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The Vikings: A History Paperback – September 28, 2010

by Robert Ferguson (Author)

59 customer reviews

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A comprehensive and thrilling history of the Vikings for fans of the History Channel series

From Harald Bluetooth to Cnut the Great, the feared seamen and plunderers of the Viking Age ruled Norway, Sweden, and Denmark but roamed as far as Byzantium, Greenland, and America. Raiders and traders, settlers and craftsmen, the medieval Scandinavians who have become familiar to history as Vikings never lose their capacity to fascinate, from their ingeniously designed longboats to their stormy pantheon of Viking gods and goddesses, ruled by Odin in Valhalla. Robert Ferguson is a sure guide across what he calls "the treacherous marches which divide legend from fact in Viking Age history." His long familiarity with the literary culture of Scandinavia with its skaldic poetry is combined with the latest archaeological discoveries to reveal a sweeping picture of the Norsemen, one of history's most amazing civilizations.

Impeccably researched and filled with compelling accounts and analyses of legendary Viking warriors and Norse mythology, The Vikings is an indispensable guide to medieval Scandinavia and is a wonderful companion to the History Channel series.

The Vikings: A History

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Product Details

Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books; International Edition edition (September 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143118013
ISBN-13: 978-0143118015
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #25 in Books > History > Europe > Scandinavia

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Customer Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

5 star		39%
4 star		34%
3 star		13%
2 star		7%
1 star		7%

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92 of 99 people found the following review helpful

Absorbing, but fragmented

By Bruce Trinque VINE VOICE on December 1, 2009

Format: Hardcover

One of the first difficulties in writing a history of the Vikings is deciding what defines a Viking. The derivation of the term "viking" is a matter of controversy, and even whether the word is Scandinavian in origin. And what period is to covered? Robert Ferguson basically chose as the era of interest to stretch from the late 8th century when Viking raiders suddenly burst upon the shores of Western Europe and "roughly speaking all the Scandinavian peoples were Heathens" until "roughly speaking all the Scandinavian peoples thought of themselves as Christians" (the 11th century or thereabouts). But an even more fundamental difficulty in undertaking the construction of a coherent history of the Vikings is the absence of firm pre-Christian Scandinavian written records. At a time when more or less reliable chronicles were being recorded in France and Germany and England, Norway and Denmark and Sweden were still very much lands of myth and legend. The archaeological record is somewhat sparse and erratic, so to a considerable extent Ferguson must present the Vikings as seen through the eyes of English, Frankish, Byzantine, and even Muslim chroniclers. He has created a kaleidoscopic history, absorbing to read but necessarily fragmented, peopled by an extraordinary cast of characters sometimes dimly seen. Their true names, their family backgrounds, often even their places of origin, remain unknown except as recorded in distorted form by usually hostile and always foreign observers. Ferguson follows the Vikings in their wanderings from the Arctic coast of Scandinavia to North Africa, from the Middle East to Spain and Portugal and even beyond to Greenland and North America. At times, the great array of so many similar names -- so many Haralds and Eriks and Olafs -- is nearly overwhelming, but Ferguson in the end keeps a steady grip on his central story of how the lands of Thor's Hammer fell to the domination of the Christian Cross.

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59 of 63 people found the following review helpful

Good but not great

By Jordan M. Poss VINE VOICE on February 2, 2010

Format: Hardcover

Robert Ferguson's new history of the Vikings is a remarkable book. It in Ferguson succeeds at setting out the broad historical outlines of Viking history and describing the unique character of Viking life and culture. He falls a bit short, however, in a thesis which he proposes, argues for strongly, and then mostly abandons.

But first, this book's many strengths. Ferguson is especially good at incorporating archaeological evidence in his work. His first chapters deal with Viking burial remains, such as the Oseberg ship, and what such gravesites can--and cannot--tell us about the Vikings. Further chapters discuss the Jelling Stones and the frequency of buried coin hoards. Ferguson also dwells at length on some of the less well-remembered journeys of the Vikings, such as their forays into Russia and Spain, and their gradual assimilation with preexisting cultures in places like Normandy and Russia. His chapter on the Viking presence in late Anglo-Saxon England is exceptionally good, perhaps the best chapter in the book.

The only thing keeping me from giving The Vikings five stars is one of Ferguson's central theses, that the Viking Age began as a reaction to Carolingian efforts to convert continental Viking peoples (i.e: the Danes) to Christianity. Ferguson argues quite strongly in favor of this interpretation, claiming that the targets of Viking raids were pointedly Christian locations like monasteries (Lindisfarne) and other religious centers. The Viking Age, according to Ferguson, was a distinct dichotomy of heathen versus Christian, with the heathens doing the raiding and the Christians praying for it to stop.

