Chronicles of the Vikings: Records, Memorials and Myths  •  R.I. Page CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A collection of Viking writings, organized thematically, including runic inscriptions, poems and a handful of eyewitness accounts. Scholar R.I. Page provides commentary to compliment his translations. (VIK16, $29.95)
Egil's Saga  •  Bernard Scudder  •  Svanhildur Oskarsdottir LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 254 PAGES This chronicle of war and rivaly between ruling clans, written in the 13th century, blends history and legend. It's a vivid portrait of the Viking world. The action is set in 10th-century southern Scandinavia, the Baltic, Iceland and the North Sea. Egil, a rune reader, a healer, a drunk, a poet, and a farmer, dominated Viking history from his first murder at the age of six because another boy won a ball game. This vivid saga embraces five generations beginning with Egil's grandfather and ending with his grandson. (VIK06, $15.00)
The Greenlanders  •  Jane Smiley LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 608 PAGES • FAVORITE This marvelously researched novel recreates life in the Viking settlements in Greenland, which disappeared 500 years ago. Smiley delves in the medieval colonies, their struggles to survive in the harsh environment, contacts with indigenous people and causes of their disappearance. It includes the tale of the Norse discovery of North America. (ARC08, $15.95)
King Harald's Saga  •  Magnus Magnusson  •  Paulsson Herman  •  Snorri Sturlusson  •  Hermann Palsson LITERATURE •  1976 •  PAPER  • 178 PAGES Written in the 13th century, this is a classic biography of the last Viking warrior King Harald and an account of the 1066 conflict between Norway and England. (NOR19, $13.00)
Last Places, A Journey in the North  •  Lawrence Millman  •  Paul Theroux TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 242 PAGES In the wake of the Vikings, the intrepid author explores the landscapes, culture and history of the North Atlantic. His wry -- and sometimes hilarious -- commentary illuminates modern life in the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland. (ARC54, $13.00)
The Norsemen in the Viking Age  •  Eric Christiansen HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 378 PAGES This scholary history of the Norse takes somewhat of a revisionist approach, examining the evolution of Viking culture as a direct reaction to threatening environmental and social forces at home and abroad. (VIK17, $26.95)
Orkneyinga Saga, The History of the Earls of Orkney  •  Hermann Palssom  •  Paul Edwards LITERATURE •  1981 •  PAPER  • 253 PAGES A fusion of myth and legend, circa A.D. 1200, by an unnamed Icelandic author. This medieval chronicle, with its center of action among the Orkney Islands, is a rich source of knowledge on the northern isles. Describing the conquest of the islands by Norwegian kings during the Viking expansion of the ninth century, it's an account of war and the struggle for supremacy by Sigurd the Powerful, St. Magnus the Martyr, and Hralf, the conqueror of Norway. This modern translation is very readable. (VIK07, $15.00)
The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings  •  Peter Sawyer HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES This compact, well-produced book, featuring contributions by 12 experts, is an insightful overview of the Viking Age. With numerous black-and-white illustrations. (VIK18, $27.99)
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings  •  John Haywood REFERENCE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A thorough history of the Vikings as told through a series of innovative maps and excellent photographs of Viking artifacts. This book traces the route of the 9th-century Viking merchants and explorers throughout Europe and on to the New World. (VIK02, $20.00)
The Real Vikings: Craftsmen, Traders and Fearsome Raiders  •  Melvin Berger  •  Gilda Berger HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 54 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) This colorful guide gives young readers a nice overview of the history of the Vikings and dispels several myths about their brutality and choice of headgear. The Bergers, no strangers to the world of children's literature, focus on the Vikings' emphasis on equality and democracy without ignoring their penchant for violence. An easy and engaging read for kids in grades 4 to 7. (SCN31, $18.95)
The Saga of the Volsungs  •  Jesse Byock LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 145 PAGES This heroic tale by an unknown Icelandic author of the 13th century is a prose epic based on stories found in much older Norse Eddic poetry. Full of traditional lore, including runic knowledge, jealousies of princes, betrayals, unrequited love, the vengeance of a Barbarian queen, the greed of Attila the Hun, and the mythic deeds of a dragon-slayer, this is the Scandinavian version of the German Niebelungenlied used by Wagner for his opera cycle. It's essential reading for anyone wishing to understand Viking society. (SCN05, $14.95)
