Viking Tales
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Book Description
Few men wrote or read in the olden days. Skalds, singers, learned songs from hearing them sung. At last people began to write more easily. Then they said: "These stories are very precious. We must write them down to save them from being forgotten."
After that many men in Iceland spent their winters in writing books. They wrote on sheepskin; vellum, we call it. Many of these old vellum books have been saved for hundreds of years, and are now in museums. Some leaves are lost, some are torn, and are yellow and crumpled. But they are precious. They tell us all that we know about that olden time. These are the very words that the men of Iceland wrote so long ago - stories of kings and battles of ship sailing.
These stories have three values. The men, with the crude courage and the strange adventures that make a man interesting to children, have at the same time the love of truth, the hardy endurance, the faithfulness to the plighted word, that make them a child's fit companions. Hall deems it a great thing accomplished if the children who read these stories should be so tempted after a while to read those fine old books, to enjoy the tales, to appreciate straightforwardness and simplicity of style. The historical value of the story of Leif Ericsson and the others seems to be not to learn the fact that Norsemen discovered America before Columbus did, but to gain a conception of the conditions of early navigation, of the length of the voyage, of the dangers of the sea, and a consequent realization of the reason for the fact that America was unknown to mediaeval Europe, of why the Norsemen did not travel, and of what was necessary to be done before men should strike out across the ocean.
About the Author
Renowned historical writer of late eighteen century. Hall's chiefly wrote spellbinding travel memoirs. Her works are known for their vibrant narratives and vivid descriptions.
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11 reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Definitely a Different Culture...
14 Mar 2007
Format:Paperback
This book has been an interesting read for us because it has given rise to many discussions about the Vikings and their values/beliefs. It is full of tales about their lifestyle, which was often violent and full of hardship. To give a few specifics....Harald (the king) has a "thrall" which is essentially a slave/servant with an iron collar banded around his neck, and there is much talk of the Viking Gods and their view of "heaven." I find it a fascinating book in many regards, but not always the easiest or most captivating reading for my seven-year old--it's taken some work on my end to develop/sustain her interest in some of these stories. I'd recommend it for a bit older age range (perhaps 10 and up)
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
A valuable resource
1 Feb 2004
Format:Paperback
Hall writes of the Norse legends and travel tales of Iceland, the stories of kings and battles of ship sailing. These stories have three values. These adventure tales, including the discovery of America (named Vinland) by the Norse, are a gripping chronicle of the human desire for exploration and a tantalizing glimpse of what would many centuries later become the New World. Anyone interested in Viking lore and Icelandic legend will find this a valuable resource.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Good view into viking life
7 April 2009
Format:Paperback
For those wanting an interesting peek into the lifestyle of the vikings and an insight into their mindset, this will be a worthwhile read. Find out how slaves (or thralls) were used and treated by the privileged of society. Get a glimpse into the clothing worn and foods eaten. Most importantly, this text will help explain the worldview of these mysterious people. They worshiped strange gods, and felt their life after death would be humiliating if they didn't die courageously in battle. To die any other way would've been shameful. The sense of extreme entitlement struck me strongly as I read, seeing these men take what they wanted, whenever they felt the need, killing persons standing in their way. You'll gain insight into some more famous men and vikings from history and lore: Harald, King of Norway, as well as Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky. Stories are told in a straight-forward manner with little building of tension or drama. Otherwise, I would've given this book a 5 star. This is definitely a worthwhile read for those studying the Middle Ages with young children or who simply want to share these stories with little ones. Recommended for children 6 or older.
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