Product Description
When seeking to understand the function of mythology in the pagan past and in medieval Iceland scholars are confronted with the problem of how sources from the Middle Ages can properly be used. The articles in this volume demonstrate diverse angles from which Old Norse mythological texts can be viewed. Many discuss methodological problems in dealing with the texts and draw on expertise from different fields of study such as history, philology, literary studies, and history of religions. The authors are all established experts in the field, but demonstrate new approaches to the study of ON mythology, and offer insights into possible new directions for research. ... Read more

Product Description
The 28 papers in this volume explore the practical life, domestic settings, landscapes and seascapes of the Viking world. Their geographical horizons stretch from Iceland to Russia, with particular emphasis on new discoveries in the Scandinavian homelands and in Britain and Ireland. With a rich combination of disciplinary perspectives, new interpretations are presented of evidence for buildings and technology, navigation, trade and military organisation, the ideology of place, and cultural interactions and comparisons between Viking and native groups. Together, these reveal the multivalent importance of settlement archaeology and history for an understanding of the pivotal phase within the Middle Ages that was the Viking period. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first historical study of the whole body of late Viking runic inscription stones in Scandinavia. The 2300 inscriptions yield unexpected information on a wide range of topics, including the conversion of Scandinavia to Christianity, the growth of royal power and, most important of all, the inheritance customs of the period. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Delighted!
Rarely does a book come out with such good work on the subject, due to its lack of commercial "sex appeal" for buyers.
Heck, this is not an 8th grade level book and you will need some knowledge beforehand to make your own decisions about its subject matter.
But a splendid book over all, a MUST have for serious Nordic study's I just wish the author had the time (and funding) to write much more on the area! ... Read more

Product Description
Taking the formation of the Norwegian state in the Middle Ages as his starting point, Sverre Bagge widens his perspective to include a discussion of the emergence of the medieval state and state formation in the Middle Ages in general. The book examines the emergence of religion, written culture, bureaucracy, etc., in medieval Europe and the spread of these to the eastern and northern fringes that were integrated into sphere of the western Christianity from around the year 900 and onwards. ... Read more

Product Description
Historic figures in the Viking Era of 995-1035 A.D.,Danish King Knut the Great and Norwegian King Olav Haraldson (SaintOlav) were arch enemies. The savage battle at Holy River was only oneof many of their interlaced destinies in these latter years of theViking era. As lifelong rivals, they clashed sword and axe time andagain in their contest for power. The days of piracy nearly ended, the campaigns of sea-roving Norsemenwere undertaken for exploration, trade, and political control. Theearly 11th century life in the Christian north was more sophisticatedthan in the isolated and primitive times of the early Vikings. Now thegraceful longboat fleets were even more spectacular, the men just asdaring, valiant, and lusty, the women as spirited, courageous, andbeautiful. It was a unique period when the northland was in a flux, aperiod unfamiliar to most people other than scholars of Scandinavianhistory, and never before presented in a story-telling style. Lightlyfictionalized to humanize history, the story is based on fact,geological discovery, and accepted legend, and little needing anyembellishment. The Blood Axe did exist. It belonged to Olav and laterhis son Magnus the Good. Packed with colorful insights into life andthought as it was in the political and religious transitional periodof 995-1035 A.D., this epic tale touches on evangelical zeal, paganrites, violent sea and land battles, folk medicine, conjugal love andtender liaisons, heroism and treachery, honor, loyalty, and treason,joy and suffering. . . .

Of the many books researched in pinning down and blending the storiesof Olav and Knut, probably the most reliable are (1) "ST. Olav's Saga"in the Heimskringla by Icelander Snorri Sturluson and translated toEnglish many centuries later by Lee M. Hollander for theAmerican-Scandinavian Foundation in 1964, and (2) "Canute the Great"by Professor L. M. Larson , Ph.D., published by G.P. Putnam Sons in1912.I am grateful to them for their information in putting thesetwo mens' stories together. —Eileene Harrison Beer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful!
This book is extremely well written and fast-paced.Beer makes both kings (Knut and Olav) seem equally worthy of your support.There is a good amount of back-story before delving into Knut and Olav's personal stories.Anyone could enjoy this book!

Superb!
This is a fantastic book!Beer took great pains to be fair to both King Knut and King Olav.You wanted to root for both of them.I loved the story of Olav and his handmaiden.My only problem with this book is that I wished it was longer!I didn't want it to end!

... Read more

Product Description
Combining traditional myth, oral history and re-worked European legend to depict an ancient realm of heroism and wonder, the seven tales collected here are among the most fantastical of all the Norse romances. Powerfully inspired works of Icelandic imagination, they relate intriguing, often comical tales of famous kings, difficult gods and women of great beauty, goodness or cunning. The tales plunder a wide range of earlier literature from Homer to the French romances as in the tale of the wandering hero Arrow-Odd, which combines several older legends, or Egil and Asmund, where the story of Odysseus and the Cyclops is skilfully adapted into a traditional Norse legend. These are among the most outrageous, delightful and exhilarating tales in all Icelandic literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Anthology of Short but Classic and Important Sagas
This anthology includes various heroic sagas from the Icelandic Middle Ages, written at a time when Icelandic work was more open to European influences.Hence the translators prefer to call these "Romances" referring to the European influences than "Sagas."

