The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow (Living History Library) (Paperback)

~ Allen French (Author) "IN THE TIME after Iceland had become Christian, and after the burning of Njal, but before the deaths of Snorri the Priest and Grettir the..." (more)
Key Phrases: thy thralls, locked bed, thy ship, Snorri the Priest, Grettir the Strong, Earl Thorfinn (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Rolf, son of Hiarandi the Unlucky, is a character who exemplifies the effect of Christ's teachings upon the Icelandic people during their heroic age. The book is set in Iceland in the days when Christianity has come to the island though the old customs still linger. Hiarandi, at the urging of his wife, does an unprecedented thing: he lights a signal fire on a dangerous point of his land, thereby challenging the accepted custom which places lucrative salvage at higher value than the saving of life. However, the life that is saved that night causes his own death and the unjust outlawing of his son Rolf. Rolf's response to this injustice creates a suspenseful, thought-provoking tale difficult to put down.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Bethlehem Books (June 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883937019
• ISBN-13: 978-1883937010
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #98,578 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent saga, January 4, 1999

By	John C. Borgquist "John B" (South Hamilton, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow is one of the best recrafted narratives I have ever read. Allen French brought to life this story that he originally found as one of the Kolbieters. (The Kolbieters, founded by JRR Tolkien, was a group of friends that read ancient verse in their original languages.) I would recommend it to any history buff, Tolkien fan, fantasy reader, or just any one looking for a well written story.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Icelandic treasure, June 29, 2001

By	James K. Burk (Wichita, Kansas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Allen French has translated some of the old Icelandic sagas, including GRETTIR THE STRONG, but this is a novel, using some of the locations and settings and even some of the characters of the sagas. I first encountered this book at about the age of twelve, read it many times, and always wanted a copy. The story has plenty of adventure, some interesting twists, and is a good read, but it also deals with how to face adversity and the danger of pride. It's an excellent book for teenagers and adults will probably also enjoy this story.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent boys' story, August 12, 2002

By A Customer

My 12 year old son, ...loved reading this book. I planned to assign him to read 1 chapter a day and expected the usual struggle to make him read it, but he loved it so much that he finished it in short time and kept telling me what a great book he thought it was. He just didn't like when a dead character came back alive to fight Rolf, or the witchcraft parts, but otherwise wanted to read more books by this author...