Saint Magnus, the Last Viking


Book Description

Historical young adult novel of Saint Magnus, An 11th century Viking prince.




The Last Viking Trilogy


Book Description

The complete trilogy in one volume: An epic saga by an award-winning author about the daring life of the fierce Norse warrior-king Harald Hardrede. Harald Hardrede, last and greatest of the Norse kings, matures from an uncrowned young man hungry for battle to a ruler with dreams of expansion he is determined to realize. The Golden Horn: Only seventeen, Harald Sigurdharson—one day to be called Hardrede—covets the throne he is still too young to take. Restless, the warrior journeys to Constantinople where he becomes a member of the fabled Varangian Guard entrusted with the safety of the Byzantine emperor and romances an enticing beauty from a powerful clan. The Road of the Sea Horse: Harald Hardrede, who has spent years serving foreign rulers in faraway realms, returns to Norway, undefeated and ready to grow his empire. Harald’s task to unite the northlands will be difficult and require great sacrifice, for the people will adamantly resist his invasion. But Harald will not be deterred; he is determined to carve out his place in history. The Sign of the Raven: Harald has become a great king and a powerful conqueror, but his rule has become unstable. Treachery is brewing in the North and his conquest of Denmark is still out of reach. Unable to raise his wife’s downtrodden spirits or identify with his illegitimate sons, he sets out on his final adventure to seize the prize he has coveted above all others: the fortified island called Britannia.




The Last Viking


Book Description

'The Last Viking is a masterful and pulse-pounding narrative that transports the reader into the middle of the action.' Carl Gnam, Military Heritage Harald Sigurdsson burst into history as a teenaged youth in a Viking battle from which he escaped with little more than his life and a thirst for vengeance. But from these humble origins, he became one of Norway's most legendary kings. The Last Viking is a fast-moving narrative account of the life of King Harald Hardrada, as he journeyed across the medieval world, from the frozen wastelands of the North to the glittering towers of Byzantium and the passions of the Holy Land, until his warrior death on the battlefield in England. Combining Norse sagas, Byzantine accounts, Anglo-Saxon chronicles, and even King Harald's own verse and prose into a single, compelling story, Don Hollway vividly depicts the violence and spectacle of the late Viking era and delves into the dramatic events that brought an end to almost three centuries of Norse conquest and expansion.




A Soldier Surrenders


Book Description

A dramatic and powerful story of a great sinner who became a great saint, similar to the famous conversion stories and lives of St. Augustine, St. Paul, and St. Mary Magdalene. St. Camillus is a man that anyone can relate to and be inspired by, a moving story that will appeal to people of all walks of life who recognize in themselves the need for an ongoing conversion and effort to serve others in a spirit of charity and kindness.




Crusader King


Book Description

A new historical novel about the unusual life of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the leper crusader king who - despite ascending to the throne at only 13, his early death at 24 and his debilitating disease - performed great and heroic deeds in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Teenagers and avid readers of all ages will be amazed at this story and be inspired by a faith that accomplished the impossible!




Saint Clare of Assisi


Book Description

"Clare is a wealthy noblewoman with a handsome fiancé, but all she wants is to belong totally to Jesus. Her friend Francis preaches about giving up everything to follow Jesus, but Clare's father wants her get married and stop causing trouble. Will Clare risk everything to follow Christ, or will she give in to her family's wishes?"--Back cover.




The Vikings and Their Age


Book Description

This book, the first in our Companions to Medieval Studies series, is a brief introduction to the history, culture, and religion of the Viking Age and provides an essential foundation for study of the period. The companion begins by defining the Viking Age and explores topics such as Viking society and religion. Viking biographies provide students with information on important figures in Viking lore such as Harald Bluetooth, Eirik the Red, Leif Eiriksson, and Gudrid Thorbjarnardaughter, a female Viking traveler. A compelling chapter entitled "How Do We Know About the Vikings?" and a case study on the wandering monks of St. Philibert introduce students to the process of historical inquiry. The book concludes with a discussion of the impact of the Vikings and their legacy. Pedagogical resources include a detailed chronology, study questions, a glossary, 4 maps, and 14 images. Text boxes provide information on outsider perceptions of the Vikings, a detailed account of a Viking raid, and a description of a chieftain's dwelling in Arctic Norway. This study also benefits from a multi-disciplinary approach including insights and evidence from such diverse disciplines as archaeology, philology, religion, linguistics, and genetics.




The Viking Age


Book Description

In this extensively revised third edition of The Viking Age: A Reader, Somerville and McDonald successfully bring the Vikings and their world to life for twenty-first-century students and instructors. The diversity of the Viking era is revealed through the remarkable range and variety of sources presented as well as the geographical and chronological coverage of the readings. The third edition has been reorganized into fifteen chapters. Many sources have been added, including material on gender and warrior women, and a completely new final chapter traces the continuing cultural influence of the Vikings to the present day. The use of visual material has been expanded, and updated maps illustrate historical developments throughout the Viking Age. The English translations of Norse texts, many of them new to this collection, are straightforward and easily accessible, while chapter introductions contextualize the readings.




The King's Prey


Book Description

An insane king. His fleeing daughter. Estranged brothers, with a scarred past, risking everything to save her from a fate worse than death. Toss in a holy priest and a lovable wolfhound, and get ready for a wild race across Ireland. Will Dymphna escape her deranged father and his sinful desires? For the first time ever, the story of Saint Dymphna is brought to life in this dramatic novel for adults and older teens. With raw adventure, gripping action, and even humor in the midst of dark mental turmoil, Susan Peek's newest novel will introduce you to a saint you will love forever! Teenage girls will see that Dymphna was just like them, a real girl, while young men will thrill at the heart-stopping danger and meet heroes they can easily relate to. If ever a Heavenly friend was needed in these times of widespread depression and emotional instability, this forgotten Irish saint is it!