Synopses & Reviews
"An utterly splendid book, quite the most brilliantly written, balanced, and explanative general work on the Vikings ever to appear in English or in any language."--
Scandinavian StudiesThe subject of this book is the Viking realms, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, their civilization and culture, and their many sided achievements at home and abroad.
A highly readable narrative follows the development of these Northern peoples--the Nordmenn--from their origins and the legendary pre-history to the military triumphs of Canute and the defeat of Harald Hardrádi at Stamford Bridge in 1066, which symbolically ended the Viking age.
The book recounts the Vikings' exploits in war, trade, and colonization: the assault on Western Christendom; the trading and military ventures to the Slav and Muslim worlds and to Byzantium; and the western voyages of discovery and settlement to Greenland, Iceland, and America.
Numerous photographs, maps, and drawings contribute to Gwyn Jones's rounded portrait of Viking civilization and vividly evoke the importance in their culture of religion, art, and seafaring.
Review
"Excellent revision and useful for both graduates and undergraduates."--Benjamin T. Hudson, Pennsylvania State University
"In this revised edition of his 1968 volume, hailed as the definitive study of the three hundred years during which Scandinavians changed the face of medieval Europe, Jones has updated his text to incorporate the latest scholarly findings from both Europe and North America."--The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Excellent survey - in-depth and well balanced."--Cassandra Potts, Middlebury College
About the Author
Gwyn Jones is Emeritus Professor of English Language and Literature, University College, Cardiff
Table of Contents
Part 1 - The Northern Peoples to AD 700 1. From Beginnings to the Age of Migrations
2. The Legendary History of the Swedes and the Danes
1. Part 2 - The Viking Kingdoms to the Close of the Tenth Century The Scandinavian Community, I: Diversity and Unity
2. The Historical Traditions of Norway to 950
3. Denmark to the Death of Gorm the Old
4. Denmark and Norway from the Accession of Harald Bluetooth to the Death of Olaf Tryggvason
Part 3 - The Viking Movement Overseas
1. The Scandinavian Community, II: Aspects of Society
2. Causes of the Viking Movement Overseas
3. The Movement South and South-West to 954: the British Isles, the Frankish Empire, the Mediterranean
4. The Movement East: The Baltic Lands, Russia, Byzantium
5. The Movement West: Iceland, Greenland, America
Part 4 - The Viking Age Ends
1. The Scandinavian Community III: Culture and Image
2. Svein Forkbeard, Saint Olaf, Knut the Great
3. The Viking Kingdoms to the Death of Harald Hardradi, 1066