A History of the Vikings
Illustrated by Sean Parry
First Printing
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.
Editor’s Note
- Mandy Kirkby, Editor
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.
Set in Vendetta with Harri as display
552 pages
23 black-and-white illustrations and 32 pages of colour illustrations
Full bound in printed and blocked cloth with design by the artist
Printed endpapers
Slipcase with motif blocked in silver
10˝ x 6¾˝
‘It was so much fun to get to pour my passion for Viking historical art and visual story telling into this project. Neil Price is a leading scholar in Viking Age studies and a household name for those of us interested in Nordic history. I’ve been a fan of his publications for at least ten years now, so when the Folio Society approached me about artwork for Children of Ash and Elm I couldn't pass up the opportunity.’
- Sean Parry, Illustrator
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.
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