985 The Discovery of America [Paperback]

Brian Cherry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

This account of the Norwegian's first discovery and colonization of America is based upon the translation of Harold the Younger's journal. Discovered just 200 years ago, Harald's journal revealed the exploits and foibles of a clumsy and menacing, yet endearing, boy who grew up to be the only living survivor of Bjarni Herjolfsson's not so legendary voyage to America in 985 and the Vikings' botched attempt at colonization. Part history, part poetic license, this novel is pure delight to those who appreciate a good medieval story.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Cherry is a free-lance writer who dedicated fifteen years to an independent study of the interesting, but unpublicized, aspects of Norse history. A native of Michigan with a background in field archeology, Brian blended his natural wit with his ability to spin a story and gives us a fresh look at how America was really discovered and first colonized.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: QuickWorks (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 192854701X
• ISBN-13: 978-1928547013
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,041,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thanks for all the herring!, February 3, 2000

By 

Kim Headlee (Southwestern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 985 The Discovery of America (Paperback)

Common wisdom dictates that "history is written by the victors." If this applies to humorous historical fiction as well, then color Brian Cherry uproariously victorious for his seamless blend of fact and fable.

"This is the history of the first discovery of America, if it had been told by Douglas Adams," Cherry states. He isn't kidding. His fictional protagonist, initially a 12-year-old stowaway on Bjarni Herjolfsson's ill-fated longship bound for Greenland, introduces himself as "Harald, Harald the younger, and I am seasick. . . . The thought of some of the new names I'll get from [the crew], like 'Harald the Messy' or 'Look out below Harald,' make Harald the younger seem very comfortable."

The laughs don't stop there as the reader follows Harald's account of the true if accidental discovery by Herjolfsson of America (or Vinland, as the Vikings later dub it), the eventual colonization under Leif Eiricksson, and other key events recorded in Harald's "journal." Grim reality interjects itself in the form of Harald's experiences as a suspected mutineer, the violent deaths of his erstwhile crewmen and, later, a close friend and mentor. To this tally Cherry adds the even more graphically violent -- and senseless -- deaths of native Vinlanders, whose sole crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This only makes the humor all the more appreciated, such as the running gag of Harald's falcon, which prefers to perch on Harald's head. (Now we know where medieval European millinery fashions originated, too.) In addition to seafaring excursions and adolescent plots to invade Madam Grunnhilde's establishment of ill repute, Harald chronicles a lifelong spiritual journey presented with a deft balance of sensitivity and pragmatism rarely found in contemporary fiction.

That's the good news.

The passage of time depicted in chapter transitions varies between 15 seconds and 15 years, often without any clear indication of the duration involved. Billed as being "Excerpts from the journal of Harald the Younger," 985: The Discovery of America would have better served readability by using a journalistic format with dated entries.

In addition, copyediting seems all but absent. Never have I seen more typos and "word-os" (such as the use of "gate" rather than "gait" to describe how a horse moves) per square inch than in 985: The Discovery of America. But it's a testament to the book's overall merit that I not only finished, despite the myriad errors, but still enjoyed the story immensely.

Too bad they couldn't make history this entertaining in school. I look forward to reading more from this talented new author. Here's to hoping the wait won't be so long.

And thanks, Brian, for all the herring.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The funniest history book ever written!, November 7, 1999

By 

snipe - See all my reviews

This review is from: 985 The Discovery of America (Paperback)

I recommend 985 to ANYONE with a sense of fun and an interest in history! If history were taught like this in school, we'd have a LOT more anthropologists out there. Cherry puts his awesome writing style to perfect use, telling a story that is both accurate and riotously funny! I can't recommend it enough to anyone who likes history and has a snarky sense of humour!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, historically correct, lighthearted, entertaining., September 11, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 985 The Discovery of America (Paperback)

This book is an excellent read. It speaks to people between the ages of 13 and 100. It is historically correct and should have been written years ago! It's about time that someone stood up and wrote the truth about who really discovered America. What seperates this book from all others is the hilarity and its way of allowing the reader to truly connect with the character! Trust me, this is NOT a dry, boring read by any stretch of the imagination, but the reader will be to busy laughing their heads off to notice, anyway. Columbus day my ***!