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Ancient Warrior Guide
Viking: The Norse Warrior's [Unofficial] Manual
Combines the latest research and discoveries with a humorous eye to take us inside the Viking world.
So you want to be a Viking?
Vikings are the lords of the northern seas. Fame, glory, and wealth await those who brave storms and enemy spears to plunder far and wide in foreign lands. Who wouldn’t like to come home laden with silver, earning a reputation that will live on long after lesser men have been forgotten?
This book tells you everything you need to know to become a successful Viking warrior in the tenth century.
- How to join a Viking war band
- What to look for in a good Viking leader
- How to behave at a feast
- How to choose the right weapons and armor
- How to plunder a monastery and ransom a monk
- How to navigate at sea
135 illustrations, 29 in color.
So you want to be a Viking?
Vikings are the lords of the northern seas. Fame, glory, and wealth await those who brave storms and enemy spears to plunder far and wide in foreign lands. Who wouldn’t like to come home laden with silver, earning a reputation that will live on long after lesser men have been forgotten?
This book tells you everything you need to know to become a successful Viking warrior in the tenth century.
- How to join a Viking war band
- What to look for in a good Viking leader
- How to behave at a feast
- How to choose the right weapons and armor
- How to plunder a monastery and ransom a monk
- How to navigate at sea
135 illustrations, 29 in color.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
25 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 8, 2016
This book focuses on the cultural and social aspects of the Vikings rather than their history. The content is solid and detailed especially when it comes to the military topics, such as weapons and battle tactics. It contains many interesting illustrations too.
What brings my rating down is the humour, that it is a bit overdone for me, and the unnecessary and annoying repetitions in text (sometimes a phrase reappears only a few lines down the page). I think that it may be appealing to YA audience for its informal and tongue in cheek style.
What brings my rating down is the humour, that it is a bit overdone for me, and the unnecessary and annoying repetitions in text (sometimes a phrase reappears only a few lines down the page). I think that it may be appealing to YA audience for its informal and tongue in cheek style.
September 27, 2014
Iffy on this resource. It seems like a pretty good basic overview of the more war-like efforts of Vikings, but that's it. It's pretty condescending to women and doesn't even entertain the idea of female warriors (and I refuse to believe there were absolutely none of them at any point in Viking times). There's not a lot of references given and under Further Reading it just lists translations of sagas, which is well and good, but there's not a lot of actual books. I'm not sure if he did more scholarly research or only depended on the information given to him by re-enactors.
For a quick look-up of information, or a jumping off point, this works fine, but it should by no means be the only resource anyone uses for researching Vikings. It doesn't go into their mythology much at all (never once mentions Loki) or what regular home life might've been like, and doesn't mention Vinland/North America. Granted, it's written in a contemporary style (like a Viking from the year 1000 is telling you all these things) but that also means there are modern day perceptions added to the mix (like the treatment of women).
"Unofficial" is right. Do not let this be your only source. To be frank, you can probably skip it.
For a quick look-up of information, or a jumping off point, this works fine, but it should by no means be the only resource anyone uses for researching Vikings. It doesn't go into their mythology much at all (never once mentions Loki) or what regular home life might've been like, and doesn't mention Vinland/North America. Granted, it's written in a contemporary style (like a Viking from the year 1000 is telling you all these things) but that also means there are modern day perceptions added to the mix (like the treatment of women).
"Unofficial" is right. Do not let this be your only source. To be frank, you can probably skip it.
March 17, 2014
This was the fist book in the (Unofficial) Manual Series I picked up. Originally, I checked it out from the library in order to see if it would make a suitable present for one or more of my Viking-obsessed friends. An evening later, I had finished a humorous narrative that gave a solid introduction to these notorious sea-faring raiders.
John Haywood adopts the perspective of a fictional Viking who somehow knows how to speak and write in Modern English. This narrative voice acts as a tour-guide to the geography and cultural landscape of the Viking Age. Information is delivered with amusing little quirks, such as a five star scaled 'raid'-ability rating that accompanies reviews of various lands Vikings encountered.