At the same time, there are a great many important tales here.Gautrek's Saga, for example, is included here.On the basis of comparisons between the deaths of Vikar in this saga and Baldr in Snorri's Edda, de Vries drew important conclusions about the nature of initiation rites among the Norse.

The one thing I think the translator could have done to make this better would have been to add footnotes explaining some of the elements of the translation (particularly the names).Some of the humor of the writers fo the sagas has thus been lost in translation.For example, in Arrow-Odd, it is helpful to know that 'Odd' means 'point' and thus there is a pun on his nickname that is not evident from the translation.

Having said this, these are all quite enjoyable to read and important for serious Norse studies.Highly recommended.

Sly Rogues Are Nothing New
The Icelandic Sagas rank among the greatest treasures of world literature, though even Scandinavians find their original language daunting. Fortunately the Penguin Classics series includes a dozen or so excellent English translations of some of the most imposing sagas, as well as some of the most frivolously amusing. The seven "Viking Romances" included in this book lean toward the latter category.

In English and without the geneologies incorporated in many sagas, an extended work like Njal's or Hrafnkel's Saga can read remarkably like a modern novel, while some of the most naturalistic short sagas are reminiscent of stories of family strife by Alice Munro. No other Medieval literature approaches the grim realism of violence in these sagas, and in my opinion no other literature before the Spanish picaresque displays their sardonic humor or acknowledgement of the attractiveness of rogues.

Colorful rogues are the mainstay of these so-called romances, which were plainly told and then written for entertainment rather than edification. There are touches of naturalism even here, amid encounters with trolls, berserkers and giants and the casting of spells, but the fun is in the obvious mockery of everything pious or credulous. Arrow-Odd, the antihero of the longest tale in this volume, is a spiritual ancestor of Harry Flashman and Davy Crockett. Whoever composed these tales was no backwoods illiterate; there are shameless plunderings of stories and of graphic details from Greek and chivalric sources. Iceland in the Middle Ages was unquestionably an outpost, Ultima Thule, but the Norse and Swedish peoples were travelers, with travelers' sophistication about others.

You may come to the sagas for valid reasons of historical scholarship, or with fantastic expectations based on Tolkien and such, but once you begin to look at them, you'll discover how compelling they are as "good reading".

Ian Myles Slater on: Vikings As They Should Have Been!
The sagas (prose narratives) from medieval Iceland are more diverse in subject than would be indicated by the more readily available translations. Of course, the major "Islendingasogur" ("Sagas of the Icelanders") are, alongside the series of Kings' Sagas (mainly in Snorri Sturluson's "Heimskringla"), and the lives of the Earls of Orkney, among the great glories of medieval literature, and deserve the attention they have received. The stories of Icelandic families, conflicts and legal disputes, poets, outlaws, and lawyers, are unlike anything in Europe before the modern novel, and the accounts in the Kings' and Earls' sagas of both dynasty-builders and feckless rulers also deserve the praise they get.

But there are also "Fornaldarsogur," the "tales of olden times," retelling ancient Germanic and Scandinavian legends (notably "Volsunga Saga," "Heidrek's" or "Hervarar Saga," and "Hrolf Kraki's Saga"). Only a few of them are as well-known as they deserve, and then often because of associations with other works (the Sigurd / Siegfried legend, "Beowulf"). And there are accounts of bishops and saints, translations and imitations of Arthurian romances and Carolingian chansons de geste ("riddarasogur," "knightly tales,"), and fantastic stories ("lying sagas") of adventure and romance among supernatural beings or in distant lands. "Sturlunga Saga" is a compilation of partisan reports of contemporary events, somewhat cloaked in the objectivity of the saga style. These are largely under-represented in English translation, or at best such translations usually are available only in large or specialized libraries.

The great period of saga-writing was the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, but stories in the native style continued to be written in later times. There has been tendency to date "good" sagas early, and "inferior" sagas late, and reject the "late" works. But most of the genres (if not specific surviving examples) seem to have been around from the beginning, at least as oral tales. There are close parallels to some ofthe more extravagant attested before 1220, in the "Gesta Danorum" of Saxo Grammaticus. The present volume was an interesting attempt to make examples of some of the more neglected kinds of saga more familiar to ordinary readers, without worrying overmuch about their relative age or degree of literary sophistication.

The contents will be less surprising to those not directly familiar with great sagas, however. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the distinctions were not at all clear, and the thin antiquarian veneer of (the now obviously fictional) "Frithjof's Saga" was treated with immense seriousness, and even accorded great political importance. Boosted by a retelling by the poet Tegner, it achieved European celebrity when a masterpiece like "Njal's Saga" was just a name (at best). Quotations from its late medieval and hyperbolic version of Viking life are still found in circulation in popular accounts, treated as serious evidence. (For this, and much else, Andrew Wawn's "The Vikings and the Victorians: Inventing the Old North in 19th-Century Britain" is illuminating.)

