Audun and the polar bear : luck, law, and largesse in a medieval tale of risky business / by William I. Miller.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Miller, William Ian, 1946-

Series:

Medieval law and its practice 1873-8176 ; v. 1.

Medieval law and its practice, 1873-8176 ; v. 1

Standardized Title:

Auðunar þáttr vestfirzka. English.

Language:

English

Old Norse

Subjects (All):

Auðunar þáttr vestfirzka.

Law, Scandinavian--Sources.

Law, Scandinavian.

Sagas.

Genre:

Sources.

Physical Description:

xi, 155 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2008.

Contents:

Some technical matters : dates, origin, versions

The story of Audun from the Westfjords (Audun's story)

The commitment to plausibility

Helping Thorir and buying the bear

Dealing with King Harald

Giving the bear to Svein : the interests in the bear

Saying no to kings

Eggs in one basket and market value

Rome : self-impoverishment and self-confidence

Repaying the bear

Back to Harald : the yielding of accounts

Audun's luck

Richness and risk

Motives

Gaming the system : gift-ref

Regiving and reclaiming gifts

Relevant law

Serious scarcity, self-interest and Audun's mother

In the gift vs. in on the gift

Gifts upward : repaying by receiving and funny money

The obligation to accept

Giving up and down hierarchies : of god(s), beggars, and equals

Nadad and Abihu : sacrifice, caprice, and binding god and kings

Funny money that is not so funny

Of free and closing gifts

Coda : the whiteness of the bear.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [147]-152) and index.

ISBN:

9789004168114

9004168117

OCLC:

221960444