Faith of their Fathers: A Saga of Iceland
Christianity is on the rise in early 11th-century Iceland, and the rift between the newly baptised and the pagans of the old religion incites violence and suspicion.
Upon his discovery of the mutilated bodies of his foster family, Arinbjorn Thorleiksson swears lifelong vengeance upon the unknown killer. Skjalti and his family were recent converts, so the assumption that pagans are responsible for the killings seems fitting. Several years before, Olaf of Norway installed a missionary priest to force the word of God into pagan lives. Now the imprudent priest urges his fledgling flock towards civil disorder, causing social upheaval in the close-knit community. Another attack occurs, this time on a pagan family, but Arinbjorn, though badly injured in the attack, now knows his prey’s identity.
This fast-paced thriller about murder and vengeance explores one young man’s obsession with family honour. As he struggles to come to terms with his destiny, he puts his one chance at happiness in jeopardy. Arinbjorn is not a soldier or a trained fighter, but he treks bravely through bitter conditions to the northern icefields, then overseas to Norway and the court of King Olaf, with the hope of finding the justice he seeks.
Sargeant explores close friendships and family relationships in this hostile environment, where a small community, eking out a livelihood in the harshest of conditions, is split apart by religious discord. A tentative friendship blossoms with a local farmer’s wife, allowing themes of Icelandic tradition, law and social acceptance to be played out against a background of religious strife. Vivid descriptive passages of locations, weather, and Icelandic culture are packed into a tight plot, which will no doubt entice readers interested in Iceland’s medieval history.
