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They left with nothing but a suitcase and a name — and built a legacy that still lives in your kitchen, your stories, your heart.Step into the journey of the Swedish emigrants who crossed oceans, carried traditions, and quietly shaped a new world — one letter, one recipe, one memory at a time.Between 1850 and 1920, more than a million Swedes left everything behind in search of a better life in America. Their stories have been scattered across time — in letters, in family memories, and in the silent spaces between generations.In this beautifully crafted blend of history and historical fiction, Esther Warren brings those voices back to life. The Tale of the Journey traces the real-life emigration of Swedish families and pairs it with poignant fictional vignettes that reflect the resilience, heartbreak, and quiet hope of those who crossed the sea.With rich, immersive storytelling and evocative detail, you’ll journey from the rocky fields of Småland to the prairies of Minnesota, from cramped steerage cabins to bustling Ellis Island, and from letters stained with sea salt to the hearts of their modern descendants.Whether you have Swedish roots or simply a love for timeless, human stories, this book invites you to rediscover a legacy shaped by courage, connection, and the enduring pull of home. Read more

The epic story of the brutal battle for Norway in 1940.The perfect book for fans of Ian Toll, Max Hastings, and Alex Kershaw.In this brief, untidy campaign that lasted just six weeks, all branches of the Allied military service united against the lightning-fast invasion that the Nazis had surprised them with. On an almost hourly basis, air battles, amphibious landings by troops, and monumental naval engagements took place.Donald Macintyre, the renowned military historian and escort commander, takes the reader to the heart of the battle, providing not just an overview but also provides fascinating details of the attack that left six German destroyers damaged within Narvik’s harbour, the sacrifice made by the damaged HMS Glowworm as it rammed the heavy-cruiser Admiral Hipper, the heroism displayed by one naval officer who worked tirelessly to evacuate the shore bases near Trondheim, and the final tragic loss of the carrier HMS Glorious.The Norwegian campaign that took place in the spring of 1940 is often overshadowed by later successful Allied operations in the European theatre: North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France. Yet, although German forces surprised and ultimately held off the Allied counterattack, Captain Macintyre demonstrates why this is such an important campaign and how the Allies had to learn difficult lessons here before they were able to march on to victory.Narvik should be essential reading for anyone interested in the oft-overlooked campaign that took place during what was known as the ‘Phoney War’, proved a brutally eye-opening to the Allies, but taught them much about how to fight in the battles to come.‘Really first rate.’ Kirkus Reviews‘A book to set the blood tingling’ Evening News‘fascinating reading’ U.S. Naval Institute 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

“A charming fish tale and a pretty gift for your favorite seafood cook or fishing monomaniac. But in the last analysis, it’s a bitter ecological fable for our time.” –Los Angeles TimesAn unexpected, energetic look at world history via the humble cod fish from the bestselling author of Salt and The Basque History of the WorldCod is the biography of a single species of fish, but it may as well be a world history with this humble fish as its recurring main character. Cod, it turns out, is the reason Europeans set sail across the Atlantic, and it is the only reason they could. What did the Vikings eat in icy Greenland and on the five expeditions to America recorded in the Icelandic sagas? Cod, frozen and dried in the frosty air, then broken into pieces and eaten like hardtack. What was the staple of the medieval diet? Cod again, sold salted by the Basques, an enigmatic people with a mysterious, unlimited supply of cod. As we make our way through the centuries of cod history, we also find a delicious legacy of recipes, and the tragic story of environmental failure, of depleted fishing stocks where once their numbers were legendary. In this lovely, thoughtful history, Mark Kurlansky ponders the question: Is the fish that changed the world forever changed by the world's folly?“Every once in a while a writer of particular skill takes a fresh, seemingly improbable idea and turns out a book of pure delight. Such is the case of Mark Kurlansky and the codfish.” –David McCullough Read more

The only thing that kept him going were the voices of his ancestors, screaming for blood...Ulf and his shield brothers are sent on a raid against an old enemy — Francia, a mighty kingdom to the south, now ravaged by civil war. During the perilous sea voyage, Ulf can only focus on one thing. He demands closure: to find the man who slaughtered his family — Griml.A hidden enemy stalks Ulf and his warriors through Francia, striking mercilessly when they least expect it. Soon the hunters become the hunted. The Norse warriors must make the ultimate choice between defying the king or angering the gods. Both could end in fury.But there is another threat lurking in the shadows. One that Ulf could never anticipate.Ulf is not the only one who wants vengeance. 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

"[A] joyously peculiar book." -- The New York Times‘Bjarnason’s intriguing book might be about a cold place, but it’s tailor-made to be read on the beach.’ –New Statesman The untold story of how one tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic has shaped the world for centuries.The history of Iceland began 1,200 years ago, when a frustrated Viking captain and his useless navigator ran aground in the middle of the North Atlantic. Suddenly, the island was no longer just a layover for the Arctic tern. Instead, it became a nation whose diplomats and musicians, sailors and soldiers, volcanoes and flowers, quietly altered the globe forever. How Iceland Changed the World takes readers on a tour of history, showing them how Iceland played a pivotal role in events as diverse as the French Revolution, the Moon Landing, and the foundation of Israel. Again and again, one humble nation has found itself at the frontline of historic events, shaping the world as we know it, How Iceland Changed the World paints a lively picture of just how it all happened. Read more

