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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
As a lover of things Scandinavian. I love reading and learning about Vikings as they are part of my bloodline. So this book was very comprehensive in detailing the paths of this culture as it adapted from Paganism to Christianity. I enjoyed this book very much! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Interesting History book on how the Vikings became Christian. Its not something that's usually written about, as there seems to be a strong prejudice against associating Christianity with anything to do with the Vikings.
This is inaccurate and frankly bordering on xenophobic. There were, the author demonstrates, a number of prominent figures in Scandinavian history who were proudly Christian, and were still 'Vikings'. Warriors and adventurers including King Olaf of Norway, King Cnut, and Gudrid 'the Far Traveler' who was one of a group of Vikings to traveled to the New world.
This book explores how and why this conversion happened in various regions, from Scandinavia to the Western Isles of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, which were also important areas of Norse settlement.
The author makes good use of archeological evidence, artifacts, and some contemporary written sources to support the narrative.
One aspect that I found interesting was the reasons why Viking women might have converted to Christianity. Its recently been claimed that pagan Viking women had it better than anyone else in Europe at this time: I for one find this claim hard to believe. As Mr Whittock demonstrates, not all women in Scandinavia were freeborn shield maidens.
Many were slaves: yes the Vikings were major slave-traders. Some were taken from their homelands as wives or companions to settlers of new lands. Many came from Ireland and may already have been Christian, providing the impetus for later conversion.
There was also a darker side: with evidence that the Vikings practiced infanticide though exposure of unwanted babies, and that this may have been more common with female children. Christianity expressly forbade such practices, and as such gave women more hope for survival in the present life, and a better afterlife than the one promised in Norse Paganism (nobody seems to have been sure whether women could enter the legendary Valhalla).
Overall, this was an interesting and worthwhile book that may help dispel some of the myths about the Vikings. The author does not pull any punches, or engage in any revisionist exoneration of the Vikings by trying to convince us that they were really not that bad. Nor are they painted as total villains.
This is not a dry and boring history book though: the chapters are pretty short and concise, following a roughly chronological timeline, and it makes for an easy read.
Thanks to Lion Hudson approving me for this title on Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
This is inaccurate and frankly bordering on xenophobic. There were, the author demonstrates, a number of prominent figures in Scandinavian history who were proudly Christian, and were still 'Vikings'. Warriors and adventurers including King Olaf of Norway, King Cnut, and Gudrid 'the Far Traveler' who was one of a group of Vikings to traveled to the New world.
This book explores how and why this conversion happened in various regions, from Scandinavia to the Western Isles of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, which were also important areas of Norse settlement.
The author makes good use of archeological evidence, artifacts, and some contemporary written sources to support the narrative.
One aspect that I found interesting was the reasons why Viking women might have converted to Christianity. Its recently been claimed that pagan Viking women had it better than anyone else in Europe at this time: I for one find this claim hard to believe. As Mr Whittock demonstrates, not all women in Scandinavia were freeborn shield maidens.
Many were slaves: yes the Vikings were major slave-traders. Some were taken from their homelands as wives or companions to settlers of new lands. Many came from Ireland and may already have been Christian, providing the impetus for later conversion.
There was also a darker side: with evidence that the Vikings practiced infanticide though exposure of unwanted babies, and that this may have been more common with female children. Christianity expressly forbade such practices, and as such gave women more hope for survival in the present life, and a better afterlife than the one promised in Norse Paganism (nobody seems to have been sure whether women could enter the legendary Valhalla).
Overall, this was an interesting and worthwhile book that may help dispel some of the myths about the Vikings. The author does not pull any punches, or engage in any revisionist exoneration of the Vikings by trying to convince us that they were really not that bad. Nor are they painted as total villains.
This is not a dry and boring history book though: the chapters are pretty short and concise, following a roughly chronological timeline, and it makes for an easy read.
Thanks to Lion Hudson approving me for this title on Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
A must for anyone intrigued by either Christianity or Viking history, as a buff of both, I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed.
The background detail provided prior to the body of work increased my understanding prior to jumping right in.
It is important to remember that this is non-fiction so at points it will not be entertaining, just informative.
Martyn & Hannah Whitlock have delivered a quality book on the history of Vikings ignored by popular media channels.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The background detail provided prior to the body of work increased my understanding prior to jumping right in.
