The Vikings: A Very Short Introduction

Highlighting the latest archaeological evidence, Julian Richards goes beyond the image of Vikings as bloodthirsty warriors to reveal the full Viking world, including what we have learned about their towns, art, shipbuilding, and religious rituals. Here the Viking story is brought up to date, from the tales of adventure found in medieval Icelandic sagas, to their exploitation as a symbol of nationalism by Wagner, and later by Hitler. The result is a fascinating new look that will illuminate who the Vikings really were.