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The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings

About.com Rating fourhalf out of Five

By Melissa Snell, About.com

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings, edited by Peter Sawyer

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings, edited by Peter Sawyer

The Bottom Line

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings is an authoritative, well-written, and comprehensive introduction to Viking activity in Scandinavia, Britain and beyond. Supplemented with gorgeous photos, informative maps and helpful tables, The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings makes a nice gift for the Viking history buff as well as a useful introduction to the newcomer.
Pros
  • Authoritative
  • Comprehensive
  • Beautifully produced
Cons
  • Limited coverage of Viking activity outside western Europe

Description

  • Chapters by ten different contributors, including two by the editor, Peter Sawyer
  • 150 images, including 24 pages of full-color photos
  • 16 maps
  • A Chronology of significant events
  • Published by Oxford University Press (March, 1998)
  • Hardcover; 9.8 x 7.3 x 1.0 inches; 297 pages; high-quality paper
  • ISBN 0198205260

Guide Review - 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.

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