iceland had not yet been established, when men were ruled by their conscience, Gisli, a champion of Iceland, was outlawed for murder by the Chieftain Bork at the Thorsness Thing (council).

But besides his sentence he was doomed, even before his birth. He and his kin were under a curse, for they had kept the broken bits of "Graysteel", the thrall's good sword, which came with a withering spaedom. So under sentence and under a curse Gisli went on the run. For fourteen years with the help of family, friends and those who really knew the truth, he managed to evade Bork's men and bounty hunters alike.

As with many champions through the ages, Gisli was also a true poet and his verses have genuine thought and feeling lying underneath, as you will frequently find in this volume. To the end Gisli fought hard, taking with him eight of the fourteen who eventually cornered him one snowy night on the crags. It has been said by many that there never was a more famous and honourable defence made by one man in times of which the truth is known. Even as death approached Gisli managed to compose and sing one final verse to his wife who stood nearby.

It has also been said that this is one of the finest, if it be not the very finest, of the lesser Sagas. When translating it is difficult to grasp the full spirit of the story, but here it has been accomplished with the detail of scenery and costume thoroughly mastered.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/Gisli.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/Gisli.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Beowulf - an Ancient Norse Saga rewritten especially for Children - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

f you ever just wanted to know the story of Beowulf without having to plough through the 3,182 lines of the epic poem, then this book is for you. This is the story of Beowulf as retold by Strafford Riggs.

Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. It is an epic saga told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past.

This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great feats, and great the feats of Beowulf were. Dismissed by the King's Earls as clumsy, lazy and a sluggard, he was also shunned by his peers for his strength and prowess with the sword and spear. On hearing of the monster, Grendel, he announced his intention to sail for the Daneland to prove his worth and prove his accusers wrong. And this he did, killing not only the monster Grendel but also it's evil moster-mother.

On his return home he was proclaimed the greatest hero of the North by the very same who condemned him (sic). In time he becomes king of Geatsland and an extended period of prosperity follows, ended only by a flame-breathing, steam belching dragon. Once again our hero sallies
forth. The dragon is defeated but this time so is our hero.

In a time when the young servicemen of the western nations are heroically laying down their lives in the seemingly endless battle against terror in order that we may live safely in our homes, £1.30 from the sale of this book will be donated to Help for Heroes a UK charity providing practical and direct support for the UK's wounded servicemen.

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/Beowulf.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/Beowulf.html

--o0o—

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Burnt Njal - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

What is a Saga? A Saga is a story, or telling in prose, sometimes mixed with verse. There are many kinds of Sagas with varying degrees of truth. There are the mythical Sagas, the historical Sagas of the kings of Norway, and then there are Sagas relating to Iceland narrating the lives, the feuds and the ends of mighty chiefs who dwelt in the districts of the island. These were told by men who lived on the very spot, and told with an exactness as to time and place. The Saga of Njal is one of these.

Of all the Sagas relating to Iceland, this tragic story bears away the palm for truthfulness and beauty. To use the words of one well qualified to judge, it is, when compared with all similar
compositions, as gold to brass. In this Saga we learn of the sad story of Njal's fate, Gunnar's peerlessness and Hallgerda's infamy, of Bergthora's helpfulness, of Skarphedinn's hastiness, of Flosi's foul deed, and Kari's stern revenge.

To tell a story truthfully was what was looked for from all men in those days; but to tell it properly and gracefully, and to clothe the facts in fitting diction, was given to few, and of those few the Saga-teller who first threw Njal into its present shape, was one of the first and foremost. As for truthfulness, there are many other Sagas relating to the same period in which the actors in our Saga are mentioned by name and in which their deeds are corroborated.

But, of all the Sagas, none were so interesting as Njal, whether as regarding the length of the story, the number of ranking chiefs who appeared in it as actors and the graphic way in which the tragic tale is told.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order, go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/burntnjal.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/burntnjal.html

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Grettir the Strong - Grettis Saga - An Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

In this saga, Grettir's life is told from beginning to end. As a child, he is rebellious and bad-tempered. He is described as red haired, freckled, and broad around the eyes. But he is also courageous. He takes on and defeats a draugr, a walking corpse or Norse equivalent of a zombie. But in doing so he is cursed, and this is thought to be the cause of his later misfortunes.


