In this first historical study of High-Medieval Iceland to be published in English, Dr Vesteinsson investigates the influence of the Christian Church on the formation of the earliest state structures in Iceland, from the conversion in 1000 to the union with Norway in 1262. In the history of mankind states and state structures have usually been established before the advent of written records. As a result historians are rarely able to trace
with certainty the early development of complex structures of government. In Iceland, literacy and the practice of native history writing had been established by the beginning of the twelfth century;
whereas the formation of a centralised government did not occur until more than a hundred years later. The early development of statelike structures has therefore been unusually well chronicled, in the Icelandic Sagas, and in the historical records of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Based on this wealth of material,The Christianization of Iceland is an important contribution to the discussion on the formation of states.
Industry Reviews
`an interesting, thoroughly documented and thoughtful account of the rise of an anomalous and uniquely Icelandic institution.'
TLS 07/09/2001
`the broad story it tells is engrossing, both for scholars of Icelandic culture, and for comparative historians of the medieval European Church.'
TLS 07/09/2001
`It would be hard to conceive of a more valuable and timely work than this one.'
EHR Sept.01
`this book is important for anyone who wishes to understand the development of Icelandic society after the Saga Age'
American Historical Review, June 2001
`As Icelandic history, this book is original and important'
American Historical Review, June 2001
`The Christianization of Iceland is an important book that puts the study of Icelandic society during the Commonwealth period on new and secure footing. It will be valuable to scholars studying the medieval history of Iceland or Europe.'
Anders Winroth, History: Review of New Books
`Vesteinsson's thesis is based on a careful reading of the sources, particularly the sagas and the law code Gragas. Many scholars have already studied those sources in detail, but Vesteinsson is very good at extracting useful information without pressing the sources to say, as many of his predecessors have done.'
Anders Winroth, History: Reviews of New Books
`the book offers a whole new way of interpreting Iceland's Golden Age ... The Christianization of Iceland is indeed a rare book, the kind that comes along once in a century.'
Thomas Martin, Norway Times, August 31, 2000, No.31.
`Vestiensson offers serious students of Iceland's history a rich trove of information. It is surely based on a deep and critical knowledge of the old Icelandic sources. It is a requisite for any one really interested in the last thousand years of Iceland. Full of little surprises, and peppered with numerous controversial views.'
Thomas Martin, Norway Times, August 31, 2000, No.31.
`It is amazing that one person has been able to bring so much material together in one volume.'
Thomas Martin, Norway Times, August 31, 2000, No.31.
`Never before has an English language publication been so ambitious in presenting us with so much detail on Icelandic and Christianity in the Middle Ages. The book in many regards is a refreshing departure from previous histories.'
Thomas Martin, Norway Times, August 31, 2000, No.31.
`the author ... has poured his very spirit into the exacting details of every page. Vesteinsson offers anyone interested in early Iceland an insightful look at the significant role that Christianity has played in the formation of the Icelandic nation.'
Thomas Martin, Norway Times, August 31, 2000, No.31.
`this new ground-breaking work ... the first comprehensive book in the English language to deal with the compelling saga of Iceland's early church.'
Thomas Martin, Norway Times, August 31, 2000, No.31.
`A most timely volume.'
Thomas Martin, Norway Times, August 31, 2000, No.31.
