The Saga of the Earls of Orkney

We are so thrilled to have back on the podcast Prof Judith Jesch, one of the world’s foremost scholars of Old Norse language, literature, and runes. Last time we spoke with her we talked about vikings and their skaldic poetry, and also the years-long project she was working on — a new translation of Orkneyinga saga. Fast forward three years and The Saga of the Earls of Orkney has been completed and was just published in late 2025.It is a beautiful work that recounts the story of the leaders in the Orkney Islands off the northern tip of Scotland during the Viking Age and after, where life was rough, and power and status were coveted. While the saga admittedly has some fictional elements, there is also deep history there. As Judith notes in her introductionYet what it may lack in accurate detail regarding rulers and their dates, it more than makes up for with the picture it paints of politics, adventure and sometimes everyday life in northern Scotland, in a way that is matched by no other source.We talked with her about the stories in the saga but also what it takes to translate such a work involving fact, fiction, and the human condition — all favorite topics to ponder here at Vikingology.If you are interested in the sagas, which constitute one of the most important surviving bodies of medieval literature there is, you’ll not want to miss this one. In the tradition of Norse storytelling during the Viking Age, Judith’s translation does an admirable job of keeping the saga alive.BONUS! If you are interested in learning more about the sagas, you can attend the free online Midland Viking Symposium mentioned in the episode, to be held on May 15, 2026.Thanks Judith! We can’t wait to see what you do next. Get full access to Vikingology Podcast at vikingology.substack.com/subscribe