At times Grettir falls into the role of a bona fide hero, but he is blamed for setting fire to a hall, killing many men, and is condemned by the Thing (assembly) to outlawry (although many suspect the validity of this sentence). This means that anyone may attempt to kill him without legal penalty and citizens are forbidden to help in any way. Many attempts are made but none succeed. This is not dissimilar to the Saga of Gisli (also republished by Abela Publishing).


Grettir eventually becomes the longest surviving outlaw in Icelandic history. When he has completed nearly 20 years as an outlaw, his friends and family ask for his outlawry to be lifted, arguing that a man may not spend more than 20 years as an outlaw (in reality there was no such law in medieval Iceland). After a debate at the assembly, it is decided that the outlawry will be lifted when he has truly completed the 20 years, but not before.


His enemies make one last effort, using sorcery causing him to wound himself and finally defeat him in the lonely, fortress-like Drangey off the northern tip of Iceland where he was staying with his brother Illugi, and slave Glaumur.

Later, in Constantinople, where the Norse served as the Varangian Guard to the Byzantine Emperor, Grettir’s half brother, Thorsteinn of Dromund, avenges his murder.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents, a sample of the text or to order, 

go to

 http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/grettir.html

or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/grettir.html

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

The THRALL of LEIF the LUCKY - An Ancient Viking Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

THE Anglo-Saxon race was in its boyhood in the days when the Vikings lived. For every heroic vice, the Vikings laid upon the opposite scale an heroic virtue. They plundered and robbed, as most men did in the times when Might made Right. Yet the heaven-sent instinct of hospitality was in the marrow of their bones. No beggar went from their doors without alms; no traveller asked in vain for shelter. As cunningly false as they were to their foes, just so superbly true were they to their friends. Above all, they were a race of conquerors, whose knee bent only to its proved superior. Their allegiance was not given to the man who was king-born, but to the man who showed himself their leader in courage and their master in skill.


Leif Ericsson, also known as “Leif the Lucky”, was the second son of Erik the Red and certainly displayed the Viking spirit of adventure and exploration. As a young man Leif Ericsson visited Norway, where he converted to Christianity. He was charged with returning to Greenland to convert the populace, but instead sailed further west and is believed to have landed somewhere in Nova Scotia. He spent a year in North America before returning home to Greenland, where he served as governor.


The film The Viking (1928) was based on this novel, which has, to some extent, been based on Viking history.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order, 

go to 

 http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/leifthelucky.html

or go to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/leifthelucky.html

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

 

The Saga of Olaf the Glorious - only a Viking could have led a life like this! - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

The hero in this volume is not an imaginary one; he was a real flesh and blood man who reigned as King of Norway just over a thousand years ago. The main facts of his adventurous career -- his boyhood of slavery in Estonia, his life at the court of King Valdemar, his wanderings as a Viking, the many battles he fought, his conversion to Christianity in England, and his ultimate return to his native land -- are set forth in the various Icelandic sagas dealing with the period in which he lived. The author made free use of these old time records, and added only such probable incidents as were necessary to give a continuous thread of interest to the narrative.



For the convenience of readers who may wish for greater exactness it may be as well to state here that Olaf Triggvison was born A.D. 963, that he started on his wanderings as a Viking in the year A.D. 981, that the sea fight between the Vikings of Jomsburg and the Norwegians took place in A.D. 986, and the battle of Maldon in the year A.D. 991. Olaf reigned only five years as King of Norway, being crowned in 995, and ending his reign with his death in the glorious defeat at Svold in the year A.D. 1000.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents, a sample of the text or to order, 

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/olaf.html

or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/olaf.html

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

Fridtjhof's Saga - also known as Friedthof's Saga - An Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

King Bele of Sogn  had two sons, Helgi and Halfdan, and a daughter named Ingeborg. Across the fjord, lived the king's friend Thorstein Víkingsson  whose son Fridthjof (Friðþjófr), called "the bold", was the bravest among men. Fridthjof had been raised with Ingeborg by their foster-father Hilding.


