Short, William R.: Violence in Viking Society

In the public imagination, the mere mention of Vikings instantly conjures up images of bloodthirsty warriors marauding and murdering their way across the lands accessible to their dragon-prowed longships. There is scarcely a corner of the world where the Vikings are unknown or unassociated with violence. Even the timeframe of their erathe Viking Ageis defined by their violent acts: beginning with the raid on Lindisfarne in 793 and ending with the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. However, since the mid-20th century, a counter-narrative has gained ground in both academic and popular circles, suggesting that while the Vikings were certainly prone to violence, they were fundamentally peaceful farmers and traders. An earlier book by William R. Short and Reynir A. Óskarson regarding Viking combat methods provoked a fierce reaction from proponents of this revisionist view. In response, the authors have re-examined the source material to scrutinize and reassess previous interpretations. Readers are taken on an adventurous journey of discovery that analyzes the role of violence in Viking society. Were they brutal warriors or mere farmers? The authors well-founded and cogently argued reassessment deals a powerful, logical axe-blow to that argument.