Table of Contents

Part 1 - The Northern Peoples to AD 700
1: From Beginnings to the Age of Migrations
2: The Legendary History of the Swedes and the Danes
Part 2 - The Viking Kingdoms to the Close of the Tenth Century1: The Scandinavian Community, I: Diversity and Unity
2: The Historical Traditions of Norway to 950
3: Denmark to the Death of Gorm the Old
4: Denmark and Norway from the Accession of Harald Bluetooth to the Death of Olaf Tryggvason
Part 3 - The Viking Movement Overseas
1: The Scandinavian Community, II: Aspects of Society
2: Causes of the Viking Movement Overseas
3: The Movement South and South-West to 954: the British Isles, the Frankish Empire, the Mediterranean
4: The Movement East: The Baltic Lands, Russia, Byzantium
5: The Movement West: Iceland, Greenland, America
Part 4 - The Viking Age Ends
1: The Scandinavian Community III: Culture and Image
2: Svein Forkbeard, Saint Olaf, Knut the Great
3: The Viking Kingdoms to the Death of Harald Hardradi, 1066

About the Author

Gwyn Jones is Emeritus Professor of English Language and Literature, University College, Cardiff

Reviews

`What a superb book this is! Wise, well-informed, judicious and infinitely readable.'
Magnus Magnusson, Scotsman
`an utterly splendid book, quite the most brilliantly written, balanced and explanative general work on the Vikings ever to appear in English or...in any language.'
Erik Wahlgren, Scandinavian Studies
`A highly readable history.'
Oxford Time
`no better book on the Vikings has ever been written, and it is one which every educated person with any interest in history should know about ... Readers will be delighted to discover the eloquent and sparkling prose of a natural Welsh bard and storyteller who was one of the shining lights of University College, Cardiff. The man writes beautifully. There are not many history books one can pick up and start reading anywhere just for the sheer enjoyment of
literary craftsmanship and even fewer as authoritative as this.'
Lloyds List 13/04/1994