Editing Njáls saga (section)

==Manuscripts and editions==
{{wide image|Einar Ól. Sveinsson's stemma of Njáls saga.svg|1800px|alt=[[Einar Ólafur Sveinsson]]'s 1953 [[Stemmatics|stemma]] of ''Njáls saga''.}}
''Njáls saga'' survives in around 60 manuscripts and fragments, 21 of which – an unusually large number – are from the [[Middle Ages in history|Middle Ages]].<ref>For the most recent full survey see Susanne M. Arthur, ''Writing, Reading, and Utilizing Njáls saga: The Codicology of Iceland’s Most Famous Saga' (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Wisconsin, 2015), pp. 40–48, 52–54, 57–58, 62–74, 77–92, 95–96.''</ref> None of the vellum manuscripts survives complete, but they tended to be copied conservatively, indicating the reverence which Icelandic scribes have had for the saga and making it relatively easy to reconstruct a complete medieval text. The vellum manuscripts were classified most recently by [[Einar Ólafur Sveinsson]] in 1953, en route to his 1954 [[Íslenzk fornrit]] edition of the saga, which remains the standard edition.<ref>[[Einar Ól. Sveinsson]], ''Studies in the Manuscript Tradition of Njálssaga'', Studia Islandica/Íslenzk fræði, 13 (Reykjavík: Leiftur; Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1953); Einar Ól. Sveinsson, ed., ''Brennu-Njáls saga'', Íslenzk fornrit, 12 (Reykjavík: Hið íslenzka fornritafélag, 1954).</ref> However, a project on 'The Variance of ''Njáls saga'' ', based in the [[Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies]], is reassessing the complete history of the manuscript transmission of the saga.<ref>Jan Alexander van Nahl, '[https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315613628-28/digital-norse-jan-alexander-van-nahl Digital Norse'], in ''The Routledge Research Companion to the Medieval Icelandic Sagas'', ed. by Ármann Jakobsson and Sverrir Jakobsson (London: Routledge, 2017), pp. 344-53 (p. 351). See also Alaric Hall and Zeevaert Ludger, 2018. "[https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:20957/ Njáls saga Stemmas, Old and New]" in ''New Studies in the Manuscript Tradition of Njáls saga: The historia mutila of Njála'', edited by Emily Lethbridge and Svanhildur Óskarsdóttir (Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan UP), pp. 179-202.</ref>

The first printed edition of the saga, edited by Ólafur Ólafsson and printed by Johann Rúdolph Thiele, was based primarily on Reykjabók, with reference to Kálfalækjabók and Möðruvallabók. It was published in Copenhagen in 1772 ([https://baekur.is/bok/e254bdf3-9ad8-4ff8-b9a2-85c05199a33f baekur.is]). A major step in the editing of the saga was the 1875–89 critical edition of Konráð Gíslason and Eiríkur Jónsson.<ref>Njála. Udgivet efter gamle håndskrifter af Det kongelige nordiske oldskriftselskab, ed. by Konráð Gíslason and Eiríkur Jónsson, 2 vols (Copenhagen: Det kongelige nordiske oldskrift-selskap, 1875—89); volume 2: https://archive.org/details/njalaudgivetefte02kobeuoft.</ref> The current main edition is that of Einar Ólafur Sveinsson from 1954.<ref>Einar Ól. Sveinsson, ed., ''Brennu-Njáls saga'', Íslenzk fornrit, 12 (Reykjavík: Hið íslenzka fornritafélag, 1954).</ref>

The known, surviving manuscripts of the saga, most of which are available in digital facsimile, are: <ref>Unless otherwise stated, information derives from Susanne M. Arthur, 'Writing, Reading, and Utilizing Njáls saga: The Codicology of Iceland’s Most Famous Saga' (unpublished PhD thesis, University of Wisconsin, 2015), pp. 39-96.</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
!Number<ref>Arthur, Susanne M. and Ludger Zeevaert, '[https://opinvisindi.is/handle/20.500.11815/998 The Manuscripts of ''Njáls saga'']', in ''New Studies in the Manuscript Tradition of 'Njáls saga': The 'Historia mutila' of Njála'', edited by Emily Lethbridge and Svanhildur Óskarsdóttir (Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 2018), pp. 283-91.</ref>
!Classmark
!Name
!Date
!Medium
!Remarks
|-
|2, 20
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/GKS04-2870 GKS 2870 4to]
|Gráskinna
|c1300
|parchment
|including younger additions made as repairs, c. 1500×1550, known as Gráskinnuauki.
