The Vikings

The favorite image of the Vikings is of tall red-headed men, raping and pillaging their way around the coast of Europe, stopping only to ransack monasteries and burn longships. But the violent Vikings of the 8th century became the pious Christians of the 11th century, who gave gold crosses to Christian churches and in whose areas of rule pagan idols were destroyed and churches were built. So how did this radical transformation happen, and why? What difference did it make to the Vikings, and to those around them, and what is their legacy today? This book takes a global look at this crucial period in Viking history, exploring all the major areas of Viking settlement. Written to be an accessible and engaging overview for the general reader.

I visited far northern Norway in 1996.  Norway brings to mind Vikings.  The coast, fjords, architecture, and the language drips with the thought of Vikings.  Many people are enamored with the view of Vikings.  I am not one of those people.  The subtitle of this book is what interested me.  How did the Norse people go from being raiders to Christian in a relatively short period of time?  Martyn Whittock and Whittock tell the story of these people well.

Reading a history textbook does not sound enjoyable.  Most times it is not fun.  The tale of the Vikings becoming a Christian people is interesting.  Whittock and Whittock performed yeoman's work in research.  Their presentation goes beyond a research book.  There are few, if any, stories of individual Norse people but it is easy to view these people and the change their world must have gone through.

This book is an easy read for someone with interest in Viking history.  I believe this book would make an excellent addition to an academic course in any medieval history of Europe also.