Both Bele and Thorsteinn died in war whereupon Helgi and Halfdan ruled the kingdom. They were jealous of Fridthjof's excellent qualities and denied Fridthjof Ingeborg's hand. They took her to Balder's sacred enclosure where no one dared touch her. Still, Fridthjof visited Ingeborg and their love for each other continued to grow.


This angered Helgi and Halfdan and Fridthjof was banished to Orkney. They also demanded tribute. While he was away they burnt down his homestead and married Ingeborg to the aged king Ring of Ringerike. When Frithjof returned with the tribute, he burnt down Balder's temple and left to live as a viking. After three years he wintered with king Ring. Fridthjof's identity became apparent and the dying king appointed Fridthjof earl and made him the care-taker of Ring's and Ingeborg's child. After Ring’s death, Fridthjof and Ingeborg married and he became the king of Ringerike. He declared war on Ingeborg's brothers, killed one and made the second his vassal.


Tegne'r's poem, "Fridthjof's Saga," has been printed in Sweden in many editions and in almost every possible style. It has been illustrated and it has been set to music most famously by Heinrich Hofmann but also by Bruch and Johan Wagenaar. Moreover it has been rendered into English by eighteen different translators, and has been translated into nearly all the modern European languages.


33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents, a sample of the text or to order, 

go to 

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/fridtjhof.html

or go to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/fridtjhof.html

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

 

The Saga of Howard the Halt - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

This is a Norse tale, or saga, of Howard the Halt, or Howard the Lame. It tells of a man named Thorbiorn who had the priesthood over Icefirth. A mighty chief, but the most unjust of men. Throughout Icefirth all spoke ill of him. He would take maidens, handfast them awhile before sending them home. From others he took their goods and chattels or their lands.  He had taken a young high-born woman, Sigrid, as his housekeeper.



And then there is our Howard. He too was of great kin, but now in the Autumn of his life. In his earlier days he had been a great Viking and the best of champions. In one of his bouts he was badly wounded and incurred a knee injury. Ever after he was halt, hence his name. Howard’s wife was Biargey, a stirring woman of good kin. They had one son, Olaf, a most resolute young man. Great of growth, and goodly of aspect.


Olaf was keen on Sigrid as was she on him. One of Thorbiorn’s henchmen, Vakr, was also keen on Sigrid, but she rejected his advances. Thorbiorn, Vakr and his other men ambushed and killed Olaf. So disastrous was the news to Howard that it is said he took to bed for a year. Biargey convinced him to rise and seek retribution at the Thing. All he received from Thorbiorn was scorn. But other attendees were so revolted at Thorbiorn’s judgement that, to Thorbiorn’s
chagrin, they agreed to pay Howard’s compensation.


But this is not where our story ends. On the contrary, it is merely the beginning of Howard and Biargey’s search for justice.


So pick up this ancient Norse tale, a story of the eternal search for love and justice amidst a world full of jealousy, spite and injustice. But know this, in the end justice and right will always prevail and in the case of Howard justice is dealt out in the Viking way.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF 

For more information, a table of contents or to order, 

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/howard.html

or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/howard.html 

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

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Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

 

Eirik the Red's Saga - the Saga of Eric the Red - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

This is the Saga of Eirik the Red. This volume is more saga, or fact, than fiction. Despite this being a fact-based saga there is still plenty of action to enthral, for Eirik the Red and his two sons, Thorstein and Leif, were definitely men of action. It charts how his family first came to Iceland, his birth, his removal from Norway, his discovery of Greenland and the birth of his, more famous son Leif. It also gives account for time spent in Vinland (Nova Scotia) and gives account of their interaction with and action defending against the
people they called the Skrœlingar, or, North American Indians. The translators have also supplied the modern geographic names of the area of Nova Scotia where dwellings were built.


This volume also charts some of Leif Eiriksson’s life. Also known as “Leif the Lucky”, he was the second son of Eirik the Red and certainly also displayed the Viking spirit of adventure and exploration. As a young man Leif Ericsson visited Norway, where he converted to Christianity. He was charged with returning to Greenland to convert the populace, but instead sailed further west and is believed to have landed somewhere in Nova Scotia. He spent a year in North America before returning home to Greenland, where he served as governor converting the island to the Christian belief (for a more complete account of Leif’s saga try “The Thrall of Leif the Lucky” also republished by Abela Publishing).


