Icelandic scholar. He was Librarian at the University of Cambridge, he translated numerous Icelandic sagas into English, and played an important role in the movement to study the history and literature of the Norsemen in Victorian England. Born in Berufjörður in the east of Iceland, he was sent to England in 1862 by the Icelandic Bible Society, and his first translations there were of mediaeval Christian texts. In 1871, he became a librarian at the University of Cambridge, where he worked until 1909. In 1893 he also became lecturer in Icelandic. He organised famine relief for Iceland in 1875 and 1882. Most famously, he taught William Morris and collaborated with him on translating a number of sagas. Within a year of Morris beginning his studies with Eiríkur, their 'Story of Grettir the Strong' was published (1869). In 1870 they published the first English translation of 'Völsungasaga'. Between 1891 and 1905 they published a six-volume Saga Library, which included Heimskringla and the first English translations of Hávarðar saga Ísfirðings, Hænsa-Þóris saga and Eyrbyggja Saga.
Icelandic scholar. He was Librarian at the University of Cambridge, he translated numerous Icelandic sagas into English, and played an important role in the movement to study the history and literature of the Norsemen in Victorian England. Born in Berufjörður in the east of Iceland, he was sent to England in 1862 by the Icelandic Bible Society, and his first translations there were of mediaeval Christian texts. In 1871, he became a librarian at the University of Cambridge, where he worked until 1909. In 1893 he also became lecturer in Icelandic. He organised famine relief for Iceland in 1875 and 1882. Most famously, he taught William Morris and collaborated with him on translating a number of sagas. Within a year of Morris beginning his studies with Eiríkur, their 'Story of Grettir the Strong' was published (1869). In 1870 they published the first English translation of 'Völsungasaga'. Between 1891 and 1905 they published a six-volume Saga Library, which included Heimskringla and the first English translations of Hávarðar saga Ísfirðings, Hænsa-Þóris saga and Eyrbyggja Saga.
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