The Story of Egil Skallagrimsson. Translated from the Ice- landic
by the Rev. W. C. Green. (Elliot Stock.)—This is "An Icelandic Family History of the Ninth and Twelfth Centuries," probably written in the twelfth. The Saga has two heroes, the brothers Thorolf and Egil. Thorolf fell at the battle of Vin- heath, when King Athelstan of England, whom the two brothers were helping, discomfited Olaf of Scotland and two Welsh earls. It is possible that Vinheath may be the same as Brunanburgh ; neither place can be identified, and there is a certain resemblance in the circumstances. The description which the Saga gives of the fight at Vinheath is unusually minute and picturesque. This is one only of the adventures of Egil ; and Egil, though the chief figure in the story, is one of many characters, giants or " half- giants," magicians, men and women, Kings, and warriors. There is something strangely fascinating about the picture, though at a first glance, it seems nothing but a confused scene of slaughter.
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