The film The Viking (1928) was based on the life story of Leif and incorporates a good deal of authentic Viking history.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF. 

For more information, a table of contents or to order, a sample of the text,

go to 

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/eirik.html

or

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com/eirik.html

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

The Laxdaela Saga (the Laxdale Saga) - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

The Laxdœla saga is an Icelandic saga (story) of the men and women of the Salmon River valley involving the clan of Laxárdalur. It is one of the most important Icelandic sagas, originally written in Old Icelandic; probably sometime around the year 1245 AD. It is noted for its mention of the first known Norseman in the Varangian Guard: the Icelander Bolli Bollason.



An amalgam of historical fact, myth, epic, romance, anachronism, and literary invention, the Laxdaela Saga  is, in essence, a dramatization of the circumstances surrounding a blood-feud between two sides of a great dynasty; in its second and decisive portion, it treats a love triangle that re-ignites the feud and its adjoining intrigues.


Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, who is famous for her beauty is our protagonist. Courted by the two foster-brothers Kjartan Ólafsson and Bolli Þorleiksson. Guðrún preferred Kjartan, but she gave herself to Bolli, because of a false rumour that Kjartan was engaged to Ingibjörg, the sister of King Ólafur Tryggvason. The two foster-brothers engaged in hostilities which ended with Bolli killing
Kjartan, and Bolli being killed by Kjartan's kinsmen.


The story is carried forward by the mysterious workings of fate, symbolized by the prophetic dreams of Gudrun. Noted for its detached narrative style and ornately-patterned structure, the Laxdaela Saga remains a highly influential work of Scandinavian literature and is considered an outstanding example of medieval prose romance.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF.

For more information, a table of contents, a sample of the text or to order, 

go to  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/laxdaela.html 

or
http://www.abelapublishing.com/laxdaela.html

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

UKKO - THOR by another Name

When you look at Greek and Roman mythology, it is not uncommon to see the same gods appearing under different names: Mars, the Roman god of war is known in Greek mythology as Ares and the Roman Goddess Juno was known in Greek mythology as Hera, mother of Hercules. 

It is therefore not uncommon to find the same parallels in Northern Mythology. For example, in the KALEVALA, the epic poem of Finland, Thor appears under the name Ukko, the sky-god. The sky was known as Taivas.

The word, Ukko, seems related to the Magyar word Agg, or old, and meant, therefore, an old being, a grandfather; but ultimately it came to be used exclusively as the name of the highest of the Finnish deities. Frost, snow, hail, ice, wind and rain, sunshine and shadow, are thought to come from the hands of Ukko/Thor. He controls the clouds; he is called in the Kalevala, "The Leader of the Clouds," "The Shepherd of the Lamb-Clouds," "The God of the Breezes," "The Golden King," "The Silvern Ruler of the Air," and "The Father of the Heavens."

He wields the thunder-bolts, striking down the spirits of evil on the mountains, and is therefore termed, "The Thunderer," like the Greek Zeus, and his abode is called, "The Thunder-Home." In Myths of the Norsemen Thor too, is known as The Thunderer. Ukko is often represented as sitting upon a cloud in the vault of the sky, and bearing on his shoulders the firmament, and therefore he is termed, "The Pivot of the Heavens." He is armed as an omnipotent warrior; his fiery arrows are forged from copper, the lightning is his sword, and the rainbow his bow, still called Ukkon Kaari. Like the German god, Thor, Ukko swings a hammer; and, finally, we find, in a vein of familiar symbolism, that his skirt sparkles with fire, that his stockings are blue, and his shoes, crimson colored - all of which is a similar color scheme to the depictions of Thor in the Marvel Comics. OK OK there are a few differences, but who cares? After all it is THOR! the MIGHTY THUNDERER and RIGHTER of WRONGS.

