Episode 1

Gudrun, a young woman in 11th-century Iceland, must forge her path through a world of unearthly beauty yet uncompromising harshness.

Starring Kate Phillips.

Lucy Catherine’s re-telling of the Icelander classic, The Laxdoela Saga.

Written in the 13th century, it tells of people in the Breiðafjörður area of Iceland from the late 9th to the early 11th century. It particularly focuses on a love triangle between Gudrun, Kjartan and Bolli.

The Laxdæla saga remains popular and appreciated for its poetic beauty and pathetic sentiment. Since the saga has often been regarded as an unusually feminine saga, it has been speculated that it was composed by a woman.

Gudrun . . . . . Kate Phillips
Freija . . . . . Samantha Dakin
Bolli . . . . . Gavi Singh Chera
Kjartan . . . . . Luke MacGregor
Thordis . . . . . Alison Belbin
Osvif . . . . . John Dougall
Thorvald . . . . . Nicholas Murchie
Hallbjorn . . . . . Finlay Robertson

Director: Sasha Yevtushenko

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2016.