Essential Books about the History of Norse Viking Culture

If you're fascinated by Norse mythology and Viking history, these books offer comprehensive insights into the rich cultural heritage of the Vikings. From sagas and historical accounts to archaeological findings and mythological explorations, these books are perfect for anyone looking to dive deep into the Viking world.

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Uncovering Vikings History: A Guide Into Vikings' Exploration, Culture, Historic Battles and Their Legendary Warriors (Ancient History Books) Paperback

Norse Mythology: The Complete Guide (2 Books in 1): Discover Origins, Traditions, Myths and All the Values of Norse Paganism. Including Gods, Ragnarok Secrets and Vikings Battles Paperback

Norse Paganism: Nordic Mythology, Magic Shamanism, Vikings, Runes, and Asatru Folk (Mythology and Paganism) Paperback

The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology (Penguin Classics) Paperback

Written in Iceland a century after the close of the Viking Age, The Prose Edda is the source of most of what we know of Norse mythology. Its tales are peopled by giants, dwarves, and elves, superhuman heroes and indomitable warrior queens. Its gods live with the tragic knowledge of their own impending destruction in the cataclysmic battle of Ragnarok. Its time scale spans the eons from the world’s creation to its violent end. This robust new translation captures the magisterial sweep and startling psychological complexity of the Old Icelandic original.

Vikings: Warriors, Raiders, and Masters of the Sea Hardcover

At the gates of Valhalla, Odin, the God of War and Death, welcomed the bravest of the slain warriors arriving in flaming longships for their final battle. It is a fiery legend still celebrated annually in the Shetland Islands, 150 miles northeast of Scotland, where Vikings ruled for 500 years.
From the late 8th century, when Viking raiders first appeared, to the end of the 11th century, Scandinavian men and women traveled to many parts of the world, from Newfoundland to Byzantium, in a cultural expansion that lasted for 300 years. But tales of terrifying berserkers may have been the mere propaganda of contemporary Christian chroniclers. Beyond the blood and brutality of legend, Viking colonists shared their culture and craftsmanship, leaving behind an enduring legacy.

The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women Hardcover

‘As heroes we were widely known – with keen spears we cut blood from bone’
In 2017, DNA tests revealed to the collective shock of many scholars that a Viking warrior in a high-status grave in Birka, Sweden, was actually a woman. The Real Valkyrie weaves together archaeology, history and literature to reinvent her life and times, showing that Viking women had more power and agency than historians have imagined.
Nancy Marie Brown links the Birka warrior, whom she names Hervor, to Viking trading towns and to their great trade route east to Byzantium and beyond. She imagines Hervor’s adventures intersecting with larger-than-life but real women, including Queen Gunnhild Mother-of-Kings, the Viking leader known as the Red Girl, and Queen Olga of Kyiv. Hervor’s short, dramatic life shows that much of what we have taken as truth about women in the Viking Age is based not on data but on nineteenth-century Victorian biases. Viking women in history, the sagas, poetry and myth carry weapons. In this compelling narrative, Brown brings the world of those valkyries and shield-maids to vivid life.

Explore the depth and richness of Norse Viking culture with these carefully selected books. They offer a comprehensive look into Viking history, mythology, and traditions, from ancient sagas to modern interpretations. Whether you're interested in Norse spirituality, historical facts, or cultural practices, these books will provide many invaluable insights.

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