The confusion is understandable. After all, among the realistic tales, "Eyrbyggja Saga" includes a dramatic haunting -- although the exorcism takes the form of a properly executed legal eviction notice! Visions of the dead, prophetic apparitions, witches, marauding reanimated corpses, trolls, and (in foreign parts) more vaguely conceived monsters may play small roles -- or large ones in "Grettir's Saga," and some other accounts of famous outlaws. But these were, for the most part, matters of contemporary belief, and in any case the "Sagas of the Icelanders" were set mainly between about 850 and 1050, when, it was held, Christianity had yet to drive out the pagan powers, and odd things might be likely to have happened on familiar ground. (Not that the supernatural ceased to be a menacing presence in Icelandic life -- accounts through the nineteenth-century make that clear enough.)

The "Seven Viking Romances" in this volume fall somewhere between the mainly realistic "Sagas of the Icelanders" and the most extravagant of the "lying sagas." Some at first seem to come close to being "Sagas of the Icelanders," and some may properly be considered "legendary sagas," albeit with more than a little extra-traditional elaboration. And they are particularly interesting because they don't quite fit expectations. They are examples both of literary invention and of the preservation of archaic beliefs. Sorting these out has been a problem for scholars, but not the sort of problem that should prevent a reader from enjoying the stories.

How does this work? Some of these seven involve notable Icelandic families or their ancestors in the "Old Country" (Norway), and they all rely to some extent on the standard stylistic devices of the saga literature. Characters are often formally introduced to the reader with genealogical particulars, and geographic settings. Everyday activities and plain household furnishings are mentioned instead of being avoided (as in the dignified forms of contemporary European literature).

But the pretense of being a history of a family's settlement in a new land, marriages, inheritances, and lawsuits, or an account of famous feuds in a district, and how they were resolved, falls away in favor of a rollicking good time. There is not a lot of worrying if there is enough hay to last the winter, and who has the legal rights to the stranded whale. Instead we have slaying of monsters, rescuing of princesses, or slaughtering of hordes of enemies (or at least an evil giant or two). It is rather as if what started like an historical novel rather quickly turned into one of Robert E. Howard's stories of "Conan the Cimmerian."

"Seven Viking Romances" starts with the relatively long "Arrow-Odd" ("Orvar-Odds Saga" -- the Orvar nickname and name Oddr taken together mean "Arrow-Point" and the pun could have been made clearer, or just left for a note). The hero seems at first to be a typical saga-age Icelander, with not-too-untypical named heroic ancestors (like the "I was delayed by that big fish" dragon-slayer, Ketil Trout) known from other stories. But we soon learn that he is destined to live many human lifetimes, and the pagan gods show up to take a (small) part in his adventures abroad, far from Iceland. The actual trade through Arctic waters with Permia figures in the tale, in a suitably fantasticated form; there does seem to be a lot of authentically old, if not very accurate, background. The extant saga reworks older tales of heroes. There is a substantial overlap with the Heidreks/Hervarar Saga tradition in chapter fourteen, featuring the burial of the hero Angantyr with the (cursed) sword Tyrfing -- and of his eleven brothers, one of whom, confusingly, is also named Tyrfing. The Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus mentions Arvarodd in connection with the fatal battle. In addition, the story of Odd's predicted death shows up in the Russian "Primary Chronicle," although there it is told of Oleg the Seer, one of the Scandinavian-descended Princes of Kiev.

This translation of "Orvar-Odd" was originally published separately, as "Arrow-Odd: A Medieval Novel" (1970), where I originally sought it out after studying some of the related works (such as Saxo). It appears here in slightly revised form, along with the appendix on "Sources and Parallels" (perhaps a little too condensed to be entirely clear to the uninitiated).Most of the rest had already been published as "Gautrek's Saga and other medieval tales" (1968), and are also offered with revisions.

The following story of "King Gautrek" ("Gautreks Saga") is one of a short series of sagas (see "Bosi and Herraud," below), and is set in western Gautland (West Gotaland in modern Sweden) -- slightly foreign to Icelandic experience, and apparently a good setting for odd events. (As Geatland, it was Beowulf's home, and his Icelandic counterpart Bodhvar Bjarki was the brother of another King of Gautland; Odd visits it during his travels.) Frithjof's descendants show up in the story, and so does the more certainly venerable figure of Starkad, well-known from Saxo Grammaticus (and some other sources) -- like Arrow-Odd, he was one of those heroic-age figures blessed or cursed to outlive his times. Like "Arrow-Odd," "King Gautrek" clearly belongs among the legendary sagas ("Fornaldarsogur"), but some of it seems invented, or at least "improved."

"Halfdan Eysteinsson" takes us to the Odin-descended kings of Trondheim, and another complex of apparently traditional tales of adventures in legendary versions of real places (Permia) and less likely ones (the Land of the Undying, discovered off-stage by one of Halfdan's relatives). It was newly translated for this collection.

