Tree of Strife

An epic BBC historical drama based on Iceland's famous saga of tragedy, heroism and fateWritten by an anonymous storyteller in the 13th Century, and describing events between 960 and 1020, Njals saga is one of the great works of medieval literature. The longest and most celebrated of the Icelandic sagas, it deals with family honour, vengeance, and a vicious blood feud spanning almost 50 years.Based on the classic translation by Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Palsson, this gripping dramatisation centres around two friends - the wise, learned Njal, and the brave warrior Gunnar. Gifted with the ability to see into the future, Njal can foretell his own death - but he is powerless to stunt the growth of the tree of strife that flourishes after Gunnar's betrothal to Hallgerd with the thief's eyes.Embroiled in his wife's intrigues, Gunnar is caught in a cycle of killings and revenge - and as Njal's sons are drawn into this web of violence, tragedy ensues. Bound by ties of blood, and unable to escape their destiny, Gunnar, Njal, and their descendants seem doomed to an endless vendetta. Even the coming of a new faith, Christianity, fails to halt the conflict- and as brother turns upon brother, will peace ever be restored?Adapted by veteran dramatist David Wade, this gripping tale vividly evokes Iceland's heroic age. Thronged with action, passion, power struggles and prophetic dreams, it features a host of vividly-drawn characters, and stars Bernard Hepton as Njal, Struan Rodger as Gunnar and Maureen O'Brien as Hallgerd.Production creditsDramatised by David Wade from a translation by Magnus Magnusson and Herman PalssonMusic by David Chilton and Nick Russell-PavierDirected by Jeremy MortimerCastNarrators - Norman Rodway & Barbara JeffordNjal Thorgeirsson - Bernard HeptonGunnar Hamundarson- Struan RodgerHallgerd Long-Legs- Maureen O'BrienAhdli/Thorgeir Otkelsson - Ian TargettBergthora, Njal's wife - Maggie McCarthyUnn - Anna CropperSkarphedin Njalsson - Robert GlenisterHelgi Njalsson/Otkel Skarfsson - Vincent BrimbleGreem Njalsson - Andrew BranchBrynjolv/Hoskuld Dala-Kollsson/Gayrmund - John BullHrut Herjolfsson/Ketill/Thorgeir - David KingKolskegg Gunnarsson - David GoudgeThord Freemansson/Hocni Gunnarsson - Paul DowningThrain Sigfusson - John ChurchMord Valgardsson - Shaun PrendegastValgard the Grey - John MoffattHoskuld Thrainsson - Jonathan TaflerHildigunn - Victoria CarlingSigmundt/Skammkel/Gudmund - Brian MillarSkjold/Law Speaker - Donald GeeAsgnmr Ellioa-Grimsson/Thorgeir - Alan BarkerFlosi Thordarson - Crawford LoganKari Solumndarson - Jimmy YuillKawl/Bjorn the White/Melkov - Ken CumberlidgeThorgardh/Bjorn's wife - Alice ArnoldHalvard/Thorgeir Skorargeir- Joe DunlopGreeman - Drew BranchWith Sam Bennett, Simon Linnell, Joan Matheson, Danny Schiller and Joan WalkerFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17-18 February 1990(c) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd