Age of Wolf and Wind

Movement, often of a dangerous and adventurous nature, defines the Viking achievement. The Viking world as we know it was not a contiguous territory or empire, but a far more complex and fleeting phenomenon. Social, cultural and economic networks came together, linking eastern and western Europe, and stretching as far as Central Asia and the Americas. In Davide Zori's new book, the reader will find a thorough, up-to-date and research-informed account of a vivid age of conquest of both land and sea. * David Griffiths, University of Oxford * Drawing on his extensive knowledge of both the written and material record, Davide Zori has crafted a fresh and enlightening account of Scandinavia during the Viking Age. Not only is he an outstanding historian, but also an accomplished archaeologist who seamlessly integrates his own fieldwork into his case studies. By demonstrating how to combine written evidence and data obtained from cutting-edge scientific tools, Zori offers a model of the ideal of interdisciplinary scholarship. * Patrick J. Geary, Institute for Advanced Study * In his highly readable and always interesting book, Davide Zori has presented us with an up-to-date overview of the fascinating Viking phenomenon, a story which, as Zori states, is one of voyages. His methodology is to explore the complexities of weaving together narratives of text and material culture, studying them separately, but checking them against each other to be able to build up a more secure synthesis. No doubt this book will be widely read and discussed in Viking Studies and I will gladly recommend it to anyone interested in the Vikings and their world. * Stefan Brink, University of Cambridge * An ambitious, highly valuable exploration of the Viking world... The depth of scholarship in this book is impressive, while its illustrations open up the Viking world's horizons: the most memorable is a figurine of the Buddha, which originated in sixth-century Pakistan and, by some long journey of trade or gifting, came to hang outside a Viking temple in Sweden. Taken together with the distinctive voices of the sagas, objects like this have extraordinary stories to tell. * History Today * The depth of scholarship in this book is impressive, while its illustrations open up the Viking world's horizons...Taken together with the distinctive voices of the sagas, objects like this have extraordinary stories to tell. * Eleanor Parker, History Today * Presents a well-rounded picture of current archaeological, textual, and scientific scholarship…. Recommended * CHOICE *