About this episode

Richard Fidler and Kari Gislason explore the life of Egil, a Viking poet and warrior, while tracing his journey through Iceland.

Broadcaster Richard Fidler and writer Kari Gislason continue their travels across Iceland to tell the ancient Viking sagas; tales of love, war and humanity. In this episode they follow the steps of Egil. He was a killer, a ruthless opportunist but also one of the greatest court poets of the Middle Ages. He travelled far and wide through the Viking world in pursuit of fame and wealth. And yet it was back at his family farm Borg á Mýrum, in Iceland’s mid-west, that he faced his ultimate test, and where he would compose his most moving verse. A thousand years after Egil, Kári and Richard make the return journey to Reykjavik, and receive some unexpected help in the search for Kári’s bloodline.

People in this episode

Host: Richard Fidler

Guest: Kari Gislason

Topics covered

• Viking sagas
• Icelandic history
• poetry
• adventure
• family heritage

Keywords

• Egil
• Viking sagas
• Iceland
• poetry
• history
• adventure
• family

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Iceland, Borg á Mýrum, Reykjavik

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