General Overview Readings

Almgren, Bertil, ed. The Viking. n.l.: C.A. Watts, 1966.

_____. Bronsnycklar och Djurornamentik. Uppsala: n.p., 1955.

Arbman, Holger; trans. Alan Binns. The Vikings. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1961.

Barren, Birkebaek. Sea Wolves. Gothenburg, Swe.: Svenska Forlag ab Nordbok, 1975.

Most of the same illustrations as Trykare below, but many coloured to emphasise details, and with additional interesting drawings.

Boe, J. Til hogfjellets forhistorie. Bergen: n.p., 1942.
(French summary)

Brondsted, Johannes; trans. Kalle Skov. The Vikings. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1965.

A basic text with some interesting detail.

Brogger, A.W. and others. Osebergfunnet. Kristiania: n.p, n.d.

Bruce-Mitford, Rupert ed. Recent Archaeological Excavations in Europe. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, n.d..

Du Chaille, P.B. The Viking Age. London: n.p., 1889.
Out of date.

Eggers. H.G. "Die Romeriche Import im freien Germanien," in Atlas der Urgeschichte, I. Hamburg: n.p., 1951.

Foote, P.G. and D.M. Wilson. The Viking Achievement. London: n.p., 1970.
A basic text.

Gibson, Michael. The Vikings.

Gjessing, G. Studier i norsk merovingertid. Oslo: n.p., 1934.

Gordon, Kate. The Vikings and their predecessors. Ottawa: National Museum of Man, 1981.

Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking World. New York: Ticknor & Fields,1980.

Perhaps the best beginning text. A good start on a Norse Handbook. Truly excellent.

__________, ed. Cultural Atlas of the Viking World. New York: Facts On File, 1994.

I think its pretty good, but have seen bad mouthing reviews.

__________ and Dafydd Kidd. The Vikings. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1980.

An extract mostly in colour of a museum exhibit of Norse artifacts. Very good.

Grieg, S. "Vikingetidens skattefund", in Universitetets Oldsaksamlings Skrifter, ii, 1929.

Gronbech, V. The Culture of the Teutons, I-II.

Hachmann, Rolf; trans. James Hogarth. "The Germanic Peoples", in Archaeologia Mundi. n.l.: Nagel Publishers, 1971.

Hagen, Anders. "Europeiske impulser i ostnorsk bronsealder" Viking. n.l.: n.p., 1954.

_____. Vart folks historie. Oslo: n.p., 1962.

_____. Studier i jernalderens gardssamfunn. Oslo: n.p., 1953.
(English summary)

Henry, Bernard. Vikings and Norsemen.

Hinsch, E. "Naust og hall i jernalderen", in UBA. n.l.: n.p., 1960.
(French summary)

Horizon Magazine, The Editors of. The Vikings. New York: American Heritage Publishing, 1964.

A good coffee table book.

Jones, Gwyn A. A History of the Vikings. London: Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, 1968.

The primary Norse history. Truly excellent.

Kendrick, T.D. History of the Vikings, A. New York: Scribner, 1968.

Klindt-Jensen, Ole. A History of Scandinavian Archaeology. London: Thames & Hudson, 1975.

_____ and S. Ehren. The World of the Vikings.

A basic text with primitive drawings.

La Fay, Howard. The Vikings. Washington: National Geographic Society, 1972.

__________. "The Vikings", in National Geographic, 137, No. 4 (Apr, 1970).

Interesting picture books with some background material.

Landsverk, Dr. O.G. Landsverk Foundation Bulletin, 1972.

Magnusson, Magnus. Vikings! New York: Elsevier-Dutton Pub. Co., 1980.

An interesting text with enthusiasm. I don't always agree with him, but his views are worth reviewing.

Mallet, P.H. Northern Antiquities.

Mawer, H. The Vikings. n.l.: Cambridge University Press, 1913.

Medieval Scandinavia. Odense, Denmark: Odense University Press.
*Periodical.

Nicolayesen, N. The Viking Ship Discovered at Gokstad.

