The Saga of Gudrid the Far-Traveler

"Father," Gudrid said, "when winter is over, my husband and I want to explore this Wine Land. Will you lend us your ship?" The room fell dead quiet. She could feel the hush. Her father put down his knife and looked at her, astonished. "One shipwreck is not enough?" The quiet domestic life-spinning yarn, making cheese and skyr, collecting herbs for tea-might have been enough for other young women, but it was not enough for Gudrid, daughter of Thorbjorn of Laugarbrekka. If Leif Eiriksson could sail west and find a rich new land, why not Gudrid? What else lay beyond the western edge of the world the Vikings knew? The medieval Icelandic sagas recorded the bare bones of Gudrid's story, hinting at the adventures and accomplishments that would make her a legend for a thousand years.