EMBERS OF THE HANDS

The world of the Norsemen who made a vivid impression on Europe during the last millennium.

British historian and broadcaster Barraclough begins in the swamps of Scandinavia, where its ancient inhabitants lost, discarded, or deliberately disposed of tools, coins, weapons, jewelry, clothing, pottery, and even their fellow humans. Still digging, archeologists have learned that they traded with ancient Rome and traded and fought with ancient Germany. Their rulers and elites were warriors. Because Scandinavia contained little arable land and other sources of wealth, fighting and robbing foreign tribespeople was the ambition of brave young men, and Norsemen took up raiding as soon as they acquired ships. They entered history in the last decade of the eighth century and soon were raiding Ireland, Britain, and France. By the ninth century, raiding progressed into conquest, and Norsemen ruled much of England and Normandy. To the west they settled Iceland and Greenland and touched on North America. Barraclough concentrates on Norse daily life; although the author does not ignore Viking conquests and politics, readers looking for more fireworks have innumerable authors to choose from. Although not the first account for a popular audience, it’s absorbing. The author has a rich bounty to choose from, Scandinavia having long, freezing winters to preserve artifacts, global warming to expose them, ancient writing systems, and now modern nations with enthusiastic archeologists. Scraps of wood reveal doodles, notes, poems, insults, and prayers; thawing glaciers turn up clothes, furs, tools, toys, food, and plenty of clues to the Vikings’ role in Norse society.

A satisfying plunge into Viking culture.