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The Children of Ash and Elm

A History of the Vikings
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( 8,946 ratings, 1,190 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price offers an engaging exploration of the Viking Age, tracing the lives, culture, and beliefs of the Norse people. It blends storytelling with historical analysis to provide a comprehensive picture of how the Vikings lived, from their exploration and trade to their mythology and social structure. This captivating narrative delves into both the everyday lives and extraordinary achievements of the Viking civilisation.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the Viking Age and want a vivid exploration of Norse culture, examining daily life, society, and the spiritual world. It's an engaging read for history enthusiasts interested in the intricate tapestry of Scandinavian history and archaeology.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An acclaimed history of the Vikings and The Times and Sunday Times History Book of the Year

The 'Viking Age' is traditionally held to begin in June 793 when Scandinavian raiders attacked the monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria, and to end in September 1066, when King Harald Hardrada of Norway died leading the charge against the English line at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

The Children of Ash and Elm, the most wide-ranging and comprehensive assessment of the current state of our knowledge, takes a refreshingly different view. It shows that the Viking expansion began generations before the Lindisfarne raid and traces Scandinavian history back centuries further to see how these people came to be who they were.

The narrative ranges across the whole of the Viking diaspora, from Vinland on the eastern American seaboard to Constantinople and Uzbekistan, with contacts as far away as China.

Neil Price takes us inside the Norse mind and spirit-world, and across their borders of identity and gender, to reveal startlingly different Vikings to the barbarian marauders of stereotype. He cuts through centuries of received wisdom to try to see the Vikings as they saw themselves - descendants of the first human couple, the Children of Ash and Elm.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price is highly regarded for its fresh perspective on Viking history, offering a blend of scholarly insight and engaging narrative. Critics appreciate Price's expertise and vivid storytelling that bring to life the Viking Age's complexity and vibrancy. His ability to intertwine archaeological discoveries with an evocative narrative provides readers with a deep understanding of Viking society, culture, and mentality, distinguishing it as one of the most comprehensive accounts available.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141984445

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 447g

Pages: 624

About the Author

Neil Price holds the Chair of Archaeology at Uppsala University, Sweden, where he has also been appointed Distinguished Professor by the Swedish Research Council. A leading expert on the Viking Age, his fieldwork, teaching and research have taken him to more than forty countries. Neil is a Fellow of learned academies in Britain and Scandinavia, including Sweden's oldest, the Royal Society of Sciences; in 2017 it awarded him the Thureus Prize for his lifetime achievements in Viking studies. His publications have appeared in sixteen languages, and he is a frequent consultant and contributor to television and film.

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