The Children of Ash and Elm

£100

Illustrated by Sean Parry

Uncover the true story of the Vikings beyond the myths. In this gripping Folio, historian Neil Price weaves cutting-edge archaeology and thrilling storytelling into a vivid portrait of Viking life. Illustrations and photography, selected and captioned by the author, paint a portrait of traders, poets and kings.

£100

Book Details

Presentation Box & BindingFull bound in printed and blocked cloth
Printed endpapers
Blocked slipcase

Dimensions10 inches × 6¾ inches

FontSet in Vendetta with Harri as display

Pages552 pages

AuthorNeil Price

Illustrated bySean Parry

Illustration23 black and white illustrations and 32 pages of colour illustrations

Publication Date06/05/2025

PrintingFirst Printing

Editor's Notes

From Tolkien's Middle-earth to Thor in the Marvel universe, the Vikings are everywhere. They speak of an idea of freedom and abandon, of setting out for the horizon, and they had a strange and vivid mythology. Neil Price's refreshingly different history tells the story from their own perspective - what was it like to share the world with a multitude of 'Others', the magical beings of Odin and Freyja, Valkyries, giants and nature spirits. What was it like to be a warrior, a farmer, a migrant to Russia, a sorceress, a king, and to die and mourn as a Viking? We've included a multitude of illustrations, selected and captioned by the author, many obtained directly from Scandinavian museums, of silver amulets, ritual objects, sites and landscapes, reconstructions of burials (including a sorceress from Birka), rune stones, and the carved funeral wagon from the famous Oseberg ship burial, one of the most strange and spectacular burials of the Viking age.

Synopsis

They were traders, sorceresses, poets, and kings – the Vikings were far more than seagoing, axe-wielding warriors. In this new and exciting history – based on the current thinking and archaeology – Neil Price breathes fresh life into the Norse world, revealing a people of astonishing complexity. The narrative ranges across the whole of the Viking diaspora, from Greenland to Britain to Constantinople, from peaceful settlements to conquered land, and explores the changes in Scandinavian society when the Norse took to the ocean to explore and conquer. Especially, the book takes us inside the Norse mind, showing us how the Vikings saw themselves, inhabiting a mysterious world where gods, spirits and humans co-existed, informing life from the cradle to the grave. Forget the clichés – this is the real Viking Age.

How can we help?

Trending

The Children of Ash and Elm