It is important to remember that this is non-fiction so at points it will not be entertaining, just informative.
Martyn & Hannah Whitlock have delivered a quality book on the history of Vikings ignored by popular media channels.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Martyn and Hannah Whittock have given history buffs a real gift in their book “The Vikings: From Odin to Christ”. Their book is a necessary corrective on the popular imagination regarding Vikings.
Vikings are stuck in the popular imagination as pagan raiders in horned helmets, sacking and looting, raping and drinking. One of the main thrusts of the Whittock’s book is to remind us that the perception of the first waves of Viking raiders by the rest of Europe applies to only a small period of their history and a small segment of their culture. Vikings were conquerors and nation builders. They were heirs of a vibrant cultural dynamic which deeply influenced nearly all European cultures, changing them irrevocably. Furthermore, even as they were changing the cultures they came into contact with, the Vikings were themselves being changed in profound ways. Perhaps the most important change was in their religious mythos, from Norse paganism to Christianity.
This history is first rate. Their case is well made from the start. Today, the average person knows almost nothing about the people we call Vikings. What’s more, most of what we do know is very unhelpful and misleading.
The writing is accessible for most lay readers with a rudimentary grasp of European history. Simultaneously, it provides in-depth charts, indexes, and reading suggestions for those who want to dive deeper into this story.
I’m convinced most readers will be blown away by this amazing saga of the Norse culture and the incredible transformation it underwent from the eighth century on. I could not put this book down.
Vikings are stuck in the popular imagination as pagan raiders in horned helmets, sacking and looting, raping and drinking. One of the main thrusts of the Whittock’s book is to remind us that the perception of the first waves of Viking raiders by the rest of Europe applies to only a small period of their history and a small segment of their culture. Vikings were conquerors and nation builders. They were heirs of a vibrant cultural dynamic which deeply influenced nearly all European cultures, changing them irrevocably. Furthermore, even as they were changing the cultures they came into contact with, the Vikings were themselves being changed in profound ways. Perhaps the most important change was in their religious mythos, from Norse paganism to Christianity.
This history is first rate. Their case is well made from the start. Today, the average person knows almost nothing about the people we call Vikings. What’s more, most of what we do know is very unhelpful and misleading.
The writing is accessible for most lay readers with a rudimentary grasp of European history. Simultaneously, it provides in-depth charts, indexes, and reading suggestions for those who want to dive deeper into this story.
I’m convinced most readers will be blown away by this amazing saga of the Norse culture and the incredible transformation it underwent from the eighth century on. I could not put this book down.
The Vikings have an image of rough warriors intent on rape and pillage and wearing helmets with horns on them. However the truth is far more complicated. Yes, the Vikings were marauders who looked for wealth in the form of goods or slaves but they were not the heathens portrayed. here a consideration is taken of the spread of the Viking peoples and also the spread of Christianity amongst them. the Vikings were huge contributors to Western civilisation as we know it. This book is written in a very readable style and never labours its points.
Vikings have often been misportrayed in history. Unfortunately, they were given a bad rap - instead of focusing on who they really were.
This book takes a great look at the real history of the Vikings, and who they were and how they lived. I really enjoyed reading this one. It is full of great facts and information, giving the reader the ins and outs, leaving room for more research in the future.
Check it out!
This book takes a great look at the real history of the Vikings, and who they were and how they lived. I really enjoyed reading this one. It is full of great facts and information, giving the reader the ins and outs, leaving room for more research in the future.
Check it out!
*I did receive a digital version of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review*
Most history books covering the Viking Age are all fairly similar in their content in that the political/military narrative takes center stage, relegating everything else to the periphery. Not so with this book. As one might tell from the subtitle, The Vikings: From Odin to Christ is a book that emphasizes the cultural and religious aspects of Viking society. While some political history by necessity is included, this is based in the broader context of the assimilation of the Vikings into the Western European fold. Another interesting push that this book successfully imparts onto the reader is just how quickly the varying Viking societies Christianized. This leads to the understanding of how much of the "barbarous" activity of the popular image of the heathen Northmen was actually carried out by Christian Vikings.
