One of the geatest writers of the medieval era.Snorre Surlason (1179-12410 was an icelandic poet, historian and chieftan, a man of action who also possessed a high degree of literary skill. The Heimskringla is a history of the Norwegian kings. It begins with the Ynglinga saga, which traces the Norwegian royalty from a mythical beginning. The saga ends with the story of Magnus Erlingson, who ruled until 1184 ad, but contains the sagas of 15 other kings, Olaf Trygvasson, Harald Hardrada and Magnus Barefoot to name a few.Renowned for its objectivity, Heimskringla is the finest and most complete treatment of the ancient Norwegian kings. A must read for anyone interested in Viking history.