A lovers' tale

In Short

This novel reimagines an ancient saga from Iceland, centering on the volatile relationship between the poet Cormac and the lovely Stangerd. Driven by a volatile mix of romantic idealization and crippling self-doubt, Cormac pursues Stangerd passionately, only to abandon her on their wedding day. Stangerd subsequently marries other men, while Cormac spends years fighting her husbands and pining for what he cast away. The story endures as a sharp psychological study of the artistic temperament, examining how a poet’s obsession with his own inner emotional landscape can destroy genuine human connection.

The Story

The narrative opens along the cold, green waters of Midfirth at Melstead, home to the blind widow Dalla and her two grown sons, Thorgils and Cormac. While Thorgils is mild, quiet, and steady, Cormac is a fiery, dark-haired youth who sings, makes verses, and constantly analyzes his own feelings. Although his late father was a fierce Viking who loved and killed without hesitation, Cormac views the world through a self-conscious, artistic lens.

Everything changes when Cormac encounters Stangerd, a woman of extraordinary beauty with bright blue eyes and golden hair. Transfixed, Cormac immediately begins composing passionate poetry in her honor. He courts her fervently, writing verses that celebrate her physical presence and idealize her as a divine figure. Yet, as rivals emerge and tensions rise, Cormac’s feelings grow complicated. When Stangerd’s kin attempt to ambush him at Tongue, Cormac fights off his assailants, but he begins to view his passion as a heavy, destructive burden that thickens his blood and drains his peace.

Eventually, Cormac formally asks for Stangerd’s hand, and a wedding is arranged. However, when a minor dispute arises over whether Stangerd’s brother may attend the ceremony, Cormac allows his dark, erratic temper to take hold. On the scheduled wedding day, rather than appearing as a groom, he arrives in a foul mood and finds Stangerd doing laundry by the water. Instead of claiming his bride, he insults her and leaves her waiting, effectively abandoning the match.

Humiliated and practical-minded, Stangerd does not remain unmarried for long. She accepts a marriage proposal from Battle-Berse, an older, wealthy fighter. Though Cormac is enraged by the marriage, he refuses to give up his claim on her heart. He pursues Berse, demanding Stangerd’s return and eventually challenging the older warrior to a duel on Leet-holm. Cormac’s perversity and failure to follow ritual instructions lead to his defeat, leaving Berse wounded but victoriously keeping Stangerd.

Over time, Stangerd’s marriage to Berse dissolves, and she later marries Thorwald the Tinsmith. Yet Cormac remains an ever-present, disruptive force in her life. Years pass, but Cormac can neither live with Stangerd nor let her go. He repeatedly confronts her, kissing her in fits of passion and begging her to run away with him, only to pull back when faced with the prospect of actual possession. Stangerd ultimately recognizes that a spell or curse haunts their bond, rendering a normal union impossible. Though she confesses that Cormac was the only man who ever truly stirred her soul, she fiercely rejects his perpetual hesitation, leaving him to wander the earth, trapped forever between his art and his longing.

How It Unfolds

A poet in Midfirth Cormac grows up at Melstead beside his quiet brother Thorgils and their blind mother, showing an early talent for verse and an intense preoccupation with his own sensations.

The vision of Stangerd Upon meeting the fair-haired Stangerd, Cormac is instantly spellbound, filling her world with passionate songs that reframe her beauty as a marvel of nature.

Traps and skirmishes When Stangerd’s relatives plot against him at Tongue with concealed weapons, Cormac survives the ambush and continues his erratic courtship despite growing internal conflict over his desires.

The ruined wedding An argument over wedding guests sparks Cormac’s dark mood, leading him to abandon Stangerd on their wedding day while she stands waiting in her bridal clothes.

Battle-Berse takes a bride Refusing to sit in shame, Stangerd marries the veteran fighter Battle-Berse, though she insists on keeping the ring Cormac gave her on her finger.

Duel at Leet-holm Cormac recklessly challenges Berse to a formal duel to win Stangerd back, but his disregard for magical preparations leads to his failure on the field.

A second marriage After leaving Berse, Stangerd marries Thorwald the Tinsmith, prompting Cormac to return once more to torment her with fierce declarations of love and remorse.

The final parting Meeting in the woods at dusk, Cormac admits he prefers his ideal vision of her to real life, leading a furious Stangerd to declare that it is forever too late.

The People

• Cormac Ogmundsson: A vivid, black-haired poet who craves romantic idealization above physical reality. He desperately wants Stangerd, but his self-conscious nature and fear of domesticity prevent him from ever holding her, leaving him a conflicted, tragic figure.
• Stangerd: A striking, proud woman with golden hair and deep blue eyes. She wants a respectable, orderly marriage and genuine devotion, but finds herself constantly caught between Cormac’s wild art and her own desire for stability.
• Battle-Berse: A seasoned, wealthy warrior who marries Stangerd after Cormac fails to show up for the wedding. He wants a fine, beautiful wife and easy comradeship, handling romantic rivals with calm, experienced confidence.
• Thorgils: Cormac’s elder brother, a mild, sleepy, and practical young man. He wants peace and steady work, serving as a patient, grounded companion who frequently tries to keep his volatile brother out of trouble.
• Stanvor: A young woman living in Berse’s household who deeply loves Berse. She seeks only to care for him faithfully, remaining stoic and patient even as Berse pursues Stangerd.
• Thorkel: Stangerd’s wealthy father, who desires a prosperous match for his daughter and grows increasingly frustrated by Cormac’s dishonorable delays and volatile behavior.

In Its Own Voice

"He was a wild young man, but very friendly after the bout."

Cormac's fiery temperament shows itself early in his youth at Melstead.

"I will tell you what I would do with you now, Stangerd. I would carry you in my arms out of the house, and through the meadows, and up into the fells."

Cormac paints a poetic, impossibly romantic vision of love to Stangerd during their courtship.

"You fool, it is too late. You have made me suffer horribly. I shall never forget it--and I will not forget it."

Stangerd finally vents her fury at Cormac during their agonizing final encounter in the dusk.

What It's Really About

Underneath its saga-style rivalries and duels, the book explores the fundamental conflict between art and reality. Cormac represents the pure poetic temperament—an individual who loves the idea of love far more than its practical execution. To Cormac, possessing Stangerd as a mortal wife threatens to strip her of the divine, mythic quality he gives her in his verse. The narrative questions whether an artistic mind can ever sustain a normal human relationship, or if poetry inherently feeds on longing, distance, and tragedy. Stangerd’s practical needs for honor, stability, and presence crash repeatedly against Cormac’s self-absorbed idealism, demonstrating how an inability to embrace real life inevitably causes immense suffering to everyone involved.

Why Read It Today

This novel offers a fascinating bridge between traditional Norse sagas and modern psychological character study. Readers who appreciate historical fiction stripped of modern romantic cliches will find themselves drawn to its sparse, vivid prose and sharp observation of human folly. Maurice Hewlett writes with an authentic, direct rhythm that echoes the classical Icelandic tales while infusing them with rich emotional depth.

The story does present a few challenges for contemporary readers. The narrative assumes familiarity with saga structures, featuring sudden violent skirmishes, formal legal claims, and abrupt transitions between characters. Additionally, the attitudes of the period mean that women are often treated as prizes or property by the men around them, though Stangerd herself maintains a fierce, unyielding dignity throughout her trials. What stays with you long after reading is the portrait of Cormac himself—a deeply flawed, surprisingly modern antihero whose self-sabotage and endless longing feel timelessly real.