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A review by jdintr
The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered the World by Arthur Herman
1.0
This is a deep dive into Scandinavian history by an American historian who traces his own ancestry to the region.
It was broader than I expected. About half of the book is about the era that readers will traditionally associate with the Vikings. Herman shows how climactic shifts triggered migrations from Scandinavia into Northern Europe at the dawn of history, and throughout Europe and North Africa in the Dark Ages. Along with sympathetic assessments of the Viking (the word was more of a job title, aka "raider" or "pirate") incursions into England and Ireland, Herman highlights technological, legal and social developments connected to the Norsemen and women.
The last third of the book, follows the Scandinavian migrations to America during its first 150 years. Drawing on experiences of his own immigrant ancestors, Herman shows how Scandinavians settled the upper midwestern United States, fought for the Union in the Civil War, and contributed to the effort in World War II. He also features Scandinavian-American heroes like Knute Rockne, Charles Lindburgh.
Even though I, myself, have Scandinavian heritage, I found the book to be tedious, too detailed. I think a better editor would have made this more Viking-focused and less about Scandinavia and then Scandinavian-Americans. Still, I would recommend this as a gift for those who have friends and relatives of Scandinavian descent. It is not for those with merely a casual interest, however.
Special thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the galley in return for this honest review.
It was broader than I expected. About half of the book is about the era that readers will traditionally associate with the Vikings. Herman shows how climactic shifts triggered migrations from Scandinavia into Northern Europe at the dawn of history, and throughout Europe and North Africa in the Dark Ages. Along with sympathetic assessments of the Viking (the word was more of a job title, aka "raider" or "pirate") incursions into England and Ireland, Herman highlights technological, legal and social developments connected to the Norsemen and women.
The last third of the book, follows the Scandinavian migrations to America during its first 150 years. Drawing on experiences of his own immigrant ancestors, Herman shows how Scandinavians settled the upper midwestern United States, fought for the Union in the Civil War, and contributed to the effort in World War II. He also features Scandinavian-American heroes like Knute Rockne, Charles Lindburgh.
Even though I, myself, have Scandinavian heritage, I found the book to be tedious, too detailed. I think a better editor would have made this more Viking-focused and less about Scandinavia and then Scandinavian-Americans. Still, I would recommend this as a gift for those who have friends and relatives of Scandinavian descent. It is not for those with merely a casual interest, however.
Special thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the galley in return for this honest review.