"Bosi and Herraud" begins among King Gautrek's relatives in East Gotaland, and includes a visit to the quasi-mythical King Godmund of Glasir Plains (Gudhmundr of Glaesisvellir), a sort of friendly giant, who recurs in other tales, some included here.

"Egil and Asmund ("Egils saga einhenda og Asmundar saga berserkjabana," "The Story of Egil One-Hand and Asmund Berserkers-Slayer") is set in the possibly even more exotic land of Russia. Knowledge of a long-lasting Eastern Scandinavian (Swedish) presence there, and adventures of Norwegians and Icelanders at the court of Kiev, and on the way to Byzantium, presumably inspired the setting. (Compare the extra-textual Russian connections of "Arrow-Odd.") There are excursions into Tartary, and the Aegean, but also to Halogaland (Norway), and Jotunheim, the realm of the Giants; a not untypical mixture of the known, the exotic, and the mythical.

The volume is rounded off with two short tales, "Thorstein Mansion-Might" ("Thorsteins thattr baejarmagns"), which opens with a visit to the Underworld and an encounter with a dwarf, and continues with exploits among giants, and the very brief "Helgi Thorisson" ("Helga thattr Thorissonar"), set in the reign of King Olaf Trygvasson (995-1000). Both of these return us to King Godmund and his legendary realm of marvels and adventures, which are also attested in Saxo Grammaticus and the "Hervarar Saga."

Not great works -- although "Arrow-Odd" has some claims to be an especially well-told story, and the shortest works have their own compressed charm. But definitely worth having available alongside the "crowned masterpiece" examples of medieval Icelandic literature. Hermann Palsson and Paul Edwards were not wasting their time, and readers interested in giants, dwarves, and trolls, magic weapons, and the like, probably won't feel that they are wasting their time, either.

A different look at the hero - Arrow Odd (1 of the 7 tales)
Arrow-Odd went to Permia and was remembered forever.
I read Arrow-Odd once and will never forget it.

Far from what we might consider a hero, Arrow-Odd kills, rapes, and piliages without reason. Yet for its hero's downfalls, Arrow-Odd is an interesting tale that involves trips to Giantland, the conquering of several viking hoardes single-handedly, and Arrow-Odd's brief stint as "Bark-Man".This tale could be likened to the comic books of today, but with no pictures and in verse.

I would recommend this collection, particulary the reading of Arrow-Odd, to anyone interested in the cultures of old, the evolution of the hero, or a kooky trip into viking lore.

Maybe better called Seven Fanciful Viking Adventures
The term "Romances" in the title refers to the style not the content of these stories.These are really fantastic adventures.There are a couple lengthly ones and some short ones, but most all of them are great reading.I would say that even if you don't find the legalistic/feud-based Icelandic sagas particularly appealing, these are a quite different. These seem much more like mythical stories, although the Norse gods play only a limited role in them.In some ways they are like Beowulf because they portray Norse dealing with fantastic creatures and magic.They would make great movies, but not really for children. ... Read more

Product Description

Though infamous for their violent marauding, Vikings were but one part of the complex Scandinavian culture from which they emerged. This excellent and intimate study goes beyond the rumors of the fury of the Northmen, into the prosaic realities of the greater Scandinavian community, and is ideal for readers who want to discover the everyday details of living in this dynamic time and place. What were Viking families like? How were slaves treated? Were older people treated well, or regarded with contempt? Exactly how did they manage to travel from Baghdad to Greenland? Author Kirsten Wolf answers all of these questions and many more in this highly readable and informative resource volume, which will be a benefit and pleasure to the student and the general reader alike.

For the reader's convenience, the work is organized into chapters covering all aspects life: domestic, economic, intellectual, material, political, recreational, and religious. It includes a historical timeline of Viking history, complementary pictures, illustrations, and maps, and a bibliography.

Customer Reviews (3)

Raid, pillage and plunder?
Very good; another valuable contribution to this excellent series.Could use a few more illustrations and pictures, but the information is good.

This is a very biased book.
While I enjoyed reading this book for my research, I was disgusted by the author's constant references to Christianity as a better religon than the pagan traditions of the Vikings. When I engage in historical research, I expect to be presented with facts, not the author's opinions as to which religon is better.The author constantly makes comments such as, "The viking raids were caused by the poor resources of the region, but eventually ceased when Christianity was introducedand the Vikings became more satisfied with their lot in life."

I intend to write a long letter to the publisher about the editor's inability to remove religious commentary from a book concerning the history of a people. I advise serious researchers to locate other sources, as this book is excessively biased.

needs more photos of artifacts
The author writes to educate a general audience about Viking society. While the Vikings are certainly remembered, few histories that mention them go into much details about the actual culture. Wolf gives a broad sweep through what is known to specialist historians. We see the cultural affinities between the Vikings in Scandinavia and the societies in Germany and eastern Europe.

The book also describes the visual art. Most of which appears on functional items as decorative emblems. Very applied, as Wolf puts it. The book has several photos of Viking artifacts. Nice, but perhaps some of these should have been in colour. And more of them.