Despite this interesting take on the Vikings, it did tend to lead some problems. First of all, sometimes dates and numerous proper names of lesser known figures (such as missionaries to the various Viking societies) would occur rather rapidly leading to rather dry listings of facts. Actual lists were employed a couple of times as an explanatory device, though these were sparing enough to not detract from the text. These dry spells also led to a couple of clunky areas of writing. This wasn't helped out by a few other decisions regarding the primary texts. For example, the Heimskringla was often employed as a source. However, every time it was mentioned its literal English translation was also included so as to be Heimskringla (Circle of the World). When multiple primary sources and sagas are used in ever chapter, often more than once, it did become a little jarring.
Still, some of these textual problems were almost byproducts of what the book did well. Such as when the primary source was often written in both its Norse and English forms. It became quite noticeable because of the rich and extensive usage of primary source material did demonstrate points and bolster arguments. Also on the plus side, setting the entire book in the context of cultural assimilation with particular emphasis on religious conversion was quite smart. This allowed for an examination of most of the various Viking cultures that had expanded throughout Western Europe. Detailed looks were given to Normandy, Ireland, the English Danelaw, Iceland, as well as the formation of the individual states of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Also appreciated were specific examinations of often overlooked Viking societies such as Kieven Rus, the Orkneys, and the Isle of Man. The reader is able to come away with both the broad picture of Viking culture and assimilation as well as the nuances and differences between each area of Viking conversion. As an example, the Viking settling of Normandy led to an extremely quick assimilation into French culture and conversion to Christianity while the the Norse Kingdom of the Isles allowed for a syncretic blend of Christian, Gaelic, and Norse culture for a much more extended period of time. Lastly, this book does a great job at demonstrating that a conversion to Christianity did not necessarily and immediately change a society's Viking culture and that many famous events of the Viking Age were committed by Christian Vikings. A notable example would be the Danish conquest of England by King Cnut and his father Sweyn Forkbeard.
Overall, while this book had a few odd aspects relating to the writing, the thrust of the book is a well done piece of history of looking at the Vikings through the lens of cultural assimilation and is tremendous in its breadth and detail.
4 out 5 stars.
Most history books covering the Viking Age are all fairly similar in their content in that the political/military narrative takes center stage, relegating everything else to the periphery. Not so with this book. As one might tell from the subtitle, The Vikings: From Odin to Christ is a book that emphasizes the cultural and religious aspects of Viking society. While some political history by necessity is included, this is based in the broader context of the assimilation of the Vikings into the Western European fold. Another interesting push that this book successfully imparts onto the reader is just how quickly the varying Viking societies Christianized. This leads to the understanding of how much of the "barbarous" activity of the popular image of the heathen Northmen was actually carried out by Christian Vikings.
Despite this interesting take on the Vikings, it did tend to lead some problems. First of all, sometimes dates and numerous proper names of lesser known figures (such as missionaries to the various Viking societies) would occur rather rapidly leading to rather dry listings of facts. Actual lists were employed a couple of times as an explanatory device, though these were sparing enough to not detract from the text. These dry spells also led to a couple of clunky areas of writing. This wasn't helped out by a few other decisions regarding the primary texts. For example, the Heimskringla was often employed as a source. However, every time it was mentioned its literal English translation was also included so as to be Heimskringla (Circle of the World). When multiple primary sources and sagas are used in ever chapter, often more than once, it did become a little jarring.
Still, some of these textual problems were almost byproducts of what the book did well. Such as when the primary source was often written in both its Norse and English forms. It became quite noticeable because of the rich and extensive usage of primary source material did demonstrate points and bolster arguments. Also on the plus side, setting the entire book in the context of cultural assimilation with particular emphasis on religious conversion was quite smart. This allowed for an examination of most of the various Viking cultures that had expanded throughout Western Europe. Detailed looks were given to Normandy, Ireland, the English Danelaw, Iceland, as well as the formation of the individual states of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Also appreciated were specific examinations of often overlooked Viking societies such as Kieven Rus, the Orkneys, and the Isle of Man. The reader is able to come away with both the broad picture of Viking culture and assimilation as well as the nuances and differences between each area of Viking conversion. As an example, the Viking settling of Normandy led to an extremely quick assimilation into French culture and conversion to Christianity while the the Norse Kingdom of the Isles allowed for a syncretic blend of Christian, Gaelic, and Norse culture for a much more extended period of time. Lastly, this book does a great job at demonstrating that a conversion to Christianity did not necessarily and immediately change a society's Viking culture and that many famous events of the Viking Age were committed by Christian Vikings. A notable example would be the Danish conquest of England by King Cnut and his father Sweyn Forkbeard.
