A “thrilling” (Wall Street Journal) history of the Vikings by a pre-eminent scholar The Viking Age saw an unprecedented expansion of the Scandinavian peoples into the world. As traders and raiders, explorers and colonists, they ranged from eastern North America to the Asian steppe. But for centuries, the Vikings have been seen through the eyes of others, distorted to suit the tastes of medieval writers, Victorian imperialists, Nazis, and more.Based on the latest archaeological and textual evidence, Children of Ash and Elm tells the story of the Vikings on their own terms: their politics, their cosmology and religion, their material world. Known today for a stereotype of maritime violence, the Vikings exported new ideas, technologies, and beliefs to the lands and peoples they encountered. From Eirík Bloodaxe, who fought his way to a kingdom, to Gudríd Thorbjarnardóttir, the most traveled woman in the world, Children of Ash and Elm is a remarkable history of the Vikings and their time. Read more

Want to travel back in time to the spellbinding Old Norse world—and find out how you can apply its ancient wisdom and magic to modern situations and problems? Then read on: This is the book for you!Runes—the cryptic letters of an Old Norse alphabet—are more than just a collection of dusty symbols from a bygone era.They’re powerful forces that have long been associated with magic and divination.Since ancient times, people have used them for guidance, and they’re still being used today.In fact, more and more people are discovering the mysterious power of runes and are incorporating them into their daily spiritual practices.Now YOU can too! In the pages of this book, you’ll learn about runes, the folklore surrounding them, and how you can unleash their power in your own life.With a little bit of know-how, you’ll soon be using runes to guide you through life’s difficulties and questions and point you toward the answers you’re seeking.Inside The Old Norse Spell Book, you’ll discover:The history and significance of Old Norse runesThe oldest runic alphabet, the Elder FutharkThe folklore and ancient stories surrounding runesHow runes are used for divination and magicHow runic magic is practiced in the modern worldAnd much, much more!Remember, runes don’t provide you with definitive answers or tell you exactly what’s going to happen.Instead, they provide valuable insight into your unique situation and the potential outcomes that may occur.If you don’t like the possible outcome a rune is hinting at, you can change direction and alter it: You’re in control.So, buy this book today and start sprinkling a little runic magic in your life! You’ll be glad you did. Read more

The Christian Science Monitor's #1 Best Book of the YearA witty, informative, and popular travelogue about the Scandinavian countries and how they may not be as happy or as perfect as we assume, “The Almost Nearly Perfect People offers up the ideal mixture of intriguing and revealing facts” (Laura Miller, Salon).Journalist Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians for more than ten years, and he has grown increasingly frustrated with the rose-tinted view of this part of the world offered up by the Western media. In this timely book he leaves his adopted home of Denmark and embarks on a journey through all five of the Nordic countries to discover who these curious tribes are, the secrets of their success, and, most intriguing of all, what they think of one another.Why are the Danes so happy, despite having the highest taxes? Do the Finns really have the best education system? Are the Icelanders as feral as they sometimes appear? How are the Norwegians spending their fantastic oil wealth? And why do all of them hate the Swedes? In The Almost Nearly Perfect People Michael Booth explains who the Scandinavians are, how they differ and why, and what their quirks and foibles are, and he explores why these societies have become so successful and models for the world. Along the way a more nuanced, often darker picture emerges of a region plagued by taboos, characterized by suffocating parochialism, and populated by extremists of various shades. They may very well be almost nearly perfect, but it isn’t easy being Scandinavian. Read more

“An engaging, layered look into a culture complex enough both to produce stylish rain gear and to embrace the foul weather that necessitates it.” —The New York Times Book ReviewWe fill our homes with Nordic furniture; we envy their humane social welfare system and healthy outdoor lifestyle; we devour their crime fiction. Even their strangely attractive melancholia seems to express a stoic, commonsensical acceptance of life’s vicissitudes. But how valid is this outsider’s view of Scandinavia, and how accurate is our picture of life in Scandinavia today? Scandinavians follows a chronological progression across the Northern centuries: the Vendel era of Swedish prehistory; the age of the Vikings; the Christian conversions of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland; the unified Scandinavian state of the late Middle Ages; the sea-change of the Reformation; the kingdom of Denmark-Norway; King Gustav Adolphus and the age of Sweden’s greatness; the cultural golden age of Ibsen, Strindberg, and Munch; the impact of the Second World War; Scandinavia’s postwar social democratic nirvana; and the terror attack of Anders Behring Breivik. Scandinavians is also a personal investigation, with award-winning author Robert Ferguson as the ideal companion as he explores not only the region’s society, politics, culture, and temperament, but also wide-ranging topics such as the power and mystique of Scandinavian women, from the Valkyries to the Vikings; from Nora and Hedda to Garbo and Bergman. “A delightful history in which the author truly captures ‘the soul of the North.’ ”—Kirkus Reviews Read more