I suppose some might say the book only provides a gloss of a Viking's place in the Medieval World. But plenty of more in-depth texts on the Vikings exist already, and Viking's strength is in the breadth material it covers rather then depth. Apart from being a good starting point for anyone curious about the subject of Vikings, the book covers enough topics that even someone with a background on the subject might find new facets of 'The Men of Bays' worthy of further exploration.
John Haywood adopts the perspective of a fictional Viking who somehow knows how to speak and write in Modern English. This narrative voice acts as a tour-guide to the geography and cultural landscape of the Viking Age. Information is delivered with amusing little quirks, such as a five star scaled 'raid'-ability rating that accompanies reviews of various lands Vikings encountered.
I suppose some might say the book only provides a gloss of a Viking's place in the Medieval World. But plenty of more in-depth texts on the Vikings exist already, and Viking's strength is in the breadth material it covers rather then depth. Apart from being a good starting point for anyone curious about the subject of Vikings, the book covers enough topics that even someone with a background on the subject might find new facets of 'The Men of Bays' worthy of further exploration.
July 6, 2013
Unlike a lot of books of this type, this is not only great fun but very highly informative. Haywood has done his homework on subjects related to Vikings and their lives from food to what to wear and where to raid, and since a lot of the material is pretty Dark Ages-generic, anyone interested in the period, not only in the Vikings, will find the information useful. Bullet points, "Tips" (which range from useful to hilarious - "Throw spare shields over wounded men to protect them from further injury" is an example of the former, advice to strip Christian holy books of their valuable covers and then "don't throw the pages away. They're made of vellum - calf skin - and can be cut up to make comfortable insoles for boots" the latter. One wonders how many beautifully illuminated manuscripts ended up as a Viking's Dr. Scholls!), well chosen illustrations, and quotes from the original sources illuminate the book. Overall, fun to read, interesting, and potentially a great gift for the incipient Viking in your posse.
January 22, 2016
This was an amusing read. The history in it is accurate but pedestrian. It is a tongue in cheek look at what it takes to become a Viking warrior. None of it is truly in depth, but there are still some interesting tidbits thrown in there. Not for anyone serious about viking history, but if you are looking for a primer or a brief survey of the warrior class of vikings then this is a fun book. It never truly becomes a serious history book, but neither does it fail to accurately portray important features of the Viking warrior. Thus the three stars, if it was inaccurate this might only merit a single star.
April 4, 2013
Mixed feelings about this one. The information within was extremely useful, especially regarding weapons, campaigning, and battle; but parts of it have an aftertaste of sexism that--while arguably accurate to the time and subject matter--eventually went from ignorable to unacceptable.
That aside, well-researched and generally appealingly-presented information on Viking warrior life.
That aside, well-researched and generally appealingly-presented information on Viking warrior life.
August 9, 2018
I picked this up at the library as a fun, light read on Viking culture and was surprised by the detail and depth of information. Haywood gives us insight into the communal hierarchy of vikings, social customs, weapons, seafaring culture, geographical preference for raids, battle tactics, and treasure hoarding. I was impressed with the range of information presented, even as I was entertained by the “guidebook� theme. It’s well illustrated with some great full color photos. The glossary was particularly helpful as I was reading other texts (mostly poems and sagas) that used many of the words defined in the book. The generous number of quotations and the section for Further Reading offers beginners a nice summary of classic primary sources to consult. It’s a great book for both young people and adults who are just entering into the study of Viking culture, and works well as an enjoyable supplement to other more historical or academic works.
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July 2, 2021A lovely non-thinking book! I am suddenly in fifth grade again
May 1, 2021
Hace tiempo os traje otro libro de la misma colección: Ninja. El manual secreto (no oficial). El primer capítulo el autor te da una serie de razones para hacerte vikingo, básicamente honor, gloria y riquezas. Este capítulo te intenta convencer para ello, ofreciéndole muchas riquezas y todos los honores. Al mismo tiempo te cuenta qué es un vikingo y por qué deberíamos hacernos vikingos, explicando la jerarquía social de este pueblo. A modo histórico, hay una lista de las expediciones vikingas más destacadas de la historia.
