As a primer
for those interested in the Icelandic Sagas, check out:
Njal’s Saga
Egil’s Saga
Hrafnkel’s Saga
Eyrbyggia Saga
These sagas are great literature (approx. 1000 years old) filled with heroism, violence, a few supernatural phenomena and early traces of a democratic system (when justice is not administered on an individual basis). They are generally short and move fast.
the version I have is this one
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670889903/qid=1106315793/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-1533322-9420906?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
it has an introduction by author Jane Smiley. Lots of maps, genealogies, and timelines, great edition.
Farfarer
The Farley Mowat book that I was referring to was Farfarer (not West Viking). Sorry for the mistake.