The Project Gutenberg EBook of Gudrid the Fair, by Maurice Hewlett

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Title: Gudrid the Fair
A Tale of the Discovery of America

Author: Maurice Hewlett

Release Date: November 27, 2007 [EBook #23643]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GUDRID THE FAIR ***

Produced by Al Haines

GUDRID THE FAIR

A Tale of the Discovery of America

BY

MAURICE HEWLETT

Author of

"The Forest Lovers,"
"The Life and Death of Richard Yea and Nay,"
"Love and Lucy," etc.

NEW YORK

DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY

1918

Copyright, 1918,

By Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc.

PREFACE

This tale is founded upon two sagas, which have been translated
literally and without attempt to accord their discrepancies by York
Powell and Vigfussen in their invaluable _Origines Icelandicae_. As
well as those versions I have had another authority to help me, in
Laing's _Sea-Kings of Norway_. I have blent the two accounts into one,
and put forward the result with this word of explanation, which I hope
will justify me in the treatment I have given them.

I don't forget that a "saga" is history, and that these sagas in
particular furnish an account of the first discovery of America, no
less a thing. Nevertheless, while I have been scrupulous in leaving
the related facts as I found them, I have not hesitated to dwell upon
the humanity in the tales, and to develop that as seemed fitting. I
don't think that I have put anything into the relation which is not
implied in the few words accorded me by the text. I believe that
everything I give Gudrid and Freydis, Karlsefne and Leif and Eric Red
to say or to do can be made out from hints, which I have made it my
business to interpret. Character makes plot in life as well as in
fiction, and a novelist is not worthy of his hire who can't weave a
tale out of one or two people to whom he has been able to give life.
All romantic invention proceeds from people or from atmosphere.
Therefore, while I have shown, I hope, due respect to the exploration
of America, I admit that my tale turns essentially upon the explorers
of it. My business as a writ