The Jarle Feud
Henriksen, Vera: Jarlefeiden
In this historical novel, Vera Henriksen draws on material relating to the bitter family feud that brought 13th-century Iceland to the brink of civil war. Rooted in wrangles over property and power, these internecine conflicts were engendered by the ambitions of Snorri Sturluson, chronicler of the sagas, and his two brothers. Their sons were also drawn into the maelstrom of blood feuds, political intrigue and wanton violence.
The protagonist is Snorri’s son-in-law Gissur Torvaldsson, a pensive though forceful young man who is destined for chieftainship. But fate ordains that he too be sucked into the vortex, a spiral that can lead only to destruction.
Against all odds, Gissur comes through unscathed, and as King Håkon Håkonsson’s staunch supporter helps to put an end to the strife that has for so long threatened Iceland’s very existence.
First published: 2003, Aschehoug Fiction
Vera Henriksen: Biography and bibliography