This is an interesting thesis but is hardly borne out by the facts. In fact, Ferguson's own book contradicts it repeatedly.Read more ›

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35 of 37 people found the following review helpful

Uncertainty leads to an honest history

By Erik Namløs on March 1, 2010

Format: Hardcover

To start, Ferguson's book gives a nice review of the Vikings' many geographical influences. Instead of focusing a chapter on weapons, culture, time period, etc., the book is more focused on Viking conquest and settlement in Eastern Europe, England, Normandy, etc. However, the aspect that set this book apart was the acknowledgment of source conflict and uncertainty. Many aspects of Viking history are only recorded by one or a handful of medieval scribes, who would often bias their stories to suit their own family or religious needs. Ferguson is careful to bring these sources together to give a balanced picture. His handling of medieval Christianity was also very fascinating, particularly his thesis that the Viking raids may have been spurred on by over-zealous conversion tactics by the Frankish-Holy Roman Empire. Additionally, the reader also got a feel for the gradual conversion of the Vikings from Heathendom to Christianity, which was seen by many Viking rulers as a way to gain access to mainland European culture and society. Highly recommended for those interested in early European history.

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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful

Not the First Book to Read

By Richard Derham on May 31, 2010

Format: Hardcover

If you know little about the history of the Vikings, this is not the place to start. But if you are reasonably well-read, Ferguson's book adds depth and color to the Viking history and experience.

"The Vikings" presents its selections of Viking history in part through archeological and literary sources. The result seems almost anecdotal at times, but it is through anecdotes that Viking life, society and history take on added dimensions.

If, for example, you do not know about the raid on Lindisfarne that many say began "The Viking Age" you will learn little of the specifics from Ferguson. What you will learn is how the chroniclers in England saw the raid, how it was perceived by Bishop Alcuin in the court of Charlemagne and, speculatively, why the Vikings may have chosen to attack Christian sites as retaliation for forced conversion of Danish (Viking) Heathens by forces under Charlemagne.

Ferguson covers most of the standard parts of Viking history, the raiding and conquest of Normandy, the trading network through the Russian river system, the settlement of Iceland, the Greenland and North American adventures, the centuries-long struggle for England and the coming of Christianity to Norway. He adds attention to the Vikings in the Mediterranean and Iberia and interactions with Islam.

What sets his approach apart from other writers I have read is the central role of literary sources and archeological data. Instead of telling us what happened, frequently he lets us see the facts on the ground (through archeology) or hear the voices of those affected (throgh quotations from annals, correspondence and the like).

Throughout, the broad sweep of "the forest" is less obvious than the particular "trees," that make it up. A first time reader of Viking history may come away with a confused understanding from a disjointed narrative. One who knows the outlines well will find his knowledge of Vikings and their age richer for the effort.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Four Stars

Used in history class!

Published 5 months ago by Bluewater Publications

Fine, short, readable overview

A highly readable, well researched short history of Viking culture from its murky origins through its spectacular explosion and metamorphosis into a set of Chritianized monarchies. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Matt Hearn

Fantastic in the English debt to Viking rule

A true historical background to the more popular TV show. Read this is you want to know more. Fantastic in the English debt to Viking rule.

Published 5 months ago by dxs

I enjoyed this book very much

I am an amateur reader of history; mostly the medieval era and US 1700-1800s. This was my first read about the Vikings. I enjoyed this book very much. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Mark S. Coffey

Informative, but fragmented and not the easiest read

Although this is a book that is full of information and interesting anecdotes, as others have also written it is fragmented and is not the easiest book to read - even for a history... Read more

Published 6 months ago by I. Maruhashi

MASSIVE INFORMATION OR JUST NOTES FOR ANOTHER BOOK?

This book is a vast compilation requiring a better correlation of facts. It needs, i.a., the ancillary help of tables; chronologies; graphic comparison of fact, legend &... Read more

Published 6 months ago by Jaime Garcia-Rodriguez

Four Stars

Enjoy the reading. Many very interesting facts. But found it somewhat Anglophile.

Published 8 months ago by mark sundahl

Real History

A relatively brief academic history--a bit dry in spots, or very dry if you're looking for a popularized history. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Adam Wayne

Five Stars

Great book.

Published 9 months ago by KM mom

Very heady meaning it is not an easy read but a wonderful look back...

What a fabulous book. For those that are Scandinavian it is a true walk back into history, the true history. Read more

Published 10 months ago by suzanne ericson

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