Review: The Last Viking by Don Hollway

Synopsis: King Harald III (called Hardrada, or "Hard Ruler") of Norway was a real-life fantasy hero who burst into history as a teenaged youth in a Viking battle, from which he escaped with little more than his life and a thirst for vengeance.

Journey with him across the medieval world, from the frozen barrens of the North to the glittering towers of Byzantium and the passions of the Holy Land. He'll fight for and against Christian, Muslim and pagan rulers. He'll bed handmaids, a princess and an empress alike, writing poetry and amassing a fortune along the way, before returning home to claim his love, his crown and his destiny, ultimately dying like a Viking: in battle, laughing, with sword in hand.

The Last Viking is a fast-moving narrative that reads like a novel, combining Norse sagas, Byzantine accounts, Anglo Saxon chronicles, and even King Harald's own verse and prose, into a single, compelling story. While pointing out errors and contradictions in the ancient stories for the sake of accuracy Don Hollway brings the true tale of this hero to life.

The story of the larger than life Harald III Hardrada - the last "great" Viking - " ... a man who outlived his aged .... once feared and hated but now admired ..."

What can you really say about this man in such a small space - for the abridged version of his life, you could consult this timeline from TimeRef for the highlights and read in conjunction with Hollway's tome.

Hollway says "... history is a fog, a fog of uncertainty.  The deeper one peers into it, the murkier and more uncertain the fog becomes.  The instant an event has transpired and begins receding into the past it becomes vulnerable to memory and interpretation.."   This is particularly true of events that weren't - for whatever reasons - not documented and of those larger than life people whose lives have become the stuff of legends.  This is especially true of Hardrada.

Hollway's tome is broken down into four parts, covering particular components of Harald's life - in summary:

Part I - when start where it all ends - 1066 before reaching back into Harald's earlier life, through events that would lead to his eventual arrival in Miklagard in 1034 (or Constantinople).

Part II - documents his time in the Varangian Guards and his employment by the Emperors of Byzantium. We also take a slight detour as Hollway introduces the reader to Harald's main biographer - Snorris Sturluson.  We finish this episode in which  Hararld's life is held in the palm of a jealous (and aging) Empress.

Part III - Harald returns to Kiev a very wealthy man and a suitable groom for a Russian princess (1044). He lingers long enough to beget a family before heading to Norway, and assuming power.  But nothing is smooth sailing and he once "likeable" Harald becomes the tyrant he himself once abhorred.

Part IV - we return to 1066 and find Harald at Stamford Bridge.  The following Epilogue lets the reader know of the events that immediately transpired following.

If you have never read about Harald, then Hollway's book for you - accessible, well researched, covering all the exploits that most men of his own lifetime had trouble keeping up with. It does focus a lot on the military aspect of his life, but those looking for some of the personal may find some diamonds among the rough.

A worthy tome for the library shelves.

Further reading from Snorri Sturluson

- Heimskringla

- King Harald's Saga

- Saga of Harald Hardrade

Review: The Wolf Hunt by Tim Hodkinson

Synopsis: When you can't protect everyone, who will you save?

AD 935. Einar Unnsson is destined to be great. He has already defeated the men sent to kill him by his father, Jarl Thorfinn, the 'Skull Cleaver'. Einar has a gift that makes him lethal in battle, a gift he needs now more than ever.

Jarl Thorfinn is set on vengeance. Einar's mother, Unn, was once Thorfinn's favourite bedslave and when she escaped, it was a humiliation he never forgot. Whilst he attempts to supplant the Irish throne, Thorfinn sends his Galdr Man to Iceland on an assassination mission.

Unaware that his mother's life is on the line, Einar spends his exile with the Wolf Coats, a band of fearsome, bloodthirsty warriors. Convinced the fates have turned against them, the Wolf Coats embark on a wild journey, desperate to lift the curse. Yet no amount of Wolf Coats, curse remedies or even Einar's special gifts will help, if Einar can't use them to save Unn's life...

OMG!  "A fast-paced, action-packed historical fiction novel" is an under-statement!  This is yet another page-turning adventure featuring our rag-tag bunch of warriors as they constantly jump out of the frying pan and into the oven before making a final last stand worthy of "The Magnificent Seven" or "Zulu".

Úlfhéðnar

Author, Tim Hodkinson weaves his spell so intricately that you are drawn in before you know it - and pages and hours have passed in no time at all. The story is so compelling that the reader finds themselves as part of this warband as they traverse 10th century Norway on their quest for revenge and redemption. 

Norway is under the reign of Eirik Bloodaxe, whose brothers are intent on raising rebellion - it is a bloody power struggle where the prize is the throne. Add to this, the battle for religious supremacy between the prevailing pagansim of the Vikings and the new religion - Christianity.

This third chapter must be read following the other two - Odin's Game and The Raven Banner -in order - as many of the characters and events referenced will flow more easily for the reader. I do hope that Tim will continue this saga of his own as this is a series worth investing in!

I would suggest tacking down the existing Sagas - they make for fascinating reading! A good starting point is the Viking Society for Northern Research.