In the book A Place Apart Kirsten Hastrup (a danish social-anthropologist) mentions the sagas’ position in relation to history. One could discuss the truthfulness of their content, but this discussion would not really be relevant. The stories told are part of Iceland’s history and identity. And even what we understand as common (official) history has long been discussed as no absolute objective truth. The told is coloured by the speaker’s perspective, experience and power.
History is to be rewritten constantly. History is fluid. And there is another, universal truth in myth.
