The Vikings: Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder (General Military) [Paperback]

Mark Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 18, 2008 | Series: General Military

The history of the Vikings is bloody and eventful, and Viking warriors capture the popular imagination to this day. Viking raids reached from Norway to North Africa, they established the dukedom of Normandy, provided the Byzantine Emperor's bodyguard and landed on the shores of America 500 years before Columbus. In The Vikings the authors provide a detailed examination of the Viking Hersir, the raiding warrior of the Viking world, and the
famed Viking longship that transported the Vikings through treacherous waters to their bloody raids. This beautifully illustrated book also includes a fascinating insight into the Vikings in North America and the lives the Viking led at home.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Informative, educational text, wonderful, clear, full color photos, and full color illustrations and ancient paintings all tie together into a very interesting and exciting volume...truly a specialty subject, and if your interest lies within the bounds of these ancient warriors and sailors, then this volume belongs on your bookshelf! Highly recommended, and definitely a great read." -Mark Smith, Model Shipwrights


"This is a compendium of the previous Osprey titles Elite 3: The Vikings, Warrior 3: Viking Hersir 793-1066 AD and New Vanguard 47: Viking Longship. It gives a very complete overview of the Vikings, their history, weapons and fighting methods, and ships. Good photographs and colour plates back up an authoritative text, and the whole book is quite fascinating - no-one interested in the Vikings...should miss this one! Highly recommended." -John Prigent, Internet Modeler (April 2008)

"From Viking ships to how they raided around the world and established world empires, The Vikings: Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder is a college-level recommendation not to be missed by any studying the topic." -Library Bookwatch (July 2006)

"...one is left with an understanding and appreciation of what these people were really like. An excelling book and one that I can recommend for a fascinating read. Full of quality period photographs, superb art work and maps... [this book] is a riveting and superbly written book that you really need to have on your shelves." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com

About the Author

 • Magnus Magnusson authored more than 30 books, made several TV programs on Iceland and the Vikings, and translated the Vinland Sagas and many other sagas into English.
 • Mark Harrison has a Bachelor's degree in Medieval Studies from Lancaster University. He is a Curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London and has a strong interest in the early medieval world. He lives in Colchester, UK.
 • Ian Heath is a highly respected author, currently working on a five-volume project covering the armies of 19th-century Asia. Ian lives in Cambridgeshire
 • Keith Durham lives in Northumberland. He has had a lifelong interest in the Vikings and their ships.
 • Ren¿ Chartrand and has been senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He lives in Quebec.
The author lives in Glasgow, Scotland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (March 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846033403
• ISBN-13: 978-1846033407
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.6 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,117,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Voyagers Of Discovery And Plunder, July 9, 2006

By 

Kay's Husband (Virginia, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Vikings: Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder (General Military) (Hardcover)

For the last couple years Osprey books have garnered my attention causing me to add many titles to the history items on my book shelves. As with the recently released The Normans by Osprey Publishing, this volume on the Vikings is also a true bell ringer.

Though the book contains new and added material, it represents a reprint in hardcover of the Osprey softcover books: Elite #3 The Vikings, Warrior #3 Viking Honor 793-1066, and New Vanguard #47 Viking Longship. As with The Normans, a chronology appears listing historical events from 350 BC through AD 1085. The book contains many pictures and illustrations which for the most part are all in color.

I don't know whose bright idea this was at Osprey, but they have hit upon a very good idea. Taking a series of previously published trade paperbacks and reissuing them as a new hardcover should find many history buffs willing and able to purchase them. Good thinking Osprey.

This volume will be a good one to introduce or reintroduce you to the good, solid history from these wonderful people at Osprey books. Cannot think of a better book to buy, unless it would be another newly published volume from Osprey: Soldiers of the Dragon, Chinese Armies 1500 BC-1840 AD. But whether you choose The Normans, The Vikings, or Soldiers of the Dragon you as a reader cannot possibly go wrong. Best in reading.

Semper Fi.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A college-level recommendation not to be missed by any studying the topic, July 2, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vikings: Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder (General Military) (Hardcover)

The Vikings have long been portrayed as ruthless barbarians who pillaged and sacked - and little more about them is usually revealed. To gain this depth, consult The Vikings: Voyagers Of Discovery And Plunder. Here are detailed surveys of their seafaring exploits, their history, and all that's known about major figures in Viking lore. From Viking ships to how they raided around the world and established world empires, The Vikings: Voyagers Of Discovery And Plunder is a college-level recommendation not to be missed by any studying the topic.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Book Recommended, October 19, 2007

By 

Michael Young (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vikings: Voyagers of Discovery and Plunder (General Military) (Hardcover)

A good critique will illustrate the good and bad points of the book.

Good:
**Very good illustrations, nice captions, and in color.
**High quality paper
**Illustrations actually pertain to the text on the page
**Has information on a wide variety of Viking culture
**Easy to read
**Has a glossary (wish it was bigger)
**Bibliography is decent (although nothing cited)
**Top-Notch illustrators--Angus McBride is a legend

Bad:
**Wide-ranging topics doe not allow for complete analysis of any one topic
**No footnotes or citations (except in illustration captions)
**Lack of citations does not allow for easy follow on research
**Section of longships has too much word picture without a picture right next to the text (I had to refer to pge 190 too much)
**Not enough maps! Reading it with a Viking Atlas beside it would help; other illustrations make up for it though)

I would not recommend this book for graduate-level or serious research, but it does have good information. If you like footnotes, you might not like this book--try Gwyn Jones "A History of the Vikings," it is probably cheap enough and will make your head hurt by giving you plenty to look up. I'm still trying to digest it.

Oh, and shame on you if you don't leave a critique on any books you read from Amazon. It's a great tool, I use it a lot.