The book Agnesarkver. Saint Agnes of Rome in Post-Medieval Icelandic Verse, written by Natalie M. Van Deusen, professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in Canada, has been published by the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies. It focuses on St. Agnes, who is believed to have died at the age of only 13 during the persecution of Christians in Rome around 303-304. She is said to have refused to marry the pagan son of a high-ranking official and held fast to her faith and convictions despite threats and abuse.
The saga of Agnes was translated into Old Norse during the Catholic period and interest in it did not wane in Iceland during the conversion to Lutheranism, because four poems were composed about Agnes after the Reformation. These are Vísur af heilagri jómfrú Agnesi; Rímur af Agnesi píslarvotti by Rev. Eiríkur Hallsson (1614–1698); Agnesarvísa; and Agnesarkvæði by Þorvaldur Magnússon (1670–1741). Of these poems, the latter was the most popular, as is evidenced by the fact that it is preserved in numerous manuscripts. However, it was also sung, and in the latter half of the 20th century there were still people who knew both the melody and the text, as appears on the website ismus.is.
In Agnesarkver there is a comprehensive overview of sources about Agnes as well as her saga, in addition to the text of the four poems which appear alongside an introduction and academic discussion. The book is adorned with images related to the saga of Agnes and is accompanied by an index. The book’s editors were Annette Lassen and Margrét Eggertsdóttir.
The book is available for purchase online.