Five manuscripts in one book:History of Sweden: A Captivating Guide to Swedish History, Starting from Ancient Times through the Viking Age and Swedish Empire to the PresentHistory of Norway: A Captivating Guide to Norwegian HistoryHistory of Denmark: A Captivating Guide to Danish HistoryHistory of Iceland: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Land of Fire and Ice, from the Viking Age to the PresentHistory of Finland: A Captivating Guide to Finnish HistoryIn contrast to their Danish and Norwegian cousins, Swedish Vikings traveled east rather than west in search of riches, land, and power. The extensive river systems of Russia provided economic and military “super-highways” to the adventurers from the north, who journeyed down them all the way to the Black Sea and Constantinople in search of fame and riches.In the first part of this book, you will discover:The Swedes’ fierce struggle to gain independenceThe “Father of Sweden,” King Gustav Vasa and his dynasty that spawned some of the greatest military minds in EuropeThe hero Raoul Wallenberg and his role in WWIINorway is a unique country located on the fringes of Europe. Its climate and geographical position determined the lifestyle of the people inhabiting it. It was never an easy life. The constant scarcity of arable land, the vast distances they had to traverse due to the myriad of fjords and mountains, and the long and harsh winters in the inland areas made Norwegians constantly struggle for a better life.In the second part of this book, you will discover:Where did the first Norwegians come from?How did the early Bronze Age societies live in the harsh environment of Scandinavia?When was oil was discovered in Norway, and what does it mean to its citizens today?For centuries, Denmark “punched above its weight” and was a major player on the European stage. Many know about the Danish Vikings and their voyages of conquest and discovery, but Denmark is more than just those medieval raiders and traders, even though interest in their adventures is at an all-time high today.In the third part of this book, you will discover:Does Denmark really appear in the top three of the world’s “happiest” countries?Were the Danish Vikings only interested in conquest? And what were their relations like with Europe before the Viking Age?What was life like for Danish Jews during WWII?Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has a storied history. After the Norse discovered Iceland, they began to settle it, allying the island nation with Norway. However, as power shifted in Scandinavia, Iceland would come to be governed by Denmark for several centuries.In the fourth part of this book, you will find:The Old Covenant with Norway and what that meant for IcelandThe conversion from paganism to ChristianityIceland’s struggle for independenceFinnish culture is centuries old, yet Finland itself has only been an independent nation for just over one hundred years. This book pulls back the curtain so you can get a better look at Finland’s history. Its history is exciting, even without the Vikings, and its proximity to Russia is something that is still talked about in the news today.In the fifth part of this book, you will find:The ancient Finnish did not worship the famous Norse gods like Thor and Odin.The history of Finland and Sweden are intertwined; Finland was part of Sweden for five hundred years!Finland was also part of the Russian Empire from 1809 to 1917.And much, much more!So, what are you waiting for? Click the “add to cart” button to begin learning about History of Scandinavia! Read more

Whether you want to glimpse the spectacular Northern Lights, sample New Nordic cuisine in Stockholm's trendy restaurants, or kayak across crystal-clear lakes, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Sweden has to offer.With Viking ruins, remote reindeer-inhabited landscapes, winding coastal trails, and colorful skies, Sweden is an endless source of stirring sights and exhilarating experiences.Our updated guide brings Sweden to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations that place you inside the country's iconic buildings and neighborhoods. You'll discover: -Our pick of Sweden's must-sees, top experiences and hidden gems -The best spots to eat, drink, shop and stay -Detailed maps and walks which make navigating the country easy -Easy-to-follow itineraries -Expert advice: get ready, get around and stay safe -Color-coded chapters to every part of Sweden, from Northern Norland to Southern Götaland, Stockholm to Gothenburg -A lightweight format, so you can take it with you wherever you go Want the best of Stockholm in your pocket? Try out DK Eyewitness Top 10 Stockholm. Read more

