According to Dahlmann, the Icelanders were and still are skilled writers
and had strong writing habits during their long winters. Any history
that does exist of the Norse Kings and their past tragedies, crimes, and
acts of valor is virtually entirely owing to this circumstance. The
Icelanders, it seems, not only created beautiful writing on their paper
or parchment but were also admirably perceptive and eager for accuracy.
As a result, they have left us with a collection of narratives known as
the Sagas (literally, "Says") that is unmatched among barbarous peoples
in terms of both quantity and quality.These ancient Sagas served as the
foundation for Snorro Sturluson's History of the Norse Kings, which
contains a great deal of poetic fire and faithful sagacity that was used
to sort through and adjust the old Sagas. In short, the book deserves to
be listed among the greatest histories of all time if it were ever
properly edited and provided with accurate maps, chronological
summaries, and other supporting materials.The following rough notes of
the early Norway Kings are hastily put together based on these sources,
with a great deal of assistance from accurate, knowledgeable, and
unwearied Dahlmann, 1 the German Professor.
