Beyond the Northlands: Viking Voyages and the Old Norse Sagas

Barraclough (medieval literature, Durham Univ.) looks at the question of exactly who were the Vikings, not as Western culture and literature portrays them, but as they saw themselves. To achieve this goal, the author studies Norse (predominantly Icelandic) literature and storytelling focusing on history and culture while also researching how the group interacted with the world around them. With a clever and engaging style, the author marries interpretations of Norse sagas with historical references, creating a detailed analysis of Viking evolution and worldview with clarity, humor, and a sense of relevance. Some readers may feel the tone is too light at times, but the level of research and effort of the arguments amply demonstrate the key role the author's work plays in the larger analysis of Norse cultural impact. Thoroughly researched and well rooted in historical and literary context, yet written with wry charm and a thorough command of language, this study of the Norsemen through their own words is an enjoyable addition to the field, complementing the growing interest in Viking histories owing in part to the recent TV series Vikings.