“Thorstein.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 46-72.

Tale Summary

Thorstein is a prince and is too kind. After his parents die he spends the entire kingdom’s budget on charity for people who don’t deserve it and everybody is miserable. He barters his kingdom away and leaves. On his journey, he encounters a farmer who is digging up the grave of a servant who was in debt to him. Thorstein gives the farmer the rest of his money to keep the grave from being disturbed. He then travels to a giant’s house and the elder giant takes Thorstein under his protection. Thorstein agrees to become the giant’s servant for a year. During this time, he is allowed inside every room in the house except one, and he is very curious about the secret room. He finally makes a key for the room and finds out that there is a young girl named Thekla imprisoned in the room. He makes a deal with the giants to free her at the end of his service, and kills the giants when they attack him on his way out. Thorstein and the maiden raid the giant’s house for treasure and catch a ride with a ship captain who works for Thekla’s father. During the journey, the captain gets jealous of Thorstein and puts him overboard on a small boat. Thorstein is saved by the ghost that was in debt to the farmer and whose grave Thorstein saved. Thorstein offers to look after Thekla’s father’s horses and the whole story comes out. Thorstein and Thekla marry and become very rich and beloved by their people.