Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings Paperback – September 13, 2022

Comprehensive, excellent and readable. Backed by extensive notes, this is popular history at its finest.

If, like me, you watched Vikings and wanted to know more about the Viking golden era - more facts and less movie script, This book is for you.Easy to read. Each chapter, gives you a little better understanding of their behavior. It's a great viking history introduction....I feel like I need to learn more now... more details, more in-depth information.

hildren of Ash and Elm by Neil Price is an ambitious exploration of the Viking Age, offering a sweeping narrative that delves into the complexities of Viking society, culture, and worldview. As a history enthusiast with a particular interest in the Norsemen and their legacy, I approached this book with eager anticipation. While it may not be without its flaws, it undoubtedly stands as a remarkable achievement in the field of Viking studies.One of the most striking aspects of Children of Ash and Elm is its vivid and evocative prose. Price demonstrates a remarkable ability to bring the past to life, painting a rich tapestry of Viking Age society that is both immersive and captivating. From the windswept shores of Scandinavia to the bustling trade routes of the Mediterranean, readers are transported to a world teeming with life, color, and adventure.Moreover, Price's meticulous research and attention to detail shine through in every chapter of the book. Drawing on a wide range of primary sources, archaeological evidence, and comparative analysis, he presents a comprehensive and nuanced portrait of Viking society. Whether discussing the intricacies of Norse mythology, the dynamics of Viking-age politics, or the daily lives of ordinary men and women, Price's insights are both enlightening and thought-provoking.Furthermore, Children of Ash and Elm challenges many preconceived notions about the Vikings, offering a more balanced and nuanced perspective on this enigmatic civilization. Rather than portraying them as mere raiders and plunderers, Price emphasizes the diversity and complexity of Viking culture, highlighting their contributions to art, literature, exploration, and trade. By examining the Vikings on their own terms, he invites readers to reconsider their assumptions and confront the complexities of the past.However, while Children of Ash and Elm excels in many areas, it is not without its shortcomings. At times, the sheer breadth of material covered in the book can feel overwhelming, making it difficult for readers to fully digest and absorb the information presented. Additionally, Price's writing style, while eloquent and engaging, may be overly dense and academic for some readers, potentially limiting its accessibility to a broader audience.In conclusion, Children of Ash and Elm is a monumental work that offers a compelling and comprehensive exploration of the Viking Age. With its vivid prose, meticulous research, and thought-provoking insights, it stands as an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the world of the Norsemen. While it may not be without its flaws, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a must-read for historians, students, and enthusiasts alike.

Absolutely riveting and incredibly informative.

This is a good read for those of you who want to learn more about the Vikings and their times from a current archaeological point-of-view.Scientific measurements are getting more precise and nuanced all the time. Genetic traces can identify ethnicities and genders of persons long dead (A few surprises here), and radiocarbon isotopes can tell you where a person was born and raised, where they lived as an adult, and of course we already know (habeas corpus) where they died.We also have relatively new insights about the effects of certain natural catastrophies on matters such as climate change - it is now thought that a series of unusually large volcanic eruptions which occurred in the 6th century A.D. in southeastern Asia may have kicked up enough dust around the planet to cause the climate to cool precipitously for up to eighty years - an event which apparently caused a large scale die off of the Scandinavian population due to agricultural collapse, and which was the motivating driver behind the ‘Migration Period’, when northern peoples went south crashing into the Roman frontier in order to survive the cold-induced famine.The author also has some cautionary notes about what our northern friends were really like. One of my favorites was:‘When one looks closer, the real power,and the means of producing it, can take unexpected forms. Some years ago, a prominent historian despaired of the constant focus on the Vikings as maritime warriors, and instead stressed the fact that most of the Scandinavian population stayed at home on the land and never did any harm to anyone. The time of the Vikings, he claimed, was really ‘the Golden Age of the pig farmer.’ He had a point, though he got the animal wrong: The Scandinavian landscape of the late Viking period was a world of sheep.’ (For making ship’s sails and warm clothing)Also, everything hideous that the Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan described with regard to that gang of Russian Volga Vikings he met up with has been shown archeologically to be more or less true.Bottom line is, Tolkien’s stories are about Vikings and their religion the way they should have been, not the way they actually were.PS. The author (Neil Price) is an engaging and informative speaker, and has lectures on this subject readily available on You-tube.

Again, Amazon created a 1-star rating for me. This is the 2nd book it did that to. The first one was a book I wrote. I haven't even finished this one, but it won't let me delete the rating, so I've created this review. It's a great, comprehensive book so far.Amazon, FIX YOUR SYSTEM. You are killing writers with this bug.

Wow! Neil Price is an excellent writer. I really enjoyed reading this book. He successfully unveils the real people of the Viking era instead of the cliched version with which we are all too familiar!