Overall, while this book had a few odd aspects relating to the writing, the thrust of the book is a well done piece of history of looking at the Vikings through the lens of cultural assimilation and is tremendous in its breadth and detail.
4 out 5 stars.
I went into this book not knowing much about Vikings but was greatly surprised by just how much research the authors did.
This was highly informative and very detailed my only critique was that I had to keep going back to the beginning to look at the maps and list of people.
Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC all views are my own.
This was highly informative and very detailed my only critique was that I had to keep going back to the beginning to look at the maps and list of people.
Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC all views are my own.
For many of us, the story of the Vikings is quite fascinating. Most often, they are portrayed as pagans who travelled the waterways raiding villages with savage brutality.
While this was often the truth, there is a bit more to them than that and this book dispels some of the myths surrounding the Vikings.
With a focus on the Vikings path to Christianity, readers follow the Vikings from the earliest records and evidence, both from archeological sites and written records. While the book does read more like a text book and is tedious at times, it was interesting to learn how the Vikings began to evolve from pagans to Christians. Contrary to popular belief, Vikings turned to Christianity much earlier than we are led to belief from myths, stories and popular television.
I found the book to be very informative, but there were many names and details to remember. I recommend this to history lovers and Viking enthusiasts who don’t mind textbook style reading.
My thanks to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Limited for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
While this was often the truth, there is a bit more to them than that and this book dispels some of the myths surrounding the Vikings.
With a focus on the Vikings path to Christianity, readers follow the Vikings from the earliest records and evidence, both from archeological sites and written records. While the book does read more like a text book and is tedious at times, it was interesting to learn how the Vikings began to evolve from pagans to Christians. Contrary to popular belief, Vikings turned to Christianity much earlier than we are led to belief from myths, stories and popular television.
I found the book to be very informative, but there were many names and details to remember. I recommend this to history lovers and Viking enthusiasts who don’t mind textbook style reading.
My thanks to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Limited for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The Vikings: From Odin to Christ contains a great wealth of information about how Vikings were converted and transitioned to Christianity from their religion. In order to give full context of how this happened, the authors detail how and where these people settled, the politics involved, and what archaeological evidence we have for their conversions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of information that most other histories of Vikings don’t really touch on; focusing specifically on the religion conversion helps to give this book a sole focus, which was great. I do think this book would be a lot easier to read in print, because there is a reference for which famous Vikings are which, so when they’re mentioned in a chapter, it would be easy to look at and understand where the information fits into the larger whole; this was rather difficult to manage in the e-book.
I also wish there some sort of narrative focus or better organization, because the information was sometimes difficult to follow. As a reference book, this is great, but if you’re wanting to sit down with some reading about Vikings, it might be a struggle, since a lot of the times, this book lists out dry facts rather than having a cohesive narrative that would help the reader follow along. However, it contains a lot of reference material and I appreciated just how many citations were included, since I felt secure in trusting the material.
Definitely recommend for this interested in religious or Viking history!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
The Vikings: From Odin to Christ contains a great wealth of information about how Vikings were converted and transitioned to Christianity from their religion. In order to give full context of how this happened, the authors detail how and where these people settled, the politics involved, and what archaeological evidence we have for their conversions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of information that most other histories of Vikings don’t really touch on; focusing specifically on the religion conversion helps to give this book a sole focus, which was great. I do think this book would be a lot easier to read in print, because there is a reference for which famous Vikings are which, so when they’re mentioned in a chapter, it would be easy to look at and understand where the information fits into the larger whole; this was rather difficult to manage in the e-book.
I also wish there some sort of narrative focus or better organization, because the information was sometimes difficult to follow. As a reference book, this is great, but if you’re wanting to sit down with some reading about Vikings, it might be a struggle, since a lot of the times, this book lists out dry facts rather than having a cohesive narrative that would help the reader follow along. However, it contains a lot of reference material and I appreciated just how many citations were included, since I felt secure in trusting the material.
Definitely recommend for this interested in religious or Viking history!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.