|-
|1a, b
|AM 162 b fol. [https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-beta β], [https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-delta δ]
|Þormóðarbók
|c1300
|parchment
|fragments, thought to originate from the same codex
|-
|3, 44
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/en/AM04-0468 AM 468 4to]
|Reykjabók
|c1300-1325
|parchment
|folio 7 from C17
|-
|5
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-zeta AM 162 b fol. ζ]
|
|c1325
|parchment
|fragment
|-
|4
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-gamma AM 162 b fol. γ]
|Óssbók
|c1325
|parchment
|fragment
|-
|6
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-theta AM 162 b fol. θ]
|
|c1325
|parchment
|fragment
|-
|7, 42
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0132 AM 132 fol.]
|Möðruvallabók
|c1330-1370
|parchment
|first 11 leaves and ff. 20 and 30 C17
|-
|8
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0133 AM 133 fol.]
|Kálfalækjarbók
|c1350
|parchment
|
|-
|9
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-kappa AM 162 b fol. κ]
|
|c1350
|parchment
|fragment
|-
|10
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-eta AM 162 b fol. η]
|
|c1350
|parchment
|fragment
|-
|11, 19
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-epsilon AM 162 b fol. ε]
|Hítardalsbók
|c1350-1375
|parchment
|fragment; first folio probably c1500
|-
|12, 22
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011946&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US GKS 2868 4to]
|Skafinskinna
|c1350-1400
|parchment
|f. 31 C17
|-
|14
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-alfa AM 162 b fol. α]
|
|c1390-1440
|parchment
|fragment
|-
|13, 15
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011947&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US GKS 2869 4to]
|Sveinsbók
|c1400
|parchment
|folio 11 written in a later hand
|-
|16
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0162B-iota AM 162 b fol. ι]
|Reykjarfjarðarbók
|c1400-1425
|parchment
|fragment
|-
|17
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0466 AM 466 4to]
|Oddabók
|c1460
|parchment
|
|-
|18
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/da/AM04-0309 AM 309 4to]
|Bæjarbók
|1498
|parchment
|
|-
|21
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM04-0921-I AM 921 4to I]; [https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/LbsFragm-0002 Lbs fragm. 2]; [https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/JSFragm-0004 JS fragm. 4]; Þjóðminjasafn I
|The Lost Codex
|c1600-1650
|parchment
|four fragments thought to originate in the same codex
|-
|23
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM02-0396 AM 396 fol.]
|Melanesbók/Lambavatnsbók
|c1600-1650
|paper
|
|-
|31
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/GKS02-1003 GKS 1003 fol.]
|
|1667-1670
|parchment
|
|-
|24
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/AM02-0136 AM 136 fol.]
|
|c1640-1643
|paper
|
|-
|27
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0555c AM 555 c]
[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0555c 4to] 
|Breiðarbólstaðarbók
|c1640-1660
|paper
|
|-
|25
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM02-0134 AM 134 fol.]
|Hofsbók
|c1640-1656
|paper
|
|-
|26
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0470 AM 470 4to]
|Hvammsbók
|c1640-
1660
|paper
|
|-
|28
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM02-0137 AM 137 fol.]
|Vigfúsarbók
|c1640-1672
|paper
|
|-
|29
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM02-0163d AM 163 d fol.]
|Ferjubók
|c1650-1682
|paper
|
|-
|30
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0465 AM 465 4to]
|
|c1650-1699
|paper
|
|-
|32, 43
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0555a AM 555 a 4to]
|
|1663-1665
|paper
|folios 1 and 2 in a different hand from the main one
|-
|33, 41
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM02-0163i AM 163 i fol.]
|Saurbæjarbók
|1668
|paper
|folios 1-3 in a different hand from the main one
|-
|34
|Stockholm Papp. 9 fol.
|
|1684
|paper
|
|-
|36
|[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/IAMS_VU2:IAMS040-002110386 BL Add 4867 fol.]
|
|1690
|paper
|
|-
|35
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM02-0135 AM 135 fol.]
|
|c1690-1697
|paper
|
|-
|37
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0464 AM 464 4to]
|
|1697
|paper
|
|-
|38
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/Lbs02-0222 Lbs 222 fol.]