Como no podría ser menos, el capítulo 2 está dedicado al ejército, al modo del reclutamiento y a la organización interna (el hird): disciplina, movilización, adiestramiento, las leyes, etc. Exaltando, por supuesto, lo que viene después de las victorias: sendos banquetes, canciones de los bardos en tu nombre, etc. Incluso están las dos facciones vikingas: los berserkers y la guardia varega (esta con una tabla de pros y contras para formar partes o no).
Siguiendo con la línea más histórica, el tercer capítulo está dedicado a los señores de la guerra más notables, con una pequeña biografía y sus proezas: Olaf I de Noruega, Erik Hacha Sangrienta (o Erico I de Noruega) y otros tantos más. En el capítulo siguiente nos metemos ya más de hecho en cuestiones de guerra: con las armas y las tácticas. Un capítulo muy interesante y bastante completo. El quinto, que trata sobre expediciones, veremos los distintos barcos que tienen los vikingos, cómo se vive a bordo, si es mejor remos o velas como evitar naufragios.
El capítulo 6 analiza los vecino cercanos para poder ser saqueados, con una calificación en estrellas y sus grados de dificultad. Ya el 7 es exclusivamente tema de la guerra y las batallas, mientras que el siguiente es sobre el botín de guerra y qué pasa después de la batalla y acaba el libro con la muerte. Además hay un mapa, un glosario y una pequeña bibliografía.
A lo largo del libro, el autor nos ofrece una serie de consejos prácticos para ser un buen vikingo. Además de trucos para personalizar, por ejemplo, tu propia espada o cómo escoger la mejor. Todo esto acompañado por dibujos fotografías en blanco y negro y a color y cuadros. Todo esto lo hace mucho más dinámico y da la sensación completa de ser un verdadero manual de comportamiento vikingo.
El texto es muy particular. El autor involucra de lleno al lector, haciendo el rol de de maestro y aprendiz (nosotros). Es una narrativa muy fluida, dinámica, entretenida, aprendes sin darte cuenta. Además mete muchos elementos graciosos y cómicos, lo que le da mucho más encanto al libro, de hecho, te va a sacar varias sonrisas. Una colección muy, pero que muy recomendable.
Como no podría ser menos, el capítulo 2 está dedicado al ejército, al modo del reclutamiento y a la organización interna (el hird): disciplina, movilización, adiestramiento, las leyes, etc. Exaltando, por supuesto, lo que viene después de las victorias: sendos banquetes, canciones de los bardos en tu nombre, etc. Incluso están las dos facciones vikingas: los berserkers y la guardia varega (esta con una tabla de pros y contras para formar partes o no).
Siguiendo con la línea más histórica, el tercer capítulo está dedicado a los señores de la guerra más notables, con una pequeña biografía y sus proezas: Olaf I de Noruega, Erik Hacha Sangrienta (o Erico I de Noruega) y otros tantos más. En el capítulo siguiente nos metemos ya más de hecho en cuestiones de guerra: con las armas y las tácticas. Un capítulo muy interesante y bastante completo. El quinto, que trata sobre expediciones, veremos los distintos barcos que tienen los vikingos, cómo se vive a bordo, si es mejor remos o velas como evitar naufragios.
El capítulo 6 analiza los vecino cercanos para poder ser saqueados, con una calificación en estrellas y sus grados de dificultad. Ya el 7 es exclusivamente tema de la guerra y las batallas, mientras que el siguiente es sobre el botín de guerra y qué pasa después de la batalla y acaba el libro con la muerte. Además hay un mapa, un glosario y una pequeña bibliografía.
A lo largo del libro, el autor nos ofrece una serie de consejos prácticos para ser un buen vikingo. Además de trucos para personalizar, por ejemplo, tu propia espada o cómo escoger la mejor. Todo esto acompañado por dibujos fotografías en blanco y negro y a color y cuadros. Todo esto lo hace mucho más dinámico y da la sensación completa de ser un verdadero manual de comportamiento vikingo.
