Xi, 275 pp. Bibliography, index. Color plate from 1300 Icelandic manuscriptat frontis. INn English with some Old Norse. Dust jacket is dark brown with an orange manusript illustration, many short tears, DJ spine tips quite worn, flaps intact, some small chips at top and bottom edges of DJ. Book itself has some rubbing at spine tips and corners, interior has gift inscription (in Icelandic, I think) . Interior otherwise clean and unmarked. "the Njals Saga has long been recognized as the greatest of the Icelandic family sagas. Mr. Lonnroth's critical intro is a synthesis of what is known about the narrative art, composition and historical background of this monumental prose epic, which involves more than 600 characters over a period of 50 years...His study results in a new theory of the origina, development, and death of the saga genre." ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall