The Children of Ash and Elm : A History of the Vikings

A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
'As brilliant a history of the Vikings as one could possibly hope to read' – Tom Holland

The 'Viking Age' is traditionally thought to begin in June 793, when Scandinavian raiders attacked the monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria, and to end in September 1066, with the death of King Harald Hardrada of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. However, this book offers a refreshingly different perspective. It reveals that the Viking expansion began generations earlier than the Lindisfarne raid and traces Scandinavian history back centuries to uncover how these people became who they were.

Key Features of the Book:

• Wide-ranging narrative: The story spans the entire Viking diaspora, from Vinland on the eastern American seaboard to Constantinople, Uzbekistan, and even contacts as far as China.
• Based on the latest archaeology: It delves into the complex origins of the Viking phenomenon and examines the societal shifts driven by an economy focused on maritime war.
• Striking discoveries:
  • The central role of slavery in Viking life and trade.
  • The existence of pirate communities and family migrations within Viking 'armies,' particularly in England.

Neil Price goes beyond the surface to explore the Norse mind and spirit-world, shedding light on their borders of identity and gender. This approach challenges the stereotype of Vikings as mere barbarian marauders. Instead, Price presents them as descendants of the first human couple—the Children of Ash and Elm.

He also reminds readers of the simultaneous familiarity and strangeness of the past, highlighting both the limitations of what we can know and the discoveries that reshape our understanding.

This is an eye-opening and surprisingly moving book that cuts through centuries of received wisdom to offer a vivid and nuanced portrait of the Vikings.