Product Description

Were the Vikings, as contemporary description had it, a 'valiant, wrathful, foreign, purely pagan people' who swept in from the sea to plunder and slaughter? Or in the words of a Manx folksong 'ware-wolves keen in hungry quest', who lived and died by the sea and the sword. Or were they unusually successful merchants, extortionists, and pioneer explorers? This book, by leading international scholars, considers the latest research and presents a compelling picture of the Vikings and their age. Excavations as far apart as Dublin and Newfoundland, York and Kiev, provide fascinating archaeological evidence, expertly interpreted in this extensively illustrated book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154674 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-18
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Peter Sawyer is Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Leeds.

Customer Reviews

Excellent!
Don't be put off by the title - this is no mere picture book. It contains a series of essays on many aspects of Viking history, complemented by excellent illustrations and photographs, including both art from the period and pictures of Viking artefacts. The essays are written clearly and concisely, exploring topics such as Viking religion, shipbuilding and settlement in England, and make fascinating reading.