The role of slavery is also examined. Not race-based, as it was in America. But the thrall or chattel slavery practised by the Vikings was arguably just as brutal. The book also points out much that still remains unknown, like their legal system. Little has survived in writing to attest to this. ... Read more

Product Description
For those living outside Scandinavia, the Viking Age effectively began in 793 with an attack on the monastery at Lindisfarne. The attack on Lindisfarne was a characteristically violent harbinger of what was in store for Britain and much of Europe from the Vikings for the next 300 years, until the final destruction of the heathen temple to the Norse gods at Uppsala around 1090. Robert Ferguson is a sure guide across what he calls 'the treacherous marches which divide legend from fact in Viking Age history'. His long familiarity with the literary culture of Scandinavia - the eddas, the poetry of the skalds and the sagas - is combined with the latest archaeological discoveries and the evidence of picture-stones, runes, ships and objects scattered all over northern Europe, to make the most convincing modern portrait of the Viking Age in any language. "The Hammer and the Cross" ranges from Scandinavia itself to Kievan Rus and Byzantium in the east, to Iceland, Greenland and the north American settlements in the west.Beyond its geographical boundaries, the book takes us on a journey to a misty region inhabited by Hallfred the Troublesome Poet, Harald Bluetooth, Ragnar Hairy-Breeches, Ivar the Boneless and Eyvind the Plagiarist, in which literature, history and myth dissolve into one another. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

"Vikings: A History"
There have been many books written on the Vikings, and everyone has their own stereotypical - and in most cases, inaccurate - idea of who the Vikings were and what they were like; media has done much to reaffirm these clichés.Thankfully, there is The Vikings: A History by a "leading authority in the field of Scandinavian studies," Robert Ferguson.Ferguson puts all the misconceived and incorrect notions of Vikings to rest, launching into a comprehensive history of these northern peoples and what affect they had on Europe from the eighth centuries on through the first millennium.Ferguson pulls from many sources, and presents not just the viewpoint of the Vikings and their achievements, but also short histories on the northern British Isles, Charlemagne, and the various kingdoms of the European continent, showing how greatly affected they were by the Viking attacks and takeovers.The Vikings: A History will clear away the image of a horn-helmeted brute and replace it with a developed, complex culture that was intelligent and creative, and had reasons for the attacks against the various peoples of Europe.

Originally written on January 15th 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.

Originally published in the Sacramento Book Review.

For over 500 book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to [...]

Just Because You Research It Doesn't Mean It Belongs in the Book
James Mitchner was famous for incorporating every piece of research his staff found for him on the subject he was writing about.Hawaii and Poland are full of unnecessary and useless information just because Mitchner had found it out.This is the problem with Ferguson's book on the Vikings.Though much of the information is fascinating much of it is idiotic and blatantly boring.The other problem with the book is that Ferguson keeps going over the same material chapter by chapter as if your only going to read parts of the book.Either that or he thinks his readers can't remember from one page to the next.

In trying to make some chapter more coherent he goes back to the beginning of the Viking era again and again as he tries to explain how the Vikings became Normans, Rus and others.All well and good but this could have been done in a single chapter not over and over again.He also has the problem with either putting in too many dates or then leaving all dates out.It might have helped had he put in a genealogy of the Kings of Norway, Denmark and England in order to make it clearer who was who and who had a claim to which crown.Just reading about all these kings with homonym type name is confusing enough.For example: before the battle at Hastings between Harold and William, Harold fought a battle against the Danes near York lead by a Harald.Do you think that the Heralds had trouble telling one king from another?Can you hear the voices during the battle yelling, "rally round King Harold/Harald" and the confusion this must have caused?

Therefore I give Ferguson three stars and suggest that he produce a second edition that had been revised to tell his story chronologically and tighten up some of the stories.After the twentieth or so apology that there is no written source to follow or only one biased account to go by, we understand that there is a lack of information to prove some conclusions.

Zeb Kantrowitz

Not the First Book to Read
If you know little about the history of the Vikings, this is not the place to start. But if you are reasonably well-read, Ferguson's book adds depth and color to the Viking history and experience.

"The Vikings" presents its selections of Viking history in part through archeological and literary sources. The result seems almost anecdotal at times, but it is through anecdotes that Viking life, society and history take on added dimensions.

If, for example, you do not know about the raid on Lindisfarne that many say began "The Viking Age" you will learn little of the specifics from Ferguson.What you will learn is how the chroniclers in England saw the raid, how it was perceived by Bishop Alcuin in the court of Charlemagne and, speculatively, why the Vikings may have chosen to attack Christian sites as retaliation for forced conversion of Danish (Viking) Heathens by forces under Charlemagne.

Ferguson covers most of the standard parts of Viking history, the raiding and conquest of Normandy, the trading network through the Russian river system, the settlement of Iceland, the Greenland and North American adventures, the centuries-long struggle for England and the coming of Christianity to Norway. He adds attention to the Vikings in the Mediterranean and Iberia and interactions with Islam.

