Vikings and the Vikings


Book Description

This essay collection is a wide-ranging exploration of Vikings, the television series that has successfully summoned the historical world of the Norse people for modern audiences to enjoy. From a range of critical viewpoints, these all fresh essays explore the ways in which past and present representations of the Vikings converge in the show's richly textured dramatization of the rise and fall of Ragnar Loobrok--and the exploits of his heirs--creating what many viewers label a "true" representation of the age. From the show's sources in both saga literature and Victorian revival, to its engagement with contemporary concerns regarding gender, race and identity, via setting, sex, society and more, this first book-length study of the History Channel series appeals to fans of the show, Viking enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in medievalist representation in the 21st century.




Mythology


Book Description

A better deal could not be out there. This valuable box or combo contains six titles that are each targeted towards a different area of the world. Most are in Europe, and a couple of them beyond that continent. You will read about myths, deities, people being killed, people betraying each other, animals that can talk, supernatural powers that are exerted, and much, much more. Each of these books is not only filled with the stories from those times, but a number of background details of that particular society as well, so you can better understand how people thought and why these stories make more sense in the historical context. Feel free to begin reading or listening anytime, but I would encourage you to start right now.




Shieldmaiden - Fearless Women of the Viking Age


Book Description

Shieldmaiden - Fearless women of the Viking Age: myth and reality of Norse heroines Norse mythology is rich in stories about courageous warriors who entered the legends as shieldmaidens. In “Shieldmaiden - Fearless Women of the Viking Age: Myth and Reality of Norse Heroines”, these fascinating figures are explored in depth. This book provides a comprehensive account of the best-known shieldmaidens such as Brünnhilde, Lagertha and Aslaug and combines the mythical tales with historical evidence and archaeological finds. It shows that the stories about these warrior women were not just figments of the imagination, but deeply rooted in Norse culture and history. Learn more about the role of women in the Viking Age, their portrayal in the sagas and their significance in modern pop culture. This book is aimed at anyone interested in Norse myths, strong female figures and the history of the Vikings. Be inspired by the stories of these fearless women and discover the impressive world of the shieldmaiden - between myth and reality.




The World of Vikings


Book Description

The official companion book to the first three seasons of the hit History Channel show inspired by a legendary Viking warrior. MGM’s hit show Vikings on the History Channel has drawn millions of viewers into the fascinating and bloody world of legendary Norse hero Ragnar Lothbrok, who led Viking warriors to the British Isles and France. Covering the first three seasons of the series, this official companion book delves into the real history as well as the behind-the-scenes stories. Viking historian Justin Pollard explains shipbuilding and navigation, Norse culture and religion, and the first encounters between Viking warriors and the kings of England and France. Interviews with cast and crew reveal the process of dramatizing this gripping story, from reviving the Old Norse language to choreographing battle scenes and building ancient temples for human sacrifice. This ebook is a must for fans of the show and history buffs alike. VIKINGS © 2015 TM Prods Ltd/T5 Vikings Prods Inc. VIKINGSTM TM Prods Ltd. Praise for The World of Vikings “A gorgeous companion book to the hit series . . . The World of Vikings is an excellent piece for the avid Vikings fan. I highly recommend it.” —Geeks of Doom “This is a whole new way of learning about Vikings. This book is full of the legends and the lifestyle, with pictures to boot. It is a great read for any proud Scandinavian.” —Grand Forks Herald




The Sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok


Book Description

Although based on historical persons from the 9th century, Ragnar Lodbrok and his sons are the subjects of compelling legends dating from the Viking era. Warriors, raiders, and rulers, Ragnar and his sons inspired unknown writers to set down their stories over seven centuries ago. This volume presents new and original translations of the three major Old Norse texts that tell Ragnar's story: the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, the Tale of Ragnar's Sons, and the Sogubrot. Ragnar's death song, the Krakumal, and a Latin fragment called the List of Swedish Kings, complete the story. Extensive notes and commentary are provided, helping the reader to enter the world of these timeless stories of Viking adventure.




A Pirate's Life for She


Book Description

Pirates are an enduring popular subject, depicted often in songs, stories, and Halloween costumes. Yet the truth about pirate women—who they were, why they went to sea, and what their lives were really like—is seldom a part of the conversation. In this Seven Seas history of the world's female buccaneers, A Pirate's Life for She tells the story of 16 women who through the ages who sailed alongside—and sometimes in command of—their male counterparts. These women came from all walks of life but had one thing in common: a desire for freedom. History has largely ignored these female swashbucklers, until now. Here are their stories, from ancient Norse princess Alfhild to Sayyida al-Hurra of the Barbary corsairs; from Grace O'Malley, who terrorized shipping operations around the British Isles during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I; to Cheng I Sao, who commanded a fleet of 1,400 ships off China in the early 19th century. Author Laura Sook Duncombe takes an honest look at these women, acknowledging that they are not easy heroines: they are lawbreakers. A Pirate's Life for She tells their full stories, focusing on the reasons they became pirates. It is possible to admire the courage, determination, and skills these women possessed without endorsing her actions. These are the remarkable stories of women who took control of their own destinies in a world where the odds were against them, empowering young women to reach for their own dreams.




