The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered the World [9780358699200]

Overview

“An absorbing and humane account . . . Mr. Herman is at pains to remind us that the Viking world was never just a stage for mayhem. It was, he says, ‘about daring to reach for more than the universe had gifted you, no matter the odds and the obstacles.’ In short: We might all take our own life’s cue from the Viking heart.”—The Wall Street Journal

From a New York Times best-selling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist, a sweeping epic of Viking history that shows how these Norse explorers and their descendants have shaped the world and America

Scandinavia has always been a world apart. For millennia Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Swedes lived a remote and rugged existence among the fjords and peaks of the land of the midnight sun. But when they finally left their homeland in search of opportunity, these wanderers—including the most famous, the Vikings—would reshape Europe and beyond. Their ingenuity, daring, resiliency, and loyalty to family and community would propel them to the gates of Rome, the steppes of Russia, the courts of Constantinople, and the castles of England and Ireland. But nowhere would they leave a deeper mark than across the Atlantic, where the Vikings’ legacy would become the American Dream.

In The Viking Heart, Arthur Herman melds a compelling historical narrative with cutting-edge archaeological and DNA research to trace the epic story of this remarkable and diverse people. He shows how the Scandinavian experience has universal meaning, and how we can still be inspired by their indomitable spirit.

This sweeping history reveals the little-known story of their influence:

• A Rich Historical Narrative: Connects the dots from the rugged fjords of Scandinavia to the castles of England and the courts of Constantinople.
• Cutting-Edge Research: Goes beyond sagas and legends, incorporating the latest archaeological discoveries and DNA evidence to tell the full story.
• The American Connection: Uncovers the surprising and profound ways the Viking legacy of resilience and community shaped the American Dream.
• Beyond the Stereotype: Moves past the horned helmets to explore the ingenuity, daring, and loyalty that defined this diverse people.