If you’re intrigued by centuries-old mythology and want to tap into your own powerful magic, then The Old Norse Spell Book is for you.Norse folklore dates all the way back to 5th century AD, and its tradition lives on through magic.Seidr, the ancient Norse word for magic, was practiced by völva, women in the Viking age with the psychic ability to foretell and shape future events.The truth about magic is that it does not resemble modern film and television portrayals.Magic is simply the ability to read and manipulate energy, and anyone can do it—including you.With the right guidance and tools, it’s possible to tap into your divine gifts.You can ignite the magic inside of you and discover the mystique of Old Norse magic to connect deeper with yourself, the Earth, and the divine powers of other realms using the sacred teachings inside The Old Norse Spell Book.The psychic gifts of divination and energy reading beg to be discovered.All you have to do is learn how to feel your own energy with the ancient tradition of Norse magic, using runes, incantations, and rituals to guide your practice.Inside The Old Norse Spell Book, you will discover:How to use runes, spells, divine rituals, and practices to tune into yourself and light the magic within you to discover the powers of energy and how to use itOld Norse mythology and how it spiritually connects to the practice of magic, or SeidrThe ancient history of the folklore and its creation of a centuries-old tradition that is practiced by thousands todayHow to use Old Norse mystical teachings to develop your psychic abilities and practice your own magic…plus the tips and tricks to discover how to use your divine magic to connect with your mind, body, and the world around you.Norse magic evolves from its ancient applications into modern day rituals that uphold the beauty of the tradition.The power of Norse magic exists within the people who practice it.You can find this power when you understand the divine energy that is already inside you.Unearth your spiritual essence and know your power with the guidance in The Old Norse Spell Book! Read more

An essential new history of Central Europe that “deftly unravels the strands of a long and complex past” (Wall Street Journal)    Central Europe has long been infamous as a region beset by war, a place where empires clashed and world wars began. In The Middle Kingdoms, Martyn Rady offers the definitive history of the region, demonstrating that Central Europe has always been more than merely the fault line between West and East. Even as Central European powers warred with their neighbors, the region developed its own cohesive identity and produced tremendous accomplishments in politics, society, and culture. Central Europeans launched the Reformation and Romanticism, developed the philosophy of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, and advanced some of the twentieth century’s most important artistic movements.     Drawing on a lifetime of research and scholarship, The Middle Kingdoms tells as never before the captivating story of two thousand years of Central Europe’s history and its enduring significance in world affairs. Read more

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A major reassessment of the vikings and their legacyThe Vikings maintain their grip on our imagination, but their image is too often distorted by myth. It is true that they pillaged, looted, and enslaved. But they also settled peacefully and traveled far from their homelands in swift and sturdy ships to explore. The Age of the Vikings tells the full story of this exciting period in history. Drawing on a wealth of written, visual, and archaeological evidence, Anders Winroth captures the innovation and pure daring of the Vikings without glossing over their destructive heritage. He not only explains the Viking attacks, but also looks at Viking endeavors in commerce, politics, discovery, and colonization, and reveals how Viking arts, literature, and religious thought evolved in ways unequaled in the rest of Europe. The Age of the Vikings sheds new light on the complex society, culture, and legacy of these legendary seafarers. Read more

Explore Scandinavia from the comfort of your home with this ultimate collection!Have you always wanted to uncover more about the incredible history of Scandinavia? Are you searching for a thorough, all-in-one guide to exploring Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland? Then this book is for you!With a rich and fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, vibrant cultures and friendly people, Scandinavia is a magical place which has become the go-to destination for tourists around the world. From their history of Vikings and vicious wars to the industrial revolution and their place in the modern world, Scandinavia truly has an incredible story to tell.Dating back to the earliest human inhabitants, this brilliant collection unveils Scandinavia in an all-new light, examining their arduous and often-difficult climb through history to where they are today. Covering their history during the middle ages, their alliances through the World Wars, and their modern people and culture, The Complete History of Scandinavia offers you an unparalleled look at this amazing location.Inside this collection, you’ll uncover:The exciting history of Vikings, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and much more!Perfect for students, avid travelers, or anyone interested in the complex history of Scandinavia, The Complete History of Scandinavia lets you gain a deep and profound understanding of their past, the present, and where they might be in the future.Ready to begin exploring Scandinavia? Then scroll up and buy now! Read more