El texto es muy particular. El autor involucra de lleno al lector, haciendo el rol de de maestro y aprendiz (nosotros). Es una narrativa muy fluida, dinámica, entretenida, aprendes sin darte cuenta. Además mete muchos elementos graciosos y cómicos, lo que le da mucho más encanto al libro, de hecho, te va a sacar varias sonrisas. Una colección muy, pero que muy recomendable.
September 10, 2013
A fascinating if shallow introduction to Vikings. Kudos to the author for picking a viewpoint and sticking to it: if you were a young upstart looking to get started as a Viking, this book would make a great campaign planner.
If you're looking for something a little deeper about Norse culture, you'd be better served reading the sagas themselves. Njal's Saga, for example, is eminently readable even to the modern reader and gives great insights into how people spent their time when not a-viking.
Also, yes, other reviewers' observations of unnecessary and distracting sexism are spot on. Sure, the Vikings weren't equality-minded, but a woman's dowry remained her property even after marriage, and recent archeology shows grave sites with female remains surrounded by weapons-- not what you'd expect from reading this book.
If you're looking for something a little deeper about Norse culture, you'd be better served reading the sagas themselves. Njal's Saga, for example, is eminently readable even to the modern reader and gives great insights into how people spent their time when not a-viking.
Also, yes, other reviewers' observations of unnecessary and distracting sexism are spot on. Sure, the Vikings weren't equality-minded, but a woman's dowry remained her property even after marriage, and recent archeology shows grave sites with female remains surrounded by weapons-- not what you'd expect from reading this book.
December 29, 2017
This was a pretty decent overview of the culture of seagoing raiders. It was pretty obviously directed at an audience who was not already familiar with Viking history or culture, and probably the target audience was a bit younger than me too.
Some of the biases in the work are weird, and because the book is ostensibly written from a Viking perspective, it's hard to say if they're the author's, or the narrators. But I'm pretty sure the historical record shows that there were women warriors among the Norse people.
I definitely learned a few things, but I'd have preferred something a little meatier and a touch more academic.
Some of the biases in the work are weird, and because the book is ostensibly written from a Viking perspective, it's hard to say if they're the author's, or the narrators. But I'm pretty sure the historical record shows that there were women warriors among the Norse people.
I definitely learned a few things, but I'd have preferred something a little meatier and a touch more academic.
September 14, 2014
Exceedingly interesting, enlightening and even entertaining. Fabulous content and detail. Great images and historical examples from sagas and international history. If you have an interest in vikings and even if you think you know your stuff this is highly recommended. It covers so many aspects of the Viking world from social position, national politics, rulers and leaders, types of ships, armour and weapons, joining an army or going o a Strandhogg and even what to do with the loot you earn and those that die. A thoroughly enjoyable book for all ages.
April 4, 2019
Lee este libro y después puedes ver la serie Vikingos y verás que está muy bien documentada!
May 30, 2013
An interesting concept of writing about the Norse Warrior culture. It doesn't come off as well as The Time Traveler's Guide To Medieval England by Ian Mortimer, but it is still informative and enjoyable. Just be careful of where the facts end and the authors pithy comments take over.
July 28, 2014
The flippant tone in this was sometimes irritating to me, but I'm not taking a star off for that since it is consistent with the framing device of imagining that we are cocky Vikings living in the year 991. This is a good introduction, with really excellent illustrations.
June 27, 2013
It seemed like a handy little book for people interested in things Norse and Norse reenacting. It had many book resources.
November 4, 2013
A good enough info dump about the Vikings, but expect to have to find more in depth books for serious research. The good part? It was a fun read.
October 12, 2017
Поредният наръчник от поредицата за древните войни, който с доза хумор ни запознава с това, което ни е известно за битието и съзнанието на живелите преди нас.
