This
new book is the best one-volume history of the Vikings and the Viking Age available. It sometimes reads like a thrilling novel, taking the reader deep into this
mysterious and often misunderstood world.
Price explodes many misconceptions
about the Viking Age and the people who lived in it while presenting fantastic
new information in the fields of archeology, history, and literature to give us
a clearer picture of the time.
It’s an absolute must-read for anyone interested
in Norse history, spirituality, and culture and was invaluable background
reading for my book.
'As brilliant a history of the Vikings as one could possibly hope to read' Tom Holland
The 'Viking Age' is traditionally held to begin in June 793 when Scandinavian raiders attacked the monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria, and to end in September 1066, when King Harald Hardrada of Norway died leading the charge against the English line at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. This book, the most wide-ranging and comprehensive assessment of the current state of our knowledge, takes a refreshingly different view. It shows that the Viking expansion began generations before the…
This
archeological mystery begins with the author’s coming into possession of a
small carnelian bead from an excavation in Repton, England, and finding that it
originated in India.
She traces how it might have made its way from such a
distance over long trade routes to end up in the possession of a Norse woman (or man) in ninth-century England.
This is no dull trade or mercantile history but a thrilling read about the vibrant cultures that interacted with one
another in the days before mass communication and transit, as well as new
archeological methods of understanding the past.
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER & THE TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF 2021
'Astonishing and compelling' Bernard Cornwell
'Replete with witches, human sacrifice, Greek fire and funeral orgies... one of the most thrilling works of archaeological detective work I have ever read' William Dalrymple, FT
Follow bioarchaeologist Cat Jarman - and the cutting-edge forensic techniques central to her research - as she uncovers epic stories of the Viking age and follows a small 'Carnelian' bead found in a Viking grave in Derbyshire to its origins thousands of miles to the east in Gujarat.
'This superb book is like a classical symphony, perfectly…
This amazing novel is a retelling of the Norse myth
of Angrboda, who was the mother of the monsters Fenrir the Wolf and Jormungandr
the Serpent, as well as the goddess Hel, all fathered by the trickster, Loki.
Angrboda
is traditionally cast in the role of the villain, but Gornichec brilliantly
reimagines her story and role in a sympathetic manner. These kinds of rewrites
have been especially popular using Greek myths in recent years, and the idea
translates very well to the Norse.
It is a beautifully written story that gives the
reader much to ponder about the nature of good and evil and how the victors
write their own histories.
Angrboda's story begins where most witch tales end: with being burnt. A punishment from Odin for sharing her visions of the future with the wrong people, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the furthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be the trickster god Loki, and her initial distrust of him-and any of his kind-grows reluctantly into a deep and abiding love.
Their union produces the most important things in her long life: a trio of peculiar children, each with a secret destiny, whom she…
Beautiful goddesses,
fierce warriors, formidable beasts, and Ragnarök itself—these magical tales
have enthralled audiences for centuries.
This classic collection of tales
offers fascinating insights into Nordic cultures. Stunningly illustrated and
depicting Sámi, Finnish, and Norse myths, this captivating book dives deep into
the rich history of the region and recalls both the most popular and
little-known tales of the north.
This
compendium of northern European folklore is informed by archaeology and
literature. Celebrating the intricacies of a long-lost world, Northern
Mythology breathes new life into the tales of the distant past.