|Rauðskinna
|1698
|paper
|
|-
|40
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011951&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US NKS 1220 fol.]
|Vigursbók
|1698
|paper
|
|-
|39
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/Lbs04-3505 Lbs 3505 4to]
|
|1698
|paper
|
|-
|45
|[https://handrit.is/is/manuscript/view/SAM-0033 SÁM 33]
|
|18th c
|paper
|1 folio
|-
|57
|[https://manuscripts.catalogue.tcd.ie/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=IE+TCD+MS+1002 Trinity College Dublin, MS 1002]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://manuscripts.catalogue.tcd.ie/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=IE+TCD+MS+1002|title=IE TCD MS 1002 - Icelandic saga|website=Trinity College Library Dublin, M&ARL Online Catalogue}}</ref>
|
|c. 1750?
|paper
|
|-
|46
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0469 AM 469 4to]
|Fagureyjarbók
|1705
|paper
|
|-
|51
|[http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digimanus_145637 NB 313 4to]
|
|1711
|paper
|
|-
|48, 49
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000018183&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US KB Add 565 4to]
|
|c1707-1722
|paper
|folios 22r-25r in a different hand
|-
|50
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/IB04-0421 ÍB 421 4to]
|
|c1707-1722
|paper
|
|-
|47
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/AM04-0467 AM 467 4to]
|
|c1707-1722
|paper
|
|-
|52, 68
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/IB04-0261 ÍB 261 4to]
|Lágafellsbók
|1740
|paper
|Folios 1-5 and 134-35 added, probably in the nineteenth century, in two different hands
|-
|53
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011313&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US Thott 1776 4to III]
|
|c1742-1800
|paper
|
|-
|54
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000027787&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US Thott 984 fol. III]
|
|c1750
|paper
|
|-
|55
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011949&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US Thott 1765 4to]
|
|c1750
|paper
|
|-
|58
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011318&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US Kall 612 4to]
|
|1753
|paper
|
|-
|56
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/IB04-0322 ÍB 322 4to]
|
|c1750-1770
|paper
|
|-
|59
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011953&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US NKS 1788 4to]
|Bjarnarstaðarbók
|1760
|paper
|
|-
|61
|Handrit í eigu Landakotskirkju
|Landakotsbók
|c1760-1780
|paper
|
|-
|60
|[https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KBH01000011950&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US NKS 1219 fol.]
|
|c1760-1780
|paper
|
|-
|62
|SÁM 137 (handrit úr safni Jóns Samsonarsonar)
|The Younger Flateyjarbók
|1767-1769
|paper
|
|-
|63
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/Acc0050 AM Acc. 50]
|
|1770
|paper
|
|-
|65, 70
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/Lbs04-1415 Lbs 1415 4to]
|
|c1770
|paper
|Folios 225–26 added in the nineteenth century
|-
|64
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/IB04-0270 ÍB 270 4to]
|Urðabók
|c1770
|paper
|
|-
|66
|[http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digimanus_149526 NB 372 4to]
|
|1772
|paper
|
|-
|67
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/Lbs04-0437 Lbs 437 4to]
|
|1773
|paper
|
|-
|69
|[https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/view/is/Lbs02-0747 Lbs 747 fol.]
|
|1871-1875
|paper
|
|-
|70
|SÁM 168
|Seattle Fragment
|c.1800-1900
|paper
|3-folio fragment
|-
|translation
|GKS 1021 fol.
|
|1660-64
|paper
|Danish translation in the hand of [[Þormóður Torfason]].
|-
|summary
|AM 576 a 4to
|
|1660-95
|paper
|Two-folio summary by Einar Eyjólfsson.
|-
|summary
|Biörner’s Swedish summary
|
|c. 1720-30
|paper
|Swedish summary (with some Icelandic text) written for the Swedish Antikvitetskollegiet.
|-
|summary
|Rostock Mss. philol. 78/2
|
|c. 1730?
|paper
|5-folio German summary
|-
|translation
|Stockholm papp. 93/96 fol.
|
|1733-63
|paper
|Swedish translation by Þorvaldur Brockmann
|-
|translation
|Stockholm papp. 93 fol.
|
|1733-63
|paper
|Carl Hagelberg's clean copy/revision of Þorvaldur Brockmann's Swedish translation.
|-
|translation
|Lbs 4855 8vo
|
|1772-1900
|paper
|A copy of the 1772 edition with partial manuscript translation into German
|}