For our second episode of Saga Shorts, we've chosen the brilliant "Tale of Thorstein Bull's-leg" (Þorsteins Þáttr uxafóts). As one of the longer þættir, this one defies categorization. It tells the story of Thorstein Oddnyarson, a child abandoned at birth who grows up to be a hero in the court of King Olaf Tryggvason. Along the way, he'll find his parents, do battle with the undead, raid the home of a troll family, experience a miracle, almost drown in vomit, and fight a pagan bull. It's got everything you could want in a saga and more, all wrapped in a nice little Þáttr sized package.
For this episode, we used George Clark's translation, "The Tale of Thorstein Bull's-Leg," in The Complete Sagas of Icelanders, Vol. 4, ed. Vidar Hrinsson (Reykjavik: Leifur Eiriksson Publishing, 1997), 340-54.
We mention Elizabeth Ashman Rowe's "Þorsteins þáttr uxafóts, Helga þáttr Þórissonar, and the Conversion þættir," Scandinavian Studies 76, no. 4 (2004): 459-74.
Music Credits:
Intro: From “Death Awaits” by Billy Malmstrom
Outro: From “Óðinn” by Krauka
Episode 29m - Egil's Saga (Part 13)
Episode 29l - Egil's Saga (Part 12)
Episode 29k - Egil's Saga (Part 11)
Episode 29j - Egil's Saga (Part 10)
Episode 29i - Egil's Saga (Part 9)
Saga Brief 16 - The Battle of Brunanburh (with Rex Factor)
Episode 29h - Egil's Saga (Part 8)
Episode 29g - Egil's Saga (Part 7)
Episode 29f - Egil's Saga (Part 6)
Episode 29e - Egil's Saga (part 5)
Episode 29d - Egil's Saga (Part 4)
Episode 29c - Egil's Saga (Part 3)
Episode 29b - Egil's Saga (Part 2)
Episode 29a - Egil's Saga (Part 1)
Episode 28 - The Saga of Ale-Hood
Episode 27d - Floamanna Saga (Judgments)
Saga Brief 15 - Ivar the Boneless
Episode 27c - Floamanna Saga (Part 3)
Episode 27b - Floamanna Saga (Part 2)
Episode 27a - Floamanna Saga (Part 1)
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