Olrik, Alex; trans. J.W. Hartmann and H.A. Larsen. Viking Civilization. London: Allen & Unwin, 1930.

Owen, Francis. The Germanic People: their origin, expansion and culture. n.l.: College and University Press, 1966.

Oxenstierna, Count Eric; trans. Catherine Hutter. The Norsemen. Greenwich, Conn: New York Graphic Society Publ, 1965.

__________; trans. Janet Sondheimer. The World of the Norsemen. Cleveland, OH: The World Publishing Co, 1967.

Count Oxenstierna has many interesting photos and observations, but his conclusions are sometimes uniquely his own and as a source must be watched closely. (Die Nord Germanen)

Pendlesonn, K.R.G. The Vikings.

Proctor, George L. Ancient Scandinavia. n.l.: John Day, 1965.

Quennel, Marjorie and C.H.B. Everyday Life in Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Norman Times. London: B.T. Batsford, 1926.

Richards, Julian D. Viking Age England. London, UK: B.T. Batsford, 1991.

Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland. London, UK: B.T. Batsford, 1993.

Some questionable stuff. IMHO

Roesdahl, Else. Viking Age Denmark. London, UK: British Museum Publications, 1982.

Excellent, much good and unusual material.

__________ The Vikings. Harmondsworth, UK: Allen Lane The Penguin Press, 1987.

I found it disappointing. A standard text marginally updated. Many will disagree with me.

__________ and David M. Wilson. From Viking to Crusader. New York: Rizzoli, 1992.

Excellent, truly excellent. (Except for the danish man's costume reconstruction, which is questionable to say the least. IMHO)

Rousell, Aage, ed. The National Museum of Denmark. n.l.: Det Berlingske Bogtrykkeri, 1957

Sawyer, P.H. The Age of the Vikings. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1972 (2nd Edition).

A basic text.

Schutte, G. Our forefathers: the Gothonic nations. Cambridge: n.p., 1933.

Shetelig, Haakon. Vikingeminder i Vest-Europa. n.l.: n.p., 1933.

_____. An Introduction to the Viking History of Western Europe. Oslo: n.p., 1940.

_____ and Hjalmar Falk; trans. E.V. Gordon. Scandinavian Archaeology. London: Oxford University Press, 1938.

An excellent book, though now dated.

Simpson, Jacqueline. Everyday Life in the Viking Age. London: Carousel Books, Transworld Publ, 1967.

In my opinion one of the best overviews of Norse culture in the Viking Age. Not much for pictures, but good reading.

Sinding, P.C. The Northmen.

Sjovold, Thorleif. The Oseberg Find and the Other Viking Ship Finds. Oslo: n.p., 1957.

Steenstruo, J. Normannerne. Copenhagen: n.p., 1876-82.

Stenberger, Marten. The Vendel and Viking Age. n.l.: Det Forntida Sverige, 1964.

Stender-Petersen, A. Varangica. Arhus: n.p., 1953.

Stjernquist, B. Simris, on cultural connections in the Roman Iron Age. Lund: n.p., 1955.

Tryckare, Tre. The Viking. New York: Crescent Books, 1975.

This is a well known coffee table book with many interesting drawings and photos, but must be used with a grain of salt.

Turville-Petre, E.O.G. The Heroic Age of Scandinavia. n.l.: Hutchinson House, 1951.

Undset, I.M. Scandinavian Archaeology.

Wheeler, R.E.M. Rome beyond the Imperial frontiers. London: n.p., 1954.

Wilson, David M. The Northern World.

_______. The Vikings and Their Origins. New York: A & W Visual Library, 1980.

Not one of my favorite works.

Graham-Campbell, James and Anne Civardi. Time Traveller Book of Viking Raiders. n.l.: Hayes Osbourne, 1977.

Good integrated view.

Green, R.L. The Saga of Asgard. n.l.: Puffin, 1960.

Proctor, G.L. The Vikings. (Then and There Series) London: Longman, 1959.

Reeves, M. Alfred and the Danes. (Then and There series) London: Longman, 1959.

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Last updated 7/30/96.