What sets his approach apart from other writers I have read is the central role of literary sources and archeological data.Instead of telling us what happened, frequently he lets us see the facts on the ground (through archeology) or hear the voices of those affected (throgh quotations from annals, correspondence and the like).

Throughout, the broad sweep of "the forest" is less obvious than the particular "trees," that make it up. A first time reader of Viking history may come away with a confused understanding from a disjointed narrative.One who knows the outlines well will find his knowledge of Vikings and their age richer for the effort.

Terrible...
$16.99 for the Kindle Edition of this book is flat out robbery. What are publishers charging so much for? They're not using ink...they're not using paper...there are no man hours involved...it's greed. What happened to the promised $9.99 Kindle books? Amazon, you can't do anything about this?? I realize not every book can be $9.99, but there's a growing trend of e-books being priced higher and higher. You roped me into buying a Kindle with tales of $9.99, now you're raising prices. Classic bait and switch...shame on you and shame on the publishers.

Useful survey
This is an excellent resource to learn about the Vikings' pre-Christian cultural practices as well as their raiding and settlement activities in Russia, England, Ireland, Iceland, and beyond. It presents genetic evidence for the partial Scandinavian descent of some of the people living in parts of present-day Britain and Ireland. Viking personalities discussed at length include King Cnut, King Guthrum, Ivar the Boneless, and many more. The writing is clear and the 32 photographs are well-chosen. ... Read more

Product Description
Vikings plagued the coasts of Ireland and Britain in the 790s. Over time, their raids became more intense and by the mid-ninth century vikings had established a number of settlements in Ireland and Britain and had become heavily involved with local politics. A particularly successful viking leader named Aivarr campaigned on both sides of the Irish Sea in the 860s. His descendants dominated the major seaports of Ireland and challenged the power of kings in Britain during the later ninth and tenth centuries. In 1014, the battle of Clontarf marked a famous stage in the decline of viking power in Ireland whilst the conquest of England in 1013 by the Danish king Sveinn Forkbeard marked a watershed in the history of vikings in Britain.The descendants of Aivarr continued to play a significant role in the history of Dublin and the Hebrides until the twelfth century, but they did not threaten to overwhelm the major kingships of Britain or Ireland in this later period as they had done before. This book provides a political analysis of the deeds of Aivarr's family from their first appearance in Insular records down to the year 1014.Such an account is necessary in light of the flurry of new work that has been done in other areas of Viking Studies.Recent theoretical approaches to the subject have raised many interesting questions regarding identity, material culture and structures of authority. Archaeological finds and excavations have also offered potentially radical insights into viking settlement and society. In line with these developments Clare Downham provides a reconsideration of events based on contemporary written accounts. It will appeal to a wide range of people who are curious to know more about the history of vikings in Britain and Ireland. ... Read more

Product Description
Covering the topic of the Vikings, this book is the second title in a series by the author of "Bloody History". ... Read more

Product Description
Part of the TIME TRAVELLERS series, an introduction to the Vikings which provides information about their homes, villages and way of life, such as war campaigns in longboats, raids on England, and eventual domesticity and acquiescence of trade. Illustrated in full colour, by Stephen Cartwright. ... Read more

Product Description
Full-color photography is paired with clearly written text in these exciting first reference books about history and the natural world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Vikings (DK Eyewitness Books)
Required reading for that want to learn the basic facts about vikings. The companies service as well as the quality of the merchandise was every bit what was promised. If this quality is the standard for this book store, I will order again from this company.

Amazing book with perfect photos and exceptionally well written!
This book is complete. You will SEE with your own eyes many objects, ships, weapons, tools, clothes, jewelry, ornaments, etc.. which the vikings made with an amazing artistry. In addition, every single picture comes with an explanation, among texts with a perfect narrative of the Viking ERA: such as their costums and way of living, from the way the used to bury their dead to the way they lived life to its fullest. ... Read more

Product Description
The Binkerton twins, Josh and Emma, and their little sister, Libby, unwittingly stumble into the Good Times Travel Agency and are carried off on a trip they'll never forget. First, the kids are stowaways on a Viking longship. Then, the Berserker, the most feared of Norse warriors, drags Josh along on a Viking raid. And Emma makes a plunder blunder that turns the siblings into slaves! Will the Binkertons' latest saga come to an untimely end? Adventures with the Vikings mixes fact and fiction for fast, funny and fascinating romps through the past. Kids will adore the contemporary comic-book look, while parents, teachers and librarians will love the well-researched story lines and solid factual information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

mom reviewing for 6,9 & 11
I love the Good Times Travel Agency books and my kids reread them. The graphics/comic style is attractive to the kids, and the 'journal' at the bottom of each page is humorous and educational,but can be bypassed if they're looking for a quick read. ... Read more

