I own many historical books, but most of them brought from Denmark to Thailand, and thereby mostly written in Danish, and by now living in Thailand I at least ought to own a book written in English, and telling about the Vikings. And when I out here have telling about all of the places to where the Vikings were sailing, I especially are getting into problem when taking about the Faeroes, which nobody knows anything about, and as it is so small it is nearly impossible to shown I on my Globe.
So I at last started searching after an easy and good book telling about the Vikings, a book with pictures and cards. And the first time I in Amazon discovered “The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings”, and then was looking inside the book, I immediately ordered one copy. And after now having received and read it, I must say that it’s a very good book about the Vikings, probably the one which I would choose if I only was allowed to own a single book about the Vikings.
The book is extremely detailed concerning all of the places to where respectively the Danish, Norwegians, or Swedish Vikings were travelling, and with the marks for at which year. So most of the book is containing Atlases with the accompanying text pages, but we also are getting many sides with pictures and drawings concerning their daily life, small towns, round forts, churches, warrior weapons, ships, their gods the Thor, with 8 legged horse Sleipnir, and the Odin and so on, and we learn how they by their settling all over Europe resulted in the starts of some of the later big cities.
But as a remark, on the side 40 we are reading that it’s not known how the Vikings found around on the ocean, as the compass not yet was invented. But during some years most historians now believes that the Vikings were using the Sunstone, the stone which nearly looks like a part of a crystal, and comes from Iceland, and by which they through the clouds can locate the Sun. Such one was found in a ship which sank around 500 years ago, and after the discovering of this one it now is believed that the Viking used Sunstones and that these followed the owners into the graves and there deformed during the years.
And as one more remark concerning if the Vikings totally left America. I still remember that I around 25 years ago was reading that it then was discovered that some of the Vikings had settled in North America. Because it was found that a tripe of mostly white haired Indians all died by an sickness which was brought with the immigrants back around the year 1880, and now by DNA was found to be connected to the Scandinavians. Of course, during the past year new research has proved that the Indian came from Japan and Scandinavia thousands of years before the Vikings discovered North America. .
In the book we by historical writing are getting a touch of the Sagas, and we especially read about the Icelandic Sagas, and learn about how good writings they contain. For persons that want to learn more about the Vikings especially the Icelandic Sagas, like Njal’s Saga, are telling good stories. But I cannot recommend a special book, because all of my Saga books are written in Danish, so I don’t know which of these translated into English either is good or bad translated.
But especially concerning the Icelandic Sagas they just this year have been finished in a totally new translating into 5 books in Danish, and in these books we now are getting more juicy telling, precisely as they were written, by not earlier allowed to be told to us. So thereby when looking after a book with a Saga then think about looking on at which year it was translated, and probably these new Danish will come in English, and in case so I’ll have them, even though I have the older one.
But finally, and again, it’s an excellent book with the many Atlas showing to where the Viking went. First by this book I for example discovered that the Vikings in 844 went into Seville, I never thought that they went inside Spain.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more
Frequently bought together
$20.70
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 22
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
NOT an atlas
This is not a bad book, if you are looking for an illustrated book about the vikings. What it lacks in depth (a LOT!), it compensates in breadth. Sort of.But this is NOT an atlas.Atlases are collections of MAPS, ideally – specially in the case of historical atlases, such as this one – accompanied by some (short) texts about the place, time and features represented in the maps. A few pictures of objects or places may sometimes be useful. Over the years, Penguin has been drifting away from this logic, so this *atlas* of the Vikings is actually an illustrated book.To begin with, the size of the books in this collection – mere 7x9.6" – preempts good, informative, readable maps. Pages without a single map abound. And when there is one, it competes with the long text and close-to-useless illustrations that overcrowd the pages.Even when a subject evidently demands a proper map, the Penguin *atlas* offers a ridiculously simplified drawing. The worst case is in pages 38-39, where viking trade routes were supposed to be covered. This is a fascinating topic – the guys traveled and traded everywhere. Moscow, for instance, started as a viking trading post in the Volga trade route, through which the Norse traded with the Muslim countries. What Penguin's *atlas* has to offer on this matter? A mockery of a map (see photo), a very superficial text and completely irrelevant side notes and pictures. A complete waste of a space already too small for such a rich subject.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2015
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2011
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017
Top reviews from other countries
Allyson
Comprehensive timeline and maps, excellent study tool
Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2021
Sarah Schneider
So useful, you'll never find a better visual description of the Viking times!
Reviewed in Germany on May 16, 2016