As governments around the world acknowledge that there is an advanced presence visiting our Earth, apparently for a very long time, a reassessment is underway of ancient myths, religions and folk tales within the world’s cultures.VIKING SUPERPOWERS - WAY OF ASGARD takes you into the exciting world of Viking mythology, retranslating the oldest texts, and rediscovering the pictographic language and stories embedded in Bronze Age Scandinavian rock carvings and unusual artefacts, finding surprising evidence of high tech multicultural cities, star-bridges connecting ground bases to orbiting space stations, massive motherships, first hand accounts of humanoid beings flying air breathing (jet) aircraft, and even very powerful and wise ancient AI and anthromorphic robotics.Was the compiler of the Viking myths, Icelandic Chieftain and historian Snorri Sturluson, an agent of the medieval church, as so many experts believe, or a secretly heathen scholar dedicated to accurately preserving the oldest stories of the North? Were the Viking Gods, the Aesir, an advanced race from Türkiye who migrated from their base in Asgard, founding ruling dynasties throughout Europe and Scandinavia?Were they the Sky People, celebrated in Bronze Age rock carvings and artefacts from ancient Armenia all the way to Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland? Were the symbols of these Sky People, the 'Sunwheels' with a cross in a circle, representations of their great glowing ships that are still being witnessed to this day?What do newly discovered remains of the oldest human civilisation, near Lake Van in Türkiye, and their deities the Dingir, have to do with the Gods of the Vikings in the frozen North? VIKING SUPERPOWERS - WAY OF ASGARD answers these questions and much more, and reveals two practically unknown archeological finds that provide dramatic proof of ‘out of place’ ancient high tech, extraterrestrial biological entities, and even their star systems of origin."For deep insights into lost and misunderstood layers of Norse mythology, David Lovegrove provides essential reading. An exciting and authoritative new voice in this fascinating field."Paul Wallis - Author of The Eden Series Read more

“A wonderfully evocative biography of the . . . 13th century Icelandic writer and chieftain” who wrote the immortal stories of Thor, Odin, Valhalla, and Ragnarök (Guardian, UK).Much like Greek and Roman mythology, Norse myths are still with us. Famous storytellers from JRR Tolkien to Neil Gaiman have drawn their inspiration from the long-haired, mead-drinking, marauding and pillaging Vikings. But few of us know much about the creator of these immortal heroes: a thirteenth-century Icelandic chieftain by the name of Snorri Sturluson.Like Homer, Snorri was a bard, writing down and embellishing the folklore and pagan legends of medieval Scandinavia. Unlike Homer, Snorri was a man of the world—a wily political power player, one of the richest men in Iceland who came close to ruling it, and even closer to betraying it. In Song of the Vikings, award-winning author Nancy Marie Brown brings Snorri Sturluson’s story to life in a richly textured narrative that draws on newly available sources. Read more

Did you know that Iceland was likely initially settled by Irish monks?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.For much of Iceland’s history, it practiced a subsistence society. The people were dependent on fishing and farming to survive, and because of their isolation, they did not advance at the same rate as the rest of Europe. In addition, they were often subject to forces beyond their control. The often-violent environment not only shaped their daily lives but also created many of the struggles they faced. Although the Icelanders were isolated, they were impacted by the events in Europe, especially those in the Scandinavian nations.It took centuries, but the Icelanders were able to become a sovereign nation, doing so in 1944. Thanks to the Icelanders’ connection to their past, they have maintained their rich literary tradition and have developed a distinct national identity.Iceland is often mentioned in history books, but how much do you actually know about it? In this book, you will learn all about the history of Iceland, from the settlement period to the 20th century. Here is just a snippet of what you will find inside: The Old Covenant with Norway and what that meant for IcelandThe development of the Althing, which is the oldest existing legislature in the world todayThe conversion from paganism to ChristianityThe arrival of the plague and its devastating consequencesThe spread of literacy and Iceland’s rich history of literatureThe role of fish in Iceland’s history and economyIceland’s struggle for independenceAnd much more!Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to begin your journey into Iceland’s past! Read more

The Christian Science Monitor's #1 Best Book of the Year A 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

A new introduction to learning Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas - as an e-book. “Viking Language 1 - Learn Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas”, 2nd upgraded edition. Everything necessary to learn or teach Old Norse, runes, and sagas. Graded lessons, saga readings, runic inscriptions, grammar exercises, pronunciation, maps, history sections, student grammar guide, and vocabulary teach Old Norse, Vikings, Iceland, old Scandinavia, myth and legends. --- Download FREE ANSWER KEY www.vikinglanguage.com and www.oldnorse.org (under Books) -- Now available, two audio MP3 download OLD NORSE PRONUNCIATION ALBUMS ”VIKING LANGUAGE 1: AUDIO LESSONS 1-8: (Pronounce Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas)” and Audio Lessons 9-15." Search “Viking Language audio lessons” under Amazon “all departments” and “MP3 music.” Also Itunes and CDbaby. -- VISIT www.vikinglanguage.com and oldnorse.org for information on “Viking Language Series” and sample audio readings -- Now also available, “Viking Language 2: The Old Norse Reader” with complete sagas, poems of Scandinavian gods, heroes, Old Norse runes, and vocabulary. Read more