Product Description
More than 1,000 years ago, the Vikings were the most powerful people in Europe. Their homeland was Scandinavia--the countries we know as Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Norway--but their search for new land and trade turned them into great travelers and explorers. In this volume, Neil Grant explores and explains the Viking world, devoting each double-page spread to a particular aspect of life in Viking times. From farming and religion to ships, navigation, and war, The Vikings provides a comprehensive and lively picture of life during this fascinating period. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing from recent archaeological and linguistic evidence, as well as more traditional literary and narrative sources, the author distinguishes between the initial phase of migrations in the ninth and tenth centuries, and the secondary period of settlement up to c. 1100 AD. He emphasizes, too, the differences in nature and intensity of the Viking impact on the societies that were slowly developing into the historic kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the more complex political structures of Wales and Ireland. Throughout the book, the effects of the Scandinavian invasions on Britain are set within the wider European context. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Helpful overview
Although a fairly slim book (it's only 128 pages long, including the index), this volume is quite packed with information. I like the way the book is laid out--it basically divides the Viking era into two blocks of time--the first from the beginning of the Viking period until roughly 950, and the second from 950 until 1100--then goes through each area of the British Isles, including not only Anglo-Saxon England but also Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the northern islands, and talks about how they were affected by the Vikings during the period. There's also a very interesting chapter near the end about the various languages spoken in the British Isles during the Viking era. This is an overview type of study, so the degree of detail is somewhat limited, but still I'd definitely recommend it.

1066 is just another year
The student of the history of Anglo Saxon England who ignores a study of the effect of the Scandinavian invasions does so at their own peril. In much the same way, the student who chooses not to read at least one work by the well-respected Anglo Saxon scholar Henry Loyn does so at the risk of severely limiting their historiographical knowledge of this period. The late Professor Loyn was a consummate historian whose work serves, itself, as a textbook on the way in which historical research should be conducted.
In a time in which historical study is more and more reflective of the political and personal biases of the historian, Loyn's treatise on the impact of the Scandinavian Age on the peoples and history of Britain is, by contrast, a balanced, methodical and reasonably well-argued case. Indeed, the organization of the chapters of the book itself is built around such a balance. Rather than providing a continuous narrative from the earliest Viking expeditions in 793 to the latter part of the 11th century, Loyn finds it more useful to discuss the Scandinavian and British worlds separately and further subdivides his study into two time periods, providing the break at 954 A.D.
The author begins his work by relating current historical knowledge of the state of affairs of the three main players from Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Bringing the reader up to the commencement of the Viking raids on Britain in the late 8th century, Loyn provides the possible motivation for such raids, including such factors as climactic change, overpopulation and political instability at home. Loyn follows this with a discussion of the conditions in all of the British Isles, briefly acquainting the unfamiliar reader with the histories of the four main divisions of Britain to 800 A.D. . Notably refreshing is Loyn's apparent disregard for contemporary political sensitivities by including the whole of Ireland as one of the British Isles to be discussed, avoiding a separate treatment of the island as many modern historians tend to do.
Having the foundation laid, Loyn then launches into a discussion of the Viking sorties and eventual settlement of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England in that order. From this point onward, Loyn's text is a narration of events, sprinkled with commentary by the author. Loyn relates the settlements of Dublin and Waterford, the conquest of the western isles in Scotland and the western coastal defenses of Wales, all of which, while important in the development of these regions, did little to affect the political, social and economic histories of the modern nations of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They did, however, provide a base for attacks on what is now England and a base for the extensive discussion of English history by the author. We follow the settlement of the Danes in East Anglia, the retreat of Alfred to the southern reaches of Wessex and the eventual agreement arranged between Alfred and Guthrum over the partition and ruling of England under the Danelaw. At this point, Loyn provides a good example of the balance he has brought to this study. Where most authors have treated this agreement as a victory for the English, Loyn shows us how this also strengthened the Danes, providing them with a sense of pride and, more importantly, a legitimization of their presence in England and a chance to consolidate their power.
From here Loyn takes us through the reconquest of the Danelaw by the Anglo-Saxon kings down to the peaceful reign of Edgar, the great-grandson of Alfred the Great. The author then returns the reader to Scandinavia, bringing them up-to-date on the political manouverings in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, laying the groundwork for an understanding of the turmoil to follow in the history of England in the following century. We see the consolidation of power in the developing monarchies of these countries, leading to the eventual return of invasions to England at the close of the 10th century and the parallel consolidation of power under Cnut in the early part of the 11th century. To the naïve reader not acquainted with these histories, the Norman Conquest may come as a surprise in 1066. When one considers the larger arena containing the events in these northern countries, it is clear that the Norman invasion was not a surprise but rather one more in a series of attempts by the Scandinavians to rule the rich, enticing lands of the British Isles.
At this point, after a brief discussion of the waning years of Norwegian influence in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Loyn attempts to provide the reader with something of a summary and understanding of the impact of the Scandinavian invasions on Britain. Here the author begins a long, detailed synopsis of the evidence available illustrating the Scandinavian contributions to the political, cultural, social and institutional fabrics of British history. For each of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, Loyn relates artistic achievements, results of place name studies, linguistic clues and legal practices. The author simultaneously provides the reader not only examples of Scandinavian influence on succeeding generations but also evidence for the narrative that precedes this discussion.
It is the placement of this information that provides the only flaw in this book. The book in some ways is a synthesis of the narrative history of this fascinating time period and a summary of current historical research on the topic. The book could easily stand on its own as an undergraduate textbook without the inclusion of this final chapter. In the same way, it could provide the advanced student and researcher with a good start on the research on this field if this information was placed in the text itself where it is needed for support. The work requires that the researcher take the first six chapters on face value until the evidence can be presented in the end.
This one flaw, however, is not fatal and should not deter the serious scholar from reading this work. In all other aspects it is well organized and well presented and provides the reader with a concise and complete summary of the Viking Age.

