Last Vikings, The: Epic Story Of The Great Norse Voyagers, The

Description:
Late in the tenth century, the Norse Vikings embarked on a voyage of no return. Leaving Iceland first for Greenland, from there they sailed onwards to North America, setting foot on its shores five hundred years before Columbus' first journeys of discovery. But by about AD 1500 their settlements were abandoned and the Norse Greenlanders and their explorations of the New World receded into the realms of myth. What happened between these momentous events? How did the Vikings really live - and die - and why have so many myths and legends grown up around this mysterious people of the sea? Drawing on her deep knowledge of the culture and history of the region as well as the most up-to-date evidence from archaeology, medieval history and the evocative Sagas, Seaver weaves together a compelling and authoritative history. Alongside their spectacular achievements and discoveries, she also vividly evokes the last Vikings' daily lives and explains why their apparent departure in 1500 was not quite such a dramatic schism in the historical record as is often assumed. This compelling history of a people living at the fringes of the known world offers an illuminating entry into the world of the Norse Greenlanders which will captivate all who have ever wondered about the fate of the Vikings and will stand as the definitive work for years to come.

Review:
'A fascinating investigation into one of the most elusive mysteries of the far North. Kirsten Seaver brings to life a wonderful cast of Saga heroes, the Norse at their most outlandish and compelling.' - Joanna Kavenna, author of The Ice Museum; 'The Last Vikings is an impressive work by a highly experienced writer. The primary and secondary sources are handled with clarity and confidence and interpretations are given and opinions expressed about numerous controversial matters. The writing is efficient, sharp and with touches of striking phraseology and the pace is always maintained; this author knows exactly what she wants to communicate. And despite the remoteness of Greenland from most people's consciousness, there is an important element of topicality, given the strategic role of the ice-cap in modern climatological studies. In that sense, everyone ought to be better informed about the story of medieval Greenland and in particular the causes of the colony's decline.' - Howard Clarke, Professor Emeritus of Medieval History, University College Dublin; 'Kirsten Seaver has scoured all the important archives in her hunt for coherence over the five hundred years of Norse Greenland society. She presents a 'moveable' Norse society, in contrast to the earlier idea of a rather static society, and provides an especially fascinating and clear overview of the cartography of the North Atlantic area. The Last Vikings is compact but filled with up to date insights, both archaeological and historical. She goes right to the core of the subject and her theories are always backed up by thorough analysis and presented in a clear and understandable way. The Last Vikings is an exciting and accessible book, infused with the author's joy of explaining this intriguing but not yet fully explained world.' - Joel Berglund, former Vice Director of the Greenland National Museum & Archives

Author Biography:
Kirsten A. Seaver is an independent historian who has taught at the University of Stanford. She has also worked as a novelist and a translator and her work has been published extensively in both English and Norwegian. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, London, her previous publications include 'Maps, Myths, and Men: The Story of the Vinland Map' and 'The Frozen Echo'.