The Northwomen: Other Half of the Viking World

For fans of provocative history and “Game of Thrones” alike, this revisionist narrative reveals how the little-known women of the Viking era shaped their world.

Until Scandinavia converted to Christianity and came under the rule of powerful kings, the Vikings were a dominant force in the medieval world. Outfitted with wind-powered sailing ships, they left their mark, spreading terror across Europe, sacking cities, deposing kings, and ransacking entire economies. After the Vikings, the world was never the same.

But as much as we know about this celebrated culture, there is a large missing piece: its women. All but ignored by contemporary European writers, these shadowy figures were thought to have played little part in the famous feats of the Vikings, instead remaining at home as wives, mothers, and homemakers.

In this cutting-edge, revisionist portrait, renowned science journalist Heather Pringle turns those assumptions on their head, using the latest archaeological research and historical findings to reveal this group as they actually were. Members of a complex society rich in culture, courage, and a surprisingly modern gender ideology, the women of the Viking age were in fact forces to be reckoned with, serving as:

• Sorceresses
• Warriors
• Traders
• Artisans
• Explorers

Heather Pringle is a science writer who specializes in archaeology. The author of four other books, her feature articles have appeared in numerous publications including National Geographic magazine, Science, Discover, Scientific American, and Archaeology. The co-founder of the science blog The Last Word on Nothing, she lives in Victoria, Canada.

Hardcover. 336 pages.