Step into the heart of Sweden, where deep forests, shimmering lakes, and cherished traditions tell the story of generations past.In Dalsland, time moves at its own gentle pace. Life is woven with resilience, hard-fought farm days, and the quiet magic of candlelit windows on long winter nights. From the struggles of early 20th-century farm life to the changing tides of modern Sweden, this book is a love letter to a land where history lingers in every winding path and old stories whisper in the wind.For those with Swedish roots—or simply a longing for a simpler, more meaningful way of life—this book invites you to experience the heart of Dalsland through its traditions, landscapes, and timeless customs.Celebrate Swedish Midsummer, where bonfires glow against the endless twilight and flower crowns hold whispers of folklore.Step into a rustic farmhouse kitchen, where the scent of warm cinnamon buns and fresh-baked rye bread fills the air.Follow the footsteps of ancestors, through quiet forests and along glassy lakes, where history feels close enough to touch.If you’ve fallen in love with the charm of Dalberg, discover the real traditions behind it in The Tale of Dalsland.Whether you’ve never set foot in Sweden or feel its call in your heart, this book is a journey home—to a land of beauty, resilience, and timeless charm.Come home to Sweden. Come home to Dalsland. Read more

The deep and personal story—told through history, poetry, and images—of the forced displacement of the Sámi people from their homeland in northern Norway and Sweden and its reverberations today   More than a hundred years have passed since the Sámi were forcibly displaced from their homes in northern Norway and Sweden, a hundred years since Elin Anna Labba’s ancestors and relations drove their reindeer over the strait to the mainland for the last time. The place where they lived has remained empty ever since. We carry our homes in our hearts, Labba shares, citing the Sámi poet Áillohaš. How do you bear that weight if you were forced to leave? In a remarkable blend of historical reportage, memoir, and lyrical reimagining, Labba travels to the lost homeland of her ancestors to tell of the forced removal of the Sámi in the early twentieth century and to reclaim a place in history, and in today’s world, for these Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia.   When Norway became a country independent from Sweden in 1905, the two nations came to an agreement that called for the displacement of the Northern Sámi, who spent summers on the Norwegian coast and winters in Sweden. This “dislocation,” as the authorities called it, gave rise to a new word in Sámi language, bággojohtin, forced displacement. The first of the sirdolaččat, or “the displaced,” left their homes fully believing they would soon return. Through stories, photographs, letters, and joik lyrics, Labba gathers a chorus of Sámi expression that resonates across the years, evoking the nomadic life they were required to abandon and the immense hardship and challenges they endured: children left behind with relatives, reindeer lost when they returned to familiar territory, sorrow and estrangement that linger through generations.   Starkly poetic and emotionally heart-wrenching, this dark history is told through the voices of the sirdolaččat, echoing the displacements of other Indigenous people around the world as it depicts the singular experience of the Northern Sámi. For her extraordinary work, Labba was awarded Sweden’s most important national book prize in 2020, the August Prize for Best Nonfiction. Read more

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The true story of Folke Bernadotte’s heroic rescue of 30,000 prisoners during WWIIIn one of the most amazing rescues of WWII, the Swedish head of the Red Cross rescued more than 30,000 people from concentration camps in the last three months of the war. Folke Bernadotte did so by negotiating with the enemy — shaking hands with Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Gestapo. Time was of the essence, as Hitler had ordered the destruction of all camps and everyone in them. A Forgotten Hero chronicles Folke’s life and extraordinary journey, from his family history and early years to saving thousands of lives during WWII and his untimely assassination in 1948. A straightforward and compelling narrative, A Forgotten Hero sheds light on this important and heroic historical figure. Read more

Winner of the Minnesota Book Award for NonfictionNear the end of her life, Mina Anderson penned a lively memoir that helped Swedish novelist Vilhelm Moberg create "Kristina," the central female character of his beloved emigrant novels, a woman who constantly yearns for her homeland. But Mina's story was quite different.Showcasing her previously untranslated memoir, I Go To America traces Mina's trip across the Atlantic to Wisconsin and then the Twin Cities, where she worked as a domestic servant, and her move to rural Mille Lacs County, where she and her husband worked a farm, raised seven children, and contributed to rural Swedish community life.Mina herself writes about how grateful she was for the opportunity to be in America, where the pay was better, class differences were unconfining, and children—girls included—had the chance for a good education. In her own words, "I have never regretted that I left Sweden. I have had it better here."Author Joy Lintelman greatly expands upon Mina's memoir, detailing the social, cultural, and economic realities experienced by countless Swedish women of her station. Lintelman offers readers both an intimate portrait of Mina Anderson and a window into the lives of the nearly 250,000 young, single Swedish women who immigrated to America from 1881 to 1920 and whose courage, hard work, and pragmatism embody the American dream. Read more

