Ancient Nordic sagas provide thrills and spills

This is a book which speaks not only to those who have a deeper interest in Iceland’s ancient history, culture and saga literature, but also to those looking to travel a thousand years back in time to a world in which a young girl braves a raging fire to command her dead father to rise from his grave and sups at the same table as giants and princes. So says Mart Kuldkepp, translator of ‘Three Sagas from Nordic Mythology’, which is due to be released at the end of February.

The Icelandic sagas highlight the shared history of the Nordic countries, but the island nation has also played an important role in Estonia’s history. Iceland was the first country to recognise Estonia’s newly restored independence in 1991. The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) had already opened offices in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius earlier that same year. A book presentation in the Department of Scandinavian Studies of the University of Tartu formed part of the anniversary year calendar of events of the NCM Office in Estonia.

In addition to the book’s translator, who gave an overview of both it and the complexity of translating from ancient Icelandic, Päivi Kumpulainen from the Icelandic embassy and Madis Kanarbik, director of the Tartu branch of the NCM Office in Estonia, also spoke at the event. Professor Daniel Sävborg from the Department of Scandinavian Studies presented a short lecture on Icelandic sagas.

Adding to the special occasion was a performance by soprano Tui Hirv, with Faristamo Leis on piano and Páll Ragnar Pálsson on guitar.

The NCM Office in Estonia will continue to mark its 20^th anniversary in May when, in cooperation with the embassies of the Nordic countries and other representations in Tallinn, it will open Hopner House on Town Hall Square as the Nordic Design House. This event is going by the name Nordic Look. More detailed information about the event will be released shortly.

In autumn we will be focussing on the environment and economical development. We will also be taking part in smaller undertakings throughout the year designed to highlight the work we have done in Estonia over the last two decades.