The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings

In the last few decades of the 20th century, there was a wealth of scholarship conducted into the history of the dynamic Scandinavians who raided, traded, explored, conquered, and settled regions throughout Britain and Europe. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings offers scholarly yet readable essays on a variety of topics from the Viking age, all contributed by notable international scholars.

Subjects covered include the origins of the Viking age, Vikings in England, Scandinavians in Russia, Ships and Seamanship, religion, and the Viking legacy. Contributors include Simon Keynes, Neils Lund, and the editor, Peter Sawyer. Though limited information is offered about the Varangians and explorations to America, The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings still serves as a substantive and informative introduction to Viking history.

Oxford Illustrated editions always offer bang for your buck, and The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings is no exception. The book is jam-packed with gorgeous photos of artifacts, Viking treasure, weapons, locations, ships and Viking artwork. The maps are lucid, and the chronology of events is very helpful. Best of all, the high production value makes this the ideal gift for anyone with an interest in the Vikings and Scandinavian history.