Steven Koblik’s epilogue extends Scott’s now standard text with an analysis of contemporary Swedish political, economic, and social behavior. In addition to the epilogue, Scott has made a number of alterations in the text in order to maintain the timeliness and comprehensiveness of the work.Using a chronological-topical structure, Scott shows how and why Sweden progressed from times of backwardness to an age of military greatness, through two centuries of cultural development and relapse into poverty followed by a sudden outburst of productive energy and the creation of an exceptionally prosperous welfare state where the ideal is consensus rather than confrontation. Read more

Did you know that Viking-age Swedes were the founding dynasty of what eventually became Russia?In contrast to their Danish and Norwegian cousins, Swedish Vikings traveled east rather than west in search of riches, land, and power. The extensive river systems of Russia provided economic and military “super-highways” to the adventurers from the north, who journeyed down them all the way to the Black Sea and Constantinople in search of fame and riches.The rise in TV shows and movies has renewed the people’s interest in Vikings, but the Swedish Vikings have been notably absent from these accounts. In Captivating History’s History of Sweden, you will learn more about these Swedish adventurers, along with other parts of Sweden’s fascinating history.In this book, you will discover:The Swedes’ fierce struggle to gain independenceThe “Father of Sweden,” King Gustav Vasa and his dynasty that spawned some of the greatest military minds in EuropeHow the Swedish Empire achieved success and expanded as far as North AmericaSweden’s revolutionary war tactics and how that led to victories on the battlefieldWhy Sweden adopted its famous policy of neutralityThe hero Raoul Wallenberg and his role in WWIIAnd much more!Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn more about the history of Sweden! Read more

The Viking Diaspora presents the early medieval migrations of people, language and culture from mainland Scandinavia to new homes in the British Isles, the North Atlantic, the Baltic and the East as a form of ‘diaspora’. It discusses the ways in which migrants from Russia in the east to Greenland in the west were conscious of being connected not only to the people and traditions of their homelands, but also to other migrants of Scandinavian origin in many other locations. Rather than the movements of armies, this book concentrates on the movements of people and the shared heritage and culture that connected them. This on-going contact throughout half a millennium can be traced in the laws, literatures, material culture and even environment of the various regions of the Viking diaspora. Judith Jesch considers all of these connections, and highlights in detail significant forms of cultural contact including gender, beliefs and identities. Beginning with an overview of Vikings and the Viking Age, the nature of the evidence available, and a full exploration of the concept of ‘diaspora’, the book then provides a detailed demonstration of the appropriateness of the term to the world peopled by Scandinavians. This book is the first to explain Scandinavian expansion using this model, and presents the Viking Age in a new and exciting way for students of Vikings and medieval history. Read more

The book describes and analyses the early modern Swedish army during the Thirty Years War after the death in 1632 of King Gustavus Adolphus. At this time, military operations were handled by field marshals under the overall command of the Swedish Chancellor, Axel Oxenstierna. The book expands our understanding of the Swedish army during the Thirty Years War by focusing on its later operations, including those against Polish and Danish opponents, and not only on the better-known operations in Germany against the Catholic League and the Holy Roman Empire. Meanwhile, Oxenstierna continued his administrative reforms, which enabled Sweden consistently to raise troops, despite the small population of Sweden and its territories, and enabled an intelligence and logistics system which could supply the armies, despite the vast geographical depth of operations. While the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus positioned Sweden as an emerging great power, it was the subsequent developments of the army under Oxenstierna that enabled the Swedish rise to regional great power status. While the army of Gustavus Adolphus has been described elsewhere, the Swedish army’s later developments are less well known. Moreover, the book includes current research that has not yet appeared in the English language. It also describes the 1643-1645 Swedish invasion of Denmark (‘Torstensson’s War’) and the battles and sieges, including those of Vienna and Prague, that led up to the Peace of Westphalia, which concluded the Thirty Years War. Finally, the book covers the military aspects of the establishment of Sweden’s first American colony. Read more