History books, Norse myths and Viking sagas — from the first raids to the age of settlement.
From the longship raids of the eighth century to the sagas written down in medieval Iceland, the Vikings left a literature, a mythology and a history as rich as any in the ancient world. This page brings together the best of it: narrative histories, the classic Norse sagas, collections of myth and legend, and the foundational texts — from the Prose Edda to the Vinland Sagas — that remain as vivid today as when they were first told.
The strongest starting point for the Viking and Norse bookshelf — two confirmed titles from our sales history, plus a first wave of widely recommended reading.
A compact and authoritative introduction to the Viking Age — who the Vikings were, where they went and what they left behind. Part of Oxford's essential Very Short Introductions series.
Terry Jones's bold retelling of the Viking saga tradition — drawing on the spirit of the original Norse sagas. A popular gateway into the world of Viking storytelling and an enduring favourite.
The most complete and up-to-date account of the Viking Age — drawing on the latest archaeology, DNA research and saga literature to reveal a world far more complex than the popular image. Widely considered the definitive modern history.
A rich and wide-ranging history of the Viking presence in Britain — from the first raids on Lindisfarne through to settlement, assimilation and lasting influence on the English landscape and language.
A readable narrative survey of the Viking world — origins, expansion, raids, settlement and the eventual close of the Viking Age. Covers the full geographical sweep from Scandinavia to the Americas.
The definitive life of Harald Hardrada — Varangian Guard warrior, Byzantine mercenary, King of Norway and the last great Viking conqueror. His defeat at Stamford Bridge in 1066 effectively ended the Viking Age.
The foundational Norse mythological texts and the best modern guides to the gods, giants and worlds of the Norse cosmos.
A beautifully illustrated guide to the Norse myths — covering Odin, Thor, Loki, the creation of the world, Ragnarök and the full cast of gods, giants and monsters. Ideal as both introduction and reference.
The primary source for Norse mythology — Snorri Sturluson's thirteenth-century compendium of the gods, the creation myth and the stories of Odin, Thor, Loki and the coming of Ragnarök. Jesse Byock's translation is clear and authoritative.
The Icelandic and Norse sagas — some of the greatest literature of the medieval world. These are the primary sources for Viking life, exploration and legend.
The great Norse heroic epic — the story of Sigurd the dragon-slayer, the cursed gold of the Nibelungs and the doomed house of the Volsungs. The source behind Wagner's Ring cycle and Tolkien's Norse-inspired work.
A comprehensive anthology of the great Icelandic sagas — including Egil's Saga, Laxdæla Saga and the Vinland Sagas. The best single-volume introduction to the saga tradition in English.
The two sagas that record the Norse discovery and attempted settlement of North America around AD 1000 — Grænlendinga Saga and Eiríks Saga Rauða. A remarkable window into Viking exploration at its furthest reach.
The history of the Norse earldom of Orkney — raids, politics, conversion and the violent lives of the earls from the ninth century to the twelfth. Vivid, essential Norse history rooted firmly in the British Isles.
Generally considered the greatest of the Icelandic sagas — a sweeping narrative of feud, law, honour and burning spanning fifty years of medieval Iceland. Remarkable for its psychological depth and human complexity.
A handsome retelling of the Norse myths and sagas — accessible, well-illustrated and faithful to the original sources. A good starting point for readers new to the saga tradition.
Books on the great Viking rulers and the battles that defined the age — from Harald Fairhair to Harald Hardrada and the close of the Viking world at Stamford Bridge.
Snorri Sturluson's account of Harald Hardrada — the last of the great Viking kings, whose defeat at Stamford Bridge in 1066 ended the Viking Age. A vivid and authoritative primary source from the Heimskringla.
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