The definitive history of the Vikings -- from arts and culture to politics and cosmology -- by a distinguished archaeologist with decades of expertiseThe Viking Age -- from 750 to 1050 -- saw an unprecedented expansion of the Scandinavian peoples into the wider 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 clerics and Elizabethan playwrights, Victorian imperialists, Nazis, and more. None of these appropriations capture the real Vikings, or the richness and sophistication of their culture.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, beliefs, and practices to the lands they discovered and the peoples they encountered, and in the process were themselves changed. From Eirík Bloodaxe, who fought his way to a kingdom, to Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir, the most traveled woman in the world, Children of Ash and Elm is the definitive history of the Vikings and their time. Read more

“A fascinating and beautifully written love letter to water. I was enchanted by this book." —Rebecca Skloot, bestselling author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks   We swim in freezing Arctic waters and piranha-infested rivers to test our limits. We swim for pleasure, for exercise, for healing. But humans, unlike other animals that are drawn to water, are not naturalborn swimmers. We must be taught. Our evolutionary ancestors learned for survival; today, swimming is one of the most popular activities in the world. Why We Swim is propelled by stories of Olympic champions, a Baghdad swim club that meets in Saddam Hussein’s former palace pool, modern-day Japanese samurai swimmers, and even an Icelandic fisherman who improbably survives a wintry six-hour swim after a shipwreck. New York Times contributor Bonnie Tsui, a swimmer herself, dives into the deep, from the San Francisco Bay to the South China Sea, investigating what it is about water that seduces us, and why we come back to it again and again.An immersive, unforgettable, and eye-opening perspective on swimming—and on human behavior itself.   Read more

A history of the World War II clandestine special operations group that linked German-occupied Norway with Scotland’s Shetland Islands. The Shetland Bus was not a bus, but the nickname of a special operations group that set up a route across the North Sea between Norway and the Shetland Islands, north-east of mainland Scotland. The first voyage was made by Norwegian sailors to help their compatriots in occupied Norway, but soon the Secret Intelligence Service and the Special Operations Executive asked if they would be prepared to carry cargoes of British agents and equipment, as well. Fourteen boats of different sizes were originally used, and Flemington House in Shetland was commandeered as the operation’s HQ. The first official journey was carried out by the Norwegian fishing vessel the Aksel, which left Luna Ness on 30 August 1941 on route to Bremen in Norway. This book examines that first journey, as well later ones, and discusses the agents and operations which members of the Shetland Bus were involved in throughout the war. It also looks at the donation of three submarine chasers to the operation, made in October 1943, by the United States Navy. These torpedo-type boats were 110 ft long and very fast, allowing journey times between Shetland and Norway to be greatly reduced and carried out in greater safety. The story of the Shetland Bus would be nothing without the individuals involved, both the sailors of the boats and the agents who were carried between the two countries. These were very brave individuals who helped maintain an important lifeline to the beleaguered Norwegians. It also allowed British and Norwegian agents a way into Norway so that they could liaise with the Norwegian Underground movement and carry out important missions against the German occupiers.Praise for The Shetland ‘Bus’ “Wynn—who has written or co-written several books on the Second World War—is to be commended for his detailed account of a captivating and understudied moment in the history of special operations. . . . Wynn’s readable and engaging account of his subject explores the intersections of transnational, Second World War, and special operations history. As a result, it should be of interest to a wide readership.” —The Northern Mariner “Very highly recommended.” —Firetrench “A great book about individual spies and sailors from both sides of the water putting their lives at great risk. I really enjoyed this book and it was written in a bit of diary style, plenty of information and photographs. I certainly recommend this book to all.” —UK Historian Read more

The remarkable story of Gudrid, the female explorer who sailed from Iceland to the New World a millennium ago.   Five hundred years before Columbus, a Viking woman named Gudrid sailed off the edge of the known world. She landed in the New World and lived there for three years, giving birth to a baby before sailing home. Or so the Icelandic sagas say. Even after archaeologists found a Viking longhouse in Newfoundland, no one believed that the details of Gudrid’s story were true.   Then, in 2001, a team of scientists discovered what may have been this pioneering woman’s last house, buried under a hay field in Iceland, just where the epic tales suggest it could be.   Joining scientists experimenting with cutting-edge technology and the latest archaeological techniques, and tracing Gudrid’s steps on land and in the sagas, The Far Traveler reconstructs a life that spanned—and expanded—the bounds of the then-known world. It also sheds new light on the society that gave rise to a woman even more extraordinary than legend has painted her, and illuminates the reasons for its collapse.   Read more

Norse Mythology * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. An introduction to such a vast subject as Norse Mythology can be problematic as it could well fall between two stools; so packed