Viking: The Norse Warrior’s (Unofficial) Manual

Viking: The Norse Warrior’s (Unofficial) Manual
by: John Haywood (Author)
Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd
Publication Date: 11 Feb. 2013
Language: English
Print Length: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 0500251940
ISBN-13: 9780500251942
Book Description
A practical guide to the Norse world of the tenth century ADSo, you want to be a Viking warrior? Fame, glory and wealth await those who brave storms and enemy spears to plunder far and wide in foreign lands. Who wouldn’t like a piece of the action? To come home laden with silver, earning a reputation that will live on long after lesser men have been forgotten?Discover everything you will need to become a successful Viking warrior: how to join a war band; what to look for in a good leader; how to behave at a feast; what weapons and armour to choose; how to fight in a shield wall; where to go raiding; how to plunder a monastery and ransom a monk and how to navigate at sea. The humorous text peppered with quotes from sagas and chronicles will take you on an engrossing journey from joining a raiding party to how to die gloriously.Written by a leading authority on the period and combining the latest archaeological discoveries with modern-day reconstructions, tales from the Norse sagas and 16 pages of colour illustrations, this book paints a vivid picture of what it was like to be a Viking warrior.Table of Contents1. Why Become a Viking? • 2. Joining Up • 3. The Novice Viking’s Guide to the Great War Leaders • 4. Weapons and Tactics • 5. Going to Sea • 6. Have Longship, Will Travel • 7. Life on Campaign • 8. Battle • 9. The Spoils of War • 10 The Sword’s Sleep

About the Author

Review If you fancy yourself as a looting, raiding, farming, treasure-making, pagan god-worshipping expert seafarer, you need Viking … witty and informative –The Big IssueStunning –The Daily MailWell illustrated, boisterously light-hearted, and crammed with solid historical and archaeological information, this is a vivid window into the Viking Age –Current World ArchaeologyClearly written and attractively produced … Detailed information is presented in a well constructed and logical format … contains many gems of irresistible information. –The School LibrarianClearly written and attractively produced … Detailed information is presented in awell constructed and logical format … contains many gems of irresistible information. –The School Librarian From the Back Cover The fifth instalment in this popular and highly successful series, Viking follows on from Legionary, Gladiator, Knight and Samurai, your guide to the Norse world of the tenth century ad. Discover everything you will need to become a successful Viking warrior: how to join a war band; what to look for in a good leader; how to behave at a feast; what weapons and armour to choose; how to fight in a shield wall; where to go raiding; how to plunder a monastery and ransom a monk; how to navigate at sea; and what About the Author Dr John Haywood is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Great Britain. A highly experienced cartographic editor and author, his many publications include The Great Migrations, The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations and The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings. Read more