A summary of Alexander Markov’s "The Saga of the Western Lands"

This book by Alexander and Elena Markov is a historical adventure story based on Scandinavian sagas about the Vikings’ discovery of Greenland and America, published in 1996. It is stylized as an Old Icelandic saga and conveys with documentary accuracy the harsh life, laws, and spirit of the era of Norse seafarers, uniting and literary complementing the classic stories of The Saga of Eirik the Red and The Saga of the Greenlanders.

In 1565, the Icelandic monk Sigfuss began writing down the saga. The occasion was the return of the explorer Jon Greenlander from an expedition to the shores of Greenland. Jon discovered that the Norse settlements had long been abandoned, their houses destroyed, and the last descendants of the colonists had died out or interbred with the local Native American tribes. To preserve the memory of the great deeds of his ancestors, Sigfusss decided to record the story of Eirik the Red and his children, who discovered the Land of Wine.

The expulsion of Eirik and the discovery of Greenland

Due to the murders he committed, young Eirik the Red and his father, Thorvald, are forced to flee Norway for Iceland. However, Eirik’s violent temperament prevents him from living peacefully in his new home. He engages in bitter feuds with his neighbors, particularly Thorgest, over property and old grievances. Following yet another bloodbath, Eirik is brought before the court (thing). Despite the support of his loyal friend, Thorbjörn, the court declares Eirik an outlaw and sentences him to three years of exile.

Forced to leave Iceland, Eirik sets out west in search of the land described by earlier explorers. He discovers vast new territories, explores their fjords, and decides to establish a colony there. To attract settlers, Eirik gives the territory he has discovered an enticing name: Greenland (Green Country). Upon returning to Iceland, he manages to assemble a flotilla of ships carrying settlers, including many of his friends, and successfully establishes settlements in Greenland, where Eirik becomes the most respected and powerful man.

Years later, Eirik’s son, Leif (later nicknamed "Lucky"), sets sail for Norway. Along the way, his ship is blown off course and ends up in the Hebrides, where Leif has an affair with a local woman. Leif later undertakes a great voyage westward. Guided by the directions of his companion, the German Tyrkir, Leif’s expedition reaches new, previously unknown lands. They discover a rich land of wild grapes and self-sown wheat, which Leif names Vinland. After wintering there, Leif safely returns to Greenland with a cargo of timber and grapes.

Meanwhile, Thorbjörn and his beautiful daughter, Gudrid, migrate to Greenland. Their sea voyage proves incredibly difficult, plagued by storms and hardships, but they eventually reach Eirik’s lands.

Attempts to develop Vinland

Inspired by Leif’s tales, Eirik’s other sons also attempt to reach Vinland. Leif’s brother, Thorvald, sets out for Vinland to continue his exploration. During the voyage, his ship is wrecked, and the crew is forced to repair it, leading to the location being named Kjalarnes (Keel Point). The expedition soon encounters the local inhabitants — numerous Native Americans. An armed skirmish ensues, in which Thorvald is fatally wounded by an arrow.

Eirik’s third son, Thorstein, decides to sail to Vinland to retrieve his brother’s body. He takes his young wife, Gudrid, on this expedition. However, their ship wanders for a long time at sea and returns to Greenland empty-handed. Thorstein and Gudrid spend the winter at the estate of a man named Thorstein the Black. During their wintering, an epidemic breaks out, claiming the life of Gudrid’s husband. The widowed Gudrid returns to the protection of Leif.

Some time later, the noble and wealthy Icelander Thorfinn Karlsefni arrives in Greenland. He falls in love with Gudrid and marries her. Enthusiastic about colonizing Vinland, Thorfinn assembles a large expedition of sixty men, taking with them livestock and supplies. Other Greenlanders join them, including Thorsteinn the Black.

Arriving in Vineyard Country, Karlsefni’s men build a fortified settlement. At first, the colonists successfully trade with the natives, exchanging dairy products and cheese for valuable furs. Karlsefni prudently orders the houses to be surrounded by a high palisade. However, misunderstandings soon lead to a violent conflict, leading to peaceful trade. When a large number of armed natives attack the camp, the Norsemen retreat in panic.

Eirik’s daughter, Freydis, saves the situation: pregnant, she runs out to meet the Indians, bares her breasts, and strikes them with her sword. This wild and terrifying gesture plunges the natives into primal terror, and they flee. It is Freydis who first calls the attackers "Skraelings." Despite this victory, Thorfinn Karlsefni realizes that the constant threat from the numerous natives will not allow them to live peacefully in Vinland. The colonists decide to leave the fertile lands and return to Greenland.

Freydis subsequently organizes another expedition to Vinland with two Icelandic merchant brothers, Helgi and Finnbogi. However, her greed and treachery lead to tragedy. In Vinland, Freydis provokes a quarrel, tricks her husband Thorvard and his men into attacking the brothers, and then personally slaughters the unarmed women in their camp. Taking the largest ship and all the loot, she returns to Greenland, having intimidated her companions into keeping silent about her crimes.

The last heirs of Eirik

Thorgils, Leif the Fortunate’s illegitimate son by a local woman, arrives in Greenland from the Hebrides. He presents his father’s ring and belt as proof. Leif acknowledges him as his legitimate son. Sensing his imminent death, Leif invites Thorgils to lead a new voyage to Wineland to find wealth and fame. However, Thorgils declines, declaring that he has enough, has seen enough of the world, and wants to live out his days peacefully on his own land.

A disillusioned Leif the Fortunate laments that the era of great explorers capable of conquering new lands like his father, Eirik, is gone forever. He asks only that the stories of their glorious voyages be preserved in the memory of posterity. Leif soon dies, and Thorgils takes possession of his lands and estate, remaining Eirik’s only descendant in the third generation. Leif’s prophecy comes true: no more Greenlanders sailed to Wineland, at which point the chronicler Sigfus concludes his work.