"The Long Ships" by Frans G.Bengtsson (Translated by Michael Meyer)

 

Publisher: P. A. Norstedt Soner Forlag

Copyright: 1954

ISBN: None

The Long Ships is a classic tale of the Vikings and is quite reminiscent of the Icelandic Sagas which I had to read during a course at University, and which I absolutely loved, as they and this book as well give a very good interpretation of what life must have been like in the 10th century. It is said to be one of the best historical novel ever written

This book follows the life of Orm Tostesson who became known as Red Orm or Orm the Far-Travelled, and the expeditions he sailed on from being an novice sailor, to his time a s a slave in the service of Moors, a marriage into royalty. The expeditions he was involved with took him to many lands from England, Spain, and Russia. Along the way he relates tales of King Harald Blue Tooth, the Jomsvikings, and the various attempts made to convert the Vikings to christianity.

This is an excellent book, well worth reading.