1066 is just another year
The student of the history of Anglo Saxon England who ignores a study of the effect of the Scandinavian invasions does so at their own peril. In much the same way, the student who chooses not to read at least one work by the well-respected Anglo Saxon scholar Henry Loyn does so at the risk of severely limiting their historiographical knowledge of this period. The late Professor Loyn was a consummate historian whose work serves, itself, as a textbook on the way in which historical research should be conducted.
In a time in which historical study is more and more reflective of the political and personal biases of the historian, Loyn's treatise on the impact of the Scandinavian Age on the peoples and history of Britain is, by contrast, a balanced, methodical and reasonably well-argued case. Indeed, the organization of the chapters of the book itself is built around such a balance. Rather than providing a continuous narrative from the earliest Viking expeditions in 793 to the latter part of the 11th century, Loyn finds it more useful to discuss the Scandinavian and British worlds separately and further subdivides his study into two time periods, providing the break at 954 A.D.
The author begins his work by relating current historical knowledge of the state of affairs of the three main players from Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Bringing the reader up to the commencement of the Viking raids on Britain in the late 8th century, Loyn provides the possible motivation for such raids, including such factors as climactic change, overpopulation and political instability at home. Loyn follows this with a discussion of the conditions in all of the British Isles, briefly acquainting the unfamiliar reader with the histories of the four main divisions of Britain to 800 A.D. . Notably refreshing is Loyn's apparent disregard for contemporary political sensitivities by including the whole of Ireland as one of the British Isles to be discussed, avoiding a separate treatment of the island as many modern historians tend to do.
Having the foundation laid, Loyn then launches into a discussion of the Viking sorties and eventual settlement of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England in that order. From this point onward, Loyn's text is a narration of events, sprinkled with commentary by the author. Loyn relates the settlements of Dublin and Waterford, the conquest of the western isles in Scotland and the western coastal defenses of Wales, all of which, while important in the development of these regions, did little to affect the political, social and economic histories of the modern nations of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They did, however, provide a base for attacks on what is now England and a base for the extensive discussion of English history by the author. We follow the settlement of the Danes in East Anglia, the retreat of Alfred to the southern reaches of Wessex and the eventual agreement arranged between Alfred and Guthrum over the partition and ruling of England under the Danelaw. At this point, Loyn provides a good example of the balance he has brought to this study. Where most authors have treated this agreement as a victory for the English, Loyn shows us how this also strengthened the Danes, providing them with a sense of pride and, more importantly, a legitimization of their presence in England and a chance to consolidate their power.
From here Loyn takes us through the reconquest of the Danelaw by the Anglo-Saxon kings down to the peaceful reign of Edgar, the great-grandson of Alfred the Great. The author then returns the reader to Scandinavia, bringing them up-to-date on the political manouverings in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, laying the groundwork for an understanding of the turmoil to follow in the history of England in the following century. We see the consolidation of power in the developing monarchies of these countries, leading to the eventual return of invasions to England at the close of the 10th century and the parallel consolidation of power under Cnut in the early part of the 11th century. To the naïve reader not acquainted with these histories, the Norman Conquest may come as a surprise in 1066. When one considers the larger arena containing the events in these northern countries, it is clear that the Norman invasion was not a surprise but rather one more in a series of attempts by the Scandinavians to rule the rich, enticing lands of the British Isles.
At this point, after a brief discussion of the waning years of Norwegian influence in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Loyn attempts to provide the reader with something of a summary and understanding of the impact of the Scandinavian invasions on Britain. Here the author begins a long, detailed synopsis of the evidence available illustrating the Scandinavian contributions to the political, cultural, social and institutional fabrics of British history. For each of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, Loyn relates artistic achievements, results of place name studies, linguistic clues and legal practices. The author simultaneously provides the reader not only examples of Scandinavian influence on succeeding generations but also evidence for the narrative that precedes this discussion.
It is the placement of this information that provides the only flaw in this book. The book in some ways is a synthesis of the narrative history of this fascinating time period and a summary of current historical research on the topic. The book could easily stand on its own as an undergraduate textbook without the inclusion of this final chapter. In the same way, it could provide the advanced student and researcher with a good start on the research on this field if this information was placed in the text itself where it is needed for support. The work requires that the researcher take the first six chapters on face value until the evidence can be presented in the end.
This one flaw, however, is not fatal and should not deter the serious scholar from reading this work. In all other aspects it is well organized and well presented and provides the reader with a concise and complete summary of the Viking Age. ... Read more