Also of interest is Thor's winged helmet. The famous illustrator, Willy Pogany, used a similar winged helmet to depict Thor - get this - in 1920! It is used as the frontispiece to "The Children of Odin - the Book of Northern Myths" a retelling of the Northern Myths especially aimed at children. The similarity to Pogany's frontispiece is uncanny.


In RUNE VII of the Kalevala, Wainamoinen (also spelt Väinämöinen) - the wise old man, beseeches the gods for a return to his homeland so that he may see it one last time before he dies. In his prayer he prays to Ukko (Thor) asking him to grant his wish. The verse goes this:

Answers thus old Wainamoinen,
Grateful for the invitation:
"Never do I court strange tables,
Though the food be rare and toothsome;
One's own country is the dearest,
One's own table is the sweetest,
One's own home, the most attractive.
Grant, kind Ukko, God above me,
Thou Creator, full of mercy,
Grant that I again may visit
My beloved home and country.
Better dwell in one's own country,
There to drink Its healthful waters
From the simple cups of birch-wood,
Than in foreign lands to wander,
There to drink the rarest liquors
From the golden bowls of strangers."


He then of course had to give something in order for his wish to be granted. Such was the nature of pagan gods.

But the worship of Thor was more widespread. The Teutons, or Germans, knew him as Donar, and the Gauls named him Toran or Taran - all of which unsurprisingly mean Thunder. So from the cold wastes of the Arctic Circle to the warm lands of Galicia he was known by similar names.

THOR AND LOKI IN THE GIANTS' CITY

The following is an excerpt from "The Children of Odin - The book of Northern Myths"  part II. The chapter is titled "THOR AND LOKI IN THE GIANTS' CITY"
Read on........

All but a few of the Dwellers of Asgard had come to the feast offered by Ægir the Old, the Giant King of the Sea. Frigga, the queenly wife of Odin, was there, and Frey and Freya; Iduna, who guarded the Apples of Youth, and Bragi, her husband; Tyr, the great swordsman, and Niörd, the God of the Sea, Skadi, who wedded Niörd and whose hatred for Loki was fierce, and Sif, whose golden hair was once shorn off by Loki the mischievous. 

Thor and Loki were there. The Dwellers of Asgard, gathered together in the hall of Ægir, waited for Odin. Before Odin came Loki made the company merry by
the tales that he told in mockery of Thor. Loki long since had his lips unloosed from the thong that the Dwarf Brock had sewn them with. And Thor had forgotten the wrong that he had done to Sif. Loki had been with Thor in his wanderings through Jötunheim, and about these wanderings he now told mocking tales.......

This book is a retelling of the Ancient Norse Mythology, in which Thor played a pivotal role with Odin. It has been rewritten in story format especially aimed at younger readers and gives an excellent introduction to Norse Mythology and the residents of Asgard - home of the Viking gods.

A complete volume of all Norse myths can be found in "Myths of the Norsemen"
which aimed more at the adult reader. A whole chapter is assigned to Thor.

 

Abela Publishing has a range of 25 Viking and Norse books which in the main are used to raise funds for UNICEF. These cover the subjects of:

Children's Tales

Folklore

Mythology

Sagas

Norse Poetry

Viking Fiction

These can be viewed at http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.htmlhttp://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

Will the real THOR please stand up!

Ahhhhhhh - so we now have it - another boyhood hero hits the screen.
 But who was the real Thor? In the most complete volume of Norse mythology "Myths of the Norsemen" (illustrated, follow the link) a whole chapter is devoted to the Norse god Thor - chapter 4 actually. It is one of the largest chapters of the 620 page illustrated volume so it is no surprise that Marvel ended up devoting a whole series to him. The sub-headings in the chapter are:

The Thunderer
Thor’s Hammer
Thor’s Family
Sif, the Golden-haired
Thor’s Journey to Jötun-heim
Utgard-loki
Thor and Hrungnir
Groa, the Sorceress
Thor and Thrym
Thor and Geirrod
The Worship of Thor

That the chapter on Thor appears so early on in the book is testament to his position in the Norse pantheon. Only Odin and Frigga rank higher.

