Else RoesdahlVikings, The

Although the current interest in the Viking era has led to a plethora of glossy books on the subject anyone who wants an interesting and balanced, albeit somewhat scholarly, overview of the places, politics and culture that produced the Norse expansion should read this.It still constantly appears as a recommendation for further reading in many newer books so can be regarded as a classic.It is a tad dry, but for anyone wanting a balanced view of the Viking era which does not jump to conclusions, uses many sources and injects some reality into the frequently exaggerated accounts in contemporary chronicles, it is a delight.I was hugely amused by the likelihood that monastic raiders would ignore ecclesiastical objects (that were rarely made of precious metal) but would steal your nicely made bucket with the pretty bronze mounts. Their priorities were acquisition of silver, gold, slaves and honour, but they would take your bucket and the clasp from a holy book would be levered off to take home to be made into a new brooch for your girlfriend.The author also doesn't evade the issue of slavery in Norse society, since all agrarian cultures worldwide depended on un-free labour at this time, but this is something that many writers are uncomfortable in addressing, and skip over.It is this sort of detail that makes the book a good read as far as I am concerned and, though it is probably not suitable as one's first book on the period, I thoroughly recommend it as a really good overview.

nice book, lots of b/w photos, maps, sketchs of ships,towns,camps,battles and items like robes,weapons and other items, chapters on the homelands,kings,people and lands they moved to like England, Ireland etc

I enjoyed reading this book until page 52, which is disfigured with felt pen markings in bright orange. Checking the rest of the book, I found felt pen markings in bright pink on pages 69, 71, 123, 124, 125,126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, and in orange on 152, 157, 158, and in pink on 253.

I have been reading this for about a week now and love it. Great book worth every penny.

A very informative book but somewhat dry and dreary.