The Saga of Colm the Slave (38 page)

I have purposely avoided giving an exact
geographic location for the Trollfarm and other places. In my
mind’s eye, I see most of Thorolf’s godord consisting of people who
live in west Iceland east of Hvamm Fjord and south of the
Laxardale. In this area Unn the Deep-Minded granted farms to some
of the slaves that she freed after they helped her escape Scotland.
But the location is fictional and the geography a bit off.

Snorri the godi is the most important
historic personage that we meet in the book. His story is told
mainly in
Eyrbyggja Saga
, the work that inspired Sir Walter
Scott to invent the English historical novel. For my own purposes,
I have transposed the Mavahlid dispute until after the Althing
showdown with Erik the Red, though the sagas say it happened
before.

The missions of Thangbrand, the
Icelander Stefnir, and a Frankish priest named Friedthek are
described in the Sagas. Albert’s story is based on events that
occured during these earlier missions, though not exactly as
described. Likewise, the expedition led by Snorri against the
robbers happened a little differently than presented here. Snorri
did show mercy to the captured men, though – for other reasons,
perhaps, than the one given here.

The account of Iceland’s adoption of
Christianity is well-known. I have followed Jon Adalsteinsson’s
Under the Cloak
on most points.

Readers interested in knowing more about
the background of Colm’s Saga are directed to Jesse Byock’s
Viking Age Iceland
for details on everyday life and an
analysis of Snorri’s feuds. And, of course, to the Icelandic Sagas
themselves, one of the world’s great literary treasures.