ICELANDIC sagas with trolls and magic provide added fascination to the travelogue of the late Sabine Baring-Gould in a reprint of his book 'Iceland: Its Scenes and Sagas'. Augmented by Martin Graebe with extracts from letters from the great man to his mother during his two-month expedition to that country, and also extracts from an account by a fellow traveller, the book provides an intriguing insight into the country, the equipment and modes of transport of the well-off traveller at the time. The expedition took place in 1862, when Baring-Gould was 28, and his engaging style of writing includes not only a full and flowing description of the variation in scenery — often potentially dangerous — encountered, but an often amusing reflection on his fellow travellers, not forgetting their 'obstinate' Icelandic guide, and the Icelanders themselves. The exchanges of conversation bring additional colour. The horseback voyage took him from the then tiny settlement of Reykjavik through remote and hostile terrain, passing through the empty expanse of Iceland's countryside. He observed mountains and glaciers, volcanoes and geysers, and wondered at the wild beauty of the landscape. The Icelandic society described has long since disappeared. The author's interest in music is in evidence, with words and music of Icelandic songs and religious music — a precursor to his later collection of English folk songs, perhaps, and an indication of his interest in the church which later saw him become a parson. However, in contrast there is a list of magical signs 'for the benefit of those of my readers who dabble in the black art'! The book, which is illustrated by Baring-Gould's own drawings, is an entertaining, informative and sometimes wonderfully eccentric read. Appendices at the end include a full list of the birds and plants of Iceland, plus a list of published sagas, an account of Baring-Gould's expenses for the trip — £100 when his annual income was £50 — and even advice for hunters and fishermen visiting the country. It could be worth a note here that the book might not for those of a sensitive nature, as the visitors accompanying Baring Gould set about shooting birds and other wildlife with gay abandon, to his chagrin! Dining on puffins stuffed with raisins was one of the meal options. But, always prepared, they carried with them a wondrous selection of equipment and food, including Fortnum and Mason's dried vegetables! l 'Iceland: Its Scenes and Sagas' is published by Signal Books Ltd and is available from local booksellers from May 10 in paperback, £12.99.