William Paton Ker (1855-1923) was a Scottish literary scholar and essayist. An absolute master in the comparative study of literature, he was among the most erudite critics of his time: no branch of literary activity and almost no European literature remained alien to him. He was an active member of the Dante Society of Oxford and played a leading part in the development of the University College of London.<br />During his life Ker wote many essays. Among his most important works it is necessary to mention: <i>Epic and Romance</i> (1897), <i>The Dark Ages</i> (1904), <i>Essays on Medieval Literature</i> (1905), <i>The Art of Poetry</i> (1923), <i>Collected Essays</i> (post., 1925), <i>Form and Style in Poetry</i> (post., 1928).<br />In the essay <i>Sturla the Historian</i> (Claredon Press, Oxford 1906), Ker addresses the fascinating and amazing world of the Viking sagas and the figure of Sturla Th&oacute;rdarson, an Icelandic chieftain and writer of sagas and contemporary history during the 13th century, whose life was chronicled in the <i>Sturlunga Saga</i>.