Забавна книжка, която макар да не е на нивото на написаните от Матишак, разказва за викингите - пиратите и търговци от скандинавските народи. Авторът не е навлязъл много добре в духа на 'краткия наръчник' и цитира прекалено много извори и исторически събития, което прави книгата малко по-академична отколкото е целта на тая поредица. Освен това се пуска по клишето на "берсеркерите" което е безспорно романтично, но като цяло няма никакви доказателства за него ( ).
Основните неща, които може да се забележат от книгата е, че вигинг не е народност, а професия (пират), че викингите са печелили и губили горе долу по равно количество битки и репутацията им на страховити войни е главно защото са грабили много църкви и манастири, а тогава единствените, които са можели да пишат са били монасите и са ги описали в най-ужасни краски, а императорът на Византия е държал около 6000 викинги наемници като императорска гвардия, защото не е вярвал на собствените си войници да не го предадат.
Освен това са търгували с някакъв град наречен Булгар и с някакъв народ "българи" през 9 в. което си заслужава да се проучи в сериозната наша историческа литература за повече подробности, защото в популярната наша история не се казва нищо за това.
Забавна книжка, която макар да не е на нивото на написаните от Матишак, разказва за викингите - пиратите и търговци от скандинавските народи. Авторът не е навлязъл много добре в духа на 'краткия наръчник' и цитира прекалено много извори и исторически събития, което прави книгата малко по-академична отколкото е целта на тая поредица. Освен това се пуска по клишето на "берсеркерите" което е безспорно романтично, но като цяло няма никакви доказателства за него ( ).
Основните неща, които може да се забележат от книгата е, че вигинг не е народност, а професия (пират), че викингите са печелили и губили горе долу по равно количество битки и репутацията им на страховити войни е главно защото са грабили много църкви и манастири, а тогава единствените, които са можели да пишат са били монасите и са ги описали в най-ужасни краски, а императорът на Византия е държал около 6000 викинги наемници като императорска гвардия, защото не е вярвал на собствените си войници да не го предадат.
Освен това са търгували с някакъв град наречен Булгар и с някакъв народ "българи" през 9 в. което си заслужава да се проучи в сериозната наша историческа литература за повече подробности, защото в популярната наша история не се казва нищо за това.
March 10, 2021
This is a book that amounts to being a "how to be a viking" book. It is written in a jaunty satirical style but is written by a professional historian of the viking period. It isn't a book on how to be Norse and is very much focused on the activity of viking raiding and the ins and outs of that. Most popular history books of the viking period are really about norse society and not so narrowly focused. Beneath the flippant presentation is the presentation of real history. There is a hidden scholarly intent. I was interested in the real ins and outs of the viking raiders and all my questions about that were answered by this book. It is a well written easy read.
It's worth noting that the book is written as if the author and reader are both vikings. The vikings were amongst other things murderous, slaving, raping pirates so be ready for that. But really it is quite a good popular history book pretending to be a worse kind of a book than it really is. If you want to know what strandhogg was all about or learn that the word exists and what it means, this is the book that will do it.
It's worth noting that the book is written as if the author and reader are both vikings. The vikings were amongst other things murderous, slaving, raping pirates so be ready for that. But really it is quite a good popular history book pretending to be a worse kind of a book than it really is. If you want to know what strandhogg was all about or learn that the word exists and what it means, this is the book that will do it.
July 9, 2017
This was hilarious and very informative. Wrgotten in the form of a friendly advice-giving guide or manual, it is chock full of legit historical, archeological and anthropological information. Using mostly modern voice, it playfully sets itself in the 10th century, offering advice to Scandinavian (by birth or capture, from all levels of social status) would-be Vikings from the perspective of a more knowledgeable Viking expert within Scandanavian society. I was particularly amused by how the rating and reviews of popular raiding locations read like a travel guide website. Very fun. This is a great way to learn and I heartily recommend it.
December 8, 2017
Not quite as good as the "Knight" version of the series, but still an amusing and enjoyable treatment of what life as a Viking was probably like.
