Women in the Viking Age [Paperback]

Judith Jesch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2005

This is the first book-length study in English to investigate what women did in the Viking age, both at home in Scandinavia and in the Viking colonies from Greenland to Russia. Evidence for their lives is fragmentary, but Judith Jesch assembles the clues provided by archaeology, runic inscriptions, place names and personal names, foreign historical records and Old Norse literature and mythology. These sources illuminate different aspects of women's lives in the Viking age, on the farms and in the trading centres of Scandinavia, abroad on Viking expeditions, and as settlers in places such as Iceland and the British Isles. Women in the Viking Age explores anunfamiliar aspect of medieval history and offers a new perspective on Viking society, very different from the traditional picture of a violent and male-dominated world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A lively and compelling book...the author's particular strengths lie in her study of literature. Judith Jesch has captured the spirit of Viking women. Her book is a fitting tribute to them. --Medieval Archaelogy

About the Author

JUDITH JESCH is Reader in Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Boydell Press (February 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851153607
• ISBN-13: 978-0851153605
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > History > Europe > Iceland

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars highly informative, great illustrations, June 9, 2000

By 

Susan Zuckerman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women in the Viking Age (Paperback)

This is a very readable yet scholarly book. Jesch uses a large number of diverse sources to help us gain an understanding of women in the Viking Age, and has organized the book according to these sources. Archaeological evidence from grave sites gives us much information about wealthy women in particular, and evidence from house-sites tell us more about ordinary women's lives. Evidence from runes is especially fascinating, as runic inscriptions are often short and cryptic. Yet here we often find what women actually wrote or accomplished, for example memorial stones they raised to honour dead relatives, or stones raised in honour of them building a bridge. Jesch looks at Scandinavian women travelling abroad (e.g. evidence from place names in England) and women mentioned in foreign writings, and how other cultures viewed them. She also looks at how they are portrayed in art, myths and poetry.

Finally Jesch extracts some common themes from these sources, and identifies some common female types, for example the warrior woman and the inciter. (For this, however, I would recommend "Old Norse Images of Women" by Jenny Jochens.)

There are numerous excellent photos and illustrations in this book, which really help bring it to life. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Viking/Norse history.

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great contribution to Women's History..., February 2, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (The Great State of Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women in the Viking Age (Hardcover)

Jesch's interdisciplinary approach enables the reader to understand and see the otherwise undocumented history of women in the Viking Age. She adds the material evidence of archaeological findings, runic texts, and Viking names to the evidence from narratiave sources to explore the history of women and their roles in the Viking Age. By taking a multidisciplinary approach, Jesch establishes a platform on which to reuild the history of Viking women and helps us to better understand the important roles women played in the Viking Age. She has included numerous illustrations depicting various Viking artifacts, copious notes explaning the meaning and significance of her research, and an extensive bibliography of resources that will add to our understanding of the Viking Age. Narrowing her focus to specific areas of research on Viking women, Jesch brings Viking women and portions of their history into prominence. This suggests that there is more to learn and explore in the field of Viking women, particularly in the areas of religion and legal positions of women during the Viking Age.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Women in the Viking Age, August 19, 2002

By 

J. Bourassa "I'm sure its ... Look a shiney t... (Clifton Park, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Women in the Viking Age (Paperback)

I just recently purchased this book and read it in 2 days. It seems to keep to facts, not opinions (unless stated). It was fairly easy to read (only a few "dry" places) and it gave it's sources for everything so more reading on the subject is possible. I found it fascinating.