About the Author

W. Hodding Carter, an epicure of adventure, has spent his life seeking new physical and mental challenges. A native of Greenville, Mississippi, Carter attended Kenyon College and spent two years in Kenya with the Peace Corps. His highly acclaimed pieces for Esquire, M Magazine, Outside, and other national publications have taken him to Burma, to Wales, and into the thick of the Louisiana Oyster Eating Contest (in which he placed second). He is also the author of the book Westward Whoa: In the Wake of Lewis and Clark. He currently lives in Maine with his wife and three daughters.

Reviews

“At times frightening, at times hilarious . . . Always enthralling.”
–The Boston Herald

“[A Viking Voyage] is about a crew of strangers who become best friends, and a man whose fantasies take them on one of the most hilariously strange adventures of their lives.”
–Esquire

“AN EXCITING ADVENTURE AT SEA . . . [THAT] READS LIKE A HUNTER THOMPSON NOVEL . . . A Viking Voyage is about more than boat construction and male bonding. It’s also about self-doubt, isolation, personal relationships, and growth.”
–The Roanoke Times

Travel writing has churned up a new subset: the Ironic Adventure, in which the protagonist, unlike traditional explorers, is unskilled, untrained and traveling on a whim. In this engaging but uneven adventure, self-proclaimed "chicken" Carter repeats the successful formula of his previous book, Westward Whoa, in which he retraced the steps of Lewis and Clark. This time he goes back over the voyage Leif Eriksson made from Greenland to the New World. Accompanied by a motley crew of friends (all except two have no previous sailing experience), Carter decides to accomplish his journey on a reproduction of a Viking "knarr" or cargo ship. Initially budgeted for $3,000, Carter's adventure becomes a half-million-dollar production, funded by the Lands' End clothing company. The most interesting parts of the book come before the ship ever sets sail, as Carter desperately tries to meet his deadline for building the knarr, hampered by unfriendly Norse scholars and aided by expert craftsmen. After he sets sail, the ship breaks down, and Carter must rouse support for a second attempt, which ultimately succeeds. This second part is precisely written, with careful as well as humorous details of sailing life. But the "ironic" approach here trivializes Carter's effort; at times it's hard to give him the credit due for succeeding in such a wild trip because his initial impetus was nothing more than a lark, and because his writing is undercut by his continuing attitude of "I can't believe we are doing this!" 5-city author tour. (May) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

After months of preparation and one failed attempt, Carter (Westward Whoa) and his eccentric crew make an epic journey to North America following the trail of Viking Leif Erikson. Carter's intention was not to write a historical account or a traditional travel narrative but a humorous adventure story about nine oddly matched men who take off on a dangerous journey through one of the most remote parts of the world. To get to North America, they have to fight everything from icy cold waters to polar bears. Carter's detailed descriptions of the boat-building process will fascinate those who enjoy sailing or have a strong interest in traditional sailboats. The rest will have to read through 14 chapters before enjoying the wonders of the northern seas. The result is an engaging story of comradeship and teamwork that will leave the reader wondering just what compels one to sail in an open boat through the coldest seas in the world. A true adventure that would intrigue even the most extreme daredevils, this is recommended for all large collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/00.]--Natasa Musa, New York Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

"At times frightening, at times hilarious . . . Always enthralling."
-The Boston Herald

"[A Viking Voyage] is about a crew of strangers who become best friends, and a man whose fantasies take them on one of the most hilariously strange adventures of their lives."
-Esquire

"AN EXCITING ADVENTURE AT SEA . . . [THAT] READS LIKE A HUNTER THOMPSON NOVEL . . . A Viking Voyage is about more than boat construction and male bonding. It's also about self-doubt, isolation, personal relationships, and growth."
-The Roanoke Times