Here is a short excerpt from the opening of THOR'S HAMMER -

Thor was the proud possessor of a magic hammer called Miölnir (the crusher) which he hurled at his enemies, the frost-giants, with destructive power, and
which possessed the wonderful property of always returning to his hand, however far away he might hurl it.

“I am the Thunderer!
Here in my Northland,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I forever!
“Here amid icebergs
Rule I the nations;
This is my hammer,
Miölnir the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it!”
Saga of King Olaf (Longfellow).

As this huge hammer, the emblem of the thunderbolts, was generally red-hot, the god had an iron gauntlet called Iarn-greiper, which enabled him to grasp it firmly. He could hurl Miölnir a great distance, and his strength, which was always remarkable, was doubled when he wore his magic belt called Megin-giörd.

“This is my girdle:
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled!”
Saga of King Olaf (Longfellow).

Thor’s hammer was considered so very sacred by the ancient Northern people, that they were wont to make the sign of the hammer, as the Christians later
taught them to make the sign of the cross, to ward off all evil influences, and to secure blessings. The same sign was also made over the newly born infant when water was poured over its head and a name given. The hammer was used to drive in boundary stakes, which it was considered sacrilegious to remove, to
hallow the threshold of a new house, to solemnise a marriage, and, lastly, it played a part in the consecration of the funeral pyre upon which the bodies of heroes, together with their weapons and steeds, and, in some cases, with their wives and dependents, were burned.

And finally a piece from Matthew Arnold -

“Thou camest near the next, O warrior Thor!
Shouldering thy hammer, in thy chariot drawn,
Swaying the long-hair’d goats with silver’d rein.”
Balder Dead (Matthew Arnold).

In its comics Marvel has done justice to the character of Thor, his hammer and belt as described above. Lets just hope the movie does justice to the imaginations of millions of boys who devoured the Thor comics back in the 60's and 70's - who now just happen to be in their 50's, 60's and 70's.
 
And for you younger 'uns - if you see an army of middle-aged, greying men lining up at the box-office buying tickets for this movie, be kind, we're reliving our childhood - only now its on the Silver Screen and not in our imaginations.

If you're not so keen on a whopping 620 page volume on Norse mythology, you could try "The Children of Odin - the Book of Northern Myths" which is an easier and lighter introduction to Norse Mythology (338 pages, illustrated) and which has the reader, especially young readers, following Odin on a journey through the Norse or Northern Myths. It can be purchased online at discount at http://www.abelapublishing.com/Odin.html

THE PHYNODDERREE and other tales from the Isle of Man

IN no part of the British Isles has the belief in the existence of Fairies retained a stronger hold upon the people than in the Isle of Man. In spite of the tendency of this matter-of-fact age to destroy what little of poetry, romance, and chivalry education has left to us, there lurks still in many countries, and especially in mountainous districts, a half credulity in the supernatural.

This volume rescues from oblivion a few of the Manx legends: 

• Mona's Isle
• The Phynodderree (from whence this book obtains its title)
• Tom Kewley and the Lannanshee
• King Olave The Second and the Great Sword Macabuin, and 
• The Buggane's Vow

Many legends of good and evil Fairies are still related by the country people of Mona's Isle; and those who care to inquire into the habits and customs of the Manx cottagers will see and hear much that will reward their curiosity. It is not the mere excursionist, or TT visitor, visiting the Island for a summer holiday who will ever learn or see anything of these customs, but those who branch off the high road and venture into the recesses of the mountain districts.

In the course of conversations on the lingering belief in Fairies, a regular attendant at a local Church, and a well-to-do farmer expressed his implicit conviction that such people as fairies did frequent the Glen in which he lived. In reply to the question, "Have you ever, in your life, seen a fairy?" he replied, "No! I can't exactly say I ever saw one; but I've smelt them often enough."

So curl up with this unique volume in a comfy chair for just as this book brings you enjoyment and mirth, be assured that your purchase will have also helped an underprivileged person somewhere for 33% of the publisher's profit is donated to charity.

For more information, a table of contents, a sample of the text or to order, go to http://www.abelapublishing.com/phynodderee.html

or to view the "Celtic Tales" collection follow this link
http://www.abelapublishing.com/CelticTales.html

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