The Vikings


Book Description

The story of the Norse is a Viking adventure in history. The Norse saga began with the first ancient tribes of Norsemen during the Early Nordic Stone Age. The beginning of the Nordic Ax Culture when primitive Norsemen created their first battle axes from stone. The evolution of an innovative and progressive culture that groomed legendary warriors whose voices still roar out today. Take a journey into the Age of Viking Expansion where Ragnar Lothbrok, Rollo, Erik the Red, and many other famous Vikings take you on a ride into the very Halls of Valhalla. Very interesting and worth the read to anyone interested in the Vikings or Norse history. Explore knowledge and technology specific to a culture that was shaped by a people able to reach great distances beyond their homelands and seas. A battle ferocious people with shields, armor, and weaponry that was unmatched by their opponents. A whole new world of understanding about the ancient vikings has been opened up by new archaeological discoveries and studies. New findings that lead to new questions. Could some of the mythological tales about giants in the Norse Sagas have had some truth behind them? Researchers have found proof of giants and humans interacting together in our own DNA! There are also many shared technologies between the Ancient Norse, Asians, the Inuit and other North American aborigines. Viking explorers have long interacted and traded with many people and cultures afar. Were ancient Norse already in contact with early Native Americans? Were these the people they referred to as "Skraelings?" Were they Proto-Inuits known by the ancients as Thule People? See for yourself with new information about the Norse that was once lost in time.




Ragnar Lothbrok


Book Description

Ragnar Lothbrok: The Tale of a Viking Warrior King delves into the mystery surrounding the Viking warrior who conquered European nations and became a king in his own right. Over nine centuries after the death of this great warrior, ancient poems, songs, and sagas about him still remain today. This audiobook considers the facts as we know them, the myths attributed to Ragnar, and the way this iconic heathen from the north continues to impact modern culture today. This audiobook will discuss: The historical facts and suppositions surrounding this Viking of legend The retelling of the Saga of Ragnar and his three wives How Ragnar’s sons became an integral part of the legend that Ragnar represents, and the stories that they inspired How, despite centuries of time, Ragnar and Vikings of his time helped shape ideas and common traditions that are still held onto today This audiobook is both fact and fictional recount and is dedicated to Ragnar and his endurable, legendary status in history.




Ragnar - The Legendary Viking


Book Description

Ragnar - The Legendary Viking: The Stories and Adventures of an Immortal Warrior of Norse Mythology Ragnar Lodbrok—a name immortalized in the sagas and myths of the Norse peoples. He was not only a fearless warrior and king but also a charismatic figure who blurred the lines between history and legend. This book takes you deep into the fascinating world of Ragnar Lodbrok and his unforgettable adventures. From his early heroic deeds and the famous dragon battles to his complex marriages and the birth of his legendary sons—this book tells the complete story of Ragnar. Experience how he outwitted his enemies with cunning and intelligence, how he relentlessly pursued glory, and how he ultimately faced the forces of England in one final, tragic act. The book offers a comprehensive narrative of Ragnar's life and legacy, illuminating his historical and mythological roots and showing how his story lives on in modern pop culture. Whether you're a longtime fan of Norse mythology or diving into the sagas for the first time, this tale will captivate and inspire you. Join Ragnar Lodbrok on his epic journey and discover the myths that shaped the North. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the fascinating world of the Vikings.




The Real Valkyrie


Book Description

In the tradition of Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra, Brown lays to rest the hoary myth that Viking society was ruled by men and celebrates the dramatic lives of female Viking warriors “Once again, Brown brings Viking history to vivid, unexpected life—and in the process, turns what we thought we knew about Norse culture on its head. Superb.” —Scott Weidensaul, author of New York Times bestselling A World on the Wing "Magnificent. It captured me from the very first page." —Pat Shipman, author of The Invaders In 2017, DNA tests revealed to the collective shock of many scholars that a Viking warrior in a high-status grave in Birka, Sweden was actually a woman. The Real Valkyrie weaves together archaeology, history, and literature to imagine her life and times, showing that Viking women had more power and agency than historians have imagined. Nancy Marie Brown uses science to link the Birka warrior, whom she names Hervor, to Viking trading towns and to their great trade route east to Byzantium and beyond. She imagines her life intersecting with larger-than-life but real women, including Queen Gunnhild Mother-of-Kings, the Viking leader known as The Red Girl, and Queen Olga of Kyiv. Hervor’s short, dramatic life shows that much of what we have taken as truth about women in the Viking Age is based not on data, but on nineteenth-century Victorian biases. Rather than holding the household keys, Viking women in history, law, saga, poetry, and myth carry weapons. These women brag, “As heroes we were widely known—with keen spears we cut blood from bone.” In this compelling narrative Brown brings the world of those valkyries and shield-maids to vivid life.