The Sagas of Icelanders  •  Jane Smiley  •  Robert Kellog EXPLORATION •  2000 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES Nine sagas and six tales collected in a single volume, all newly translated for this edition marking the 1,000th anniversary of Leif Eriksson's voyage to North America, and including an introduction by Jane Smiley (whose books include the wonderful novel of Norse settlements "The Greenlanders"). Composed between 1000 and 1500, these rousing tales are told with surprising directness and simplicity. Any modern explorer setting off across the North Atlantic should consider taking along this big book. (ICL13, $22.00)
Seven Viking Romances  •  Hermann Palssom  •  Paul Edwards ANTHOLOGY •  1985 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES The medieval Icelandic imagination incorporated warriors' raids and local myths, legends, and heroic tales adapted over the centuries from Homer to French romance. This book is an entertaining anthology of Viking kings, adventurers and gods. (VIK04, $15.00)
Step Into the Viking World  •  Philip Steele HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 64 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) This entertaining overview of Viking art, achitecture and history for kids ages 8 to 12 includes 15 projects and activities to accompany the over 300 color photographs and illustrations. (VIK25, $12.99)
The Thrall's Tale  •  Judith Lindbergh LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES Set in Greenland during Viking times, this historical novel follows the fate of three women at the beginning of the Christian era. Inspired by the Norse sagas, this sprawling historical novel is the result of ten years of research by Lindbergh (including a trip to Greenland in the footsteps of Erik the Red). (ARC174, $15.00)
Viking  •  Susan M. Margeson HISTORY •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 63 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A wonderfully illustrated, fact-filled history of the Vikings geared for children ages 9-12. Presenting an overview of this culture, from music to mealtime, social hierarchy, to the more violent aspects of their explorations and expansions into new territories, this fascinating look at the life of the Vikings examines their ships, weapons, and artifacts. Full-color photos. (VIK05, $15.99)
Viking Age Iceland  •  Jesse Byock HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES In this scholarly study, Byock challenges the conventional view of Norse society in Iceland. He describes the life, economy and culture of Medieval Iceland -- including its autonomy from kings and warlords back home. Byock, a professor of Old Norse and translator of many Sagas, has also written Medieval Iceland: Society, Sagas, and Power. (ICL15, $16.00)
The Vikings  •  Robert Nicholson CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1990 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A volume in the colorful "Journey into Civilization" series, this slim book concentrates on the Vikings and how they lived in days gone by. With plenty of information on the Viking world, great stories and activities for kids ages eight to twelve. (VIK08, $9.95)
The Vikings  •  Else Roesdahl HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES A captivating and well-written look at Norse civilization. Roesdahl goes beyond the limited view of the ruthless Viking invaders, instead creating a full picture of the vibrant, artistic, agricultural and exploratory culture. With maps, diagrams and photographs. (VIK09, $17.00)
The Vikings and America  •  Eric Wahlgren HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES An insightful account of the Vikings' discovery and exploration of America, based on archaeology and the ancient sagas. With site diagrams and black-and-white photographs throughout. (VIK12, $18.95)
The Vikings, Lords of the Seas  •  Yves Cohat HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 146 PAGES An indispensable reference that fits in your pocket, this slim volume, part of the "Discoveries" series, is packed with maps, archival photographs and illustrations. It tells of the Norse homeland, discoveries and settlements, and features a useful chronology and excerpts from the Viking Sagas. (VIK01, $12.95)
Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga  •  William Fitzhugh  •  Elisabeth Ward HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES Published in conjunction with a Smithsonian exhibit, this excellent book explores the culture and history of the Vikings, and especially their well documented voyages to North America. Featuring 400 color photographs, the book also includes lively essays on Viking art, religion, daily life and colonies. It's especially good on Viking expansion and settlements in North America. (VIK11, $34.95)
Vinland Sagas, Norse Discovery of America  •  Magnus Magnusson EXPLORATION •  1965 •  PAPER  • 124 PAGES These Icelandic sagas, as edited by the great Magnus Magnusson, tell the compelling story of the Norse discovery of America five centuries before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. (VIK03, $13.00)