The Burning of Njal vividly resurrects one of the Middle Ages' most legendary tales, Njal's Saga, crafted by an anonymous Icelandic storyteller around 1280. The original saga bursts with relentless action and swift pace, which Treece's retelling magnifies without diminishing its other rich facets. Within these pages unfolds a gripping narrative of seething jealousy, unparalleled bravery, and a thirst for vengeance, set against the backdrop of a society on the brink of embracing Christianity.

Moreover, the saga stands out for its portrayal of a singular political landscape, where the fierce, free-spirited Vikings grapple with adhering to the laws of their democratic society—a pioneering concept reminiscent of the democratic city-states of ancient Greece.