I honestly don't understand the complaints about the humor and/or tone. Granted, humor is subjective, but did you think a book called "The Norse Warrior's [Unofficial] Manual" was going to be a strict, buttoned-down, "just the facts ma'am" history book?
I honestly don't understand the complaints about the humor and/or tone. Granted, humor is subjective, but did you think a book called "The Norse Warrior's [Unofficial] Manual" was going to be a strict, buttoned-down, "just the facts ma'am" history book?
September 27, 2018
A brief introduction.
A quick reading, introduction to viking life... not a lot of depth, but well done. The author does point out the fact that viking is a career, not a people - that it is a particular name used for Scandinavian raiders/pirates of the late dark ages early middle ages. This book is a very good overview of the life.
A quick reading, introduction to viking life... not a lot of depth, but well done. The author does point out the fact that viking is a career, not a people - that it is a particular name used for Scandinavian raiders/pirates of the late dark ages early middle ages. This book is a very good overview of the life.
October 2, 2017
Very informative as well as funny. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2019
A quick and interesting read for any fan of Viking history.
November 1, 2019
A fun and informative read! I enjoyed the gentle comedy and the quoted sagas!
July 17, 2020
A fun read for learning about some Viking history. Is structured like an educational book, but through the a first person guide ish kinda lens.
February 24, 2022
Not a bad little book. It gives a great overview of Viking life with a tongue-in-cheek sort of feel.
March 21, 2016
I read John Haywood's Nonfiction book Viking the Norse warrior's manual. This book tells you how to be a good Viking warrior by telling how to act at feast where to sit and what good qualities to look for in your warband leader. The book tells you how Viking men and children train. People who are rich are usually the best warriors cause they don't have to farm like everyone else. Children are mostly taught how to use a sword and shield at a very young age but by the age of sic they are taught how to use a bow. When you become a man you are taught how to sail and navigate the harsh seas. They are taught how to use a sun stone this Is a clear crystal that can reveal the position of the sun even when clouds fill the sky. IF this wasn't a option they would us the stars they believe the gods would guild them to new lands with great richs.This book also tells you the proper way to sack a monastery and ransom a monk.this book paints a very vivid picture of what its like to be a Viking warrior. Sadly we'll never know how these great people actually lived because all of their stories were destroyed in the crusades. In the Middle East some of theirs stories protected so we have a basic knowledge of the Viking life.
August 14, 2015
What a great book. Viking history and description of life framed as a tongue-in-cheek manual like "So you want to be a Viking..." Fun to read, learn and imagine what it would be like to live back then. Great introduction to the Vikings in an entertaining package.
I hadn't known that there are very few written sources we have to rely on that Chronicled the Vikings--and that they were all written hundreds of years after the event, by Christians or by Vikings converted to Christianity (this is mentioned briefly in this book and elsewhere). The Vikings had huge influence in raiding, trade and inhabiting much of Northern Europe for hundreds of years. They had runes but we're not literate and did not write down long accounts of anything.
I hadn't known that there are very few written sources we have to rely on that Chronicled the Vikings--and that they were all written hundreds of years after the event, by Christians or by Vikings converted to Christianity (this is mentioned briefly in this book and elsewhere). The Vikings had huge influence in raiding, trade and inhabiting much of Northern Europe for hundreds of years. They had runes but we're not literate and did not write down long accounts of anything.
February 25, 2016
I loved this book; educational yet fun. This book is everything you'd want to know about Vikings. I got this book because I've watched the tv series Vikings and wanted to know what they really were and were like.
This book involves actual history of the Vikings i.e. their battles both within and without. The book talks about the different classes and their likelihood of becoming a Viking as well as why someone would become a Viking. And the book talks about so much more. This is a great book if you're curious about history, Vikings, Nordic people. It's a book I'd love to add to my collection.
This book involves actual history of the Vikings i.e. their battles both within and without. The book talks about the different classes and their likelihood of becoming a Viking as well as why someone would become a Viking. And the book talks about so much more. This is a great book if you're curious about history, Vikings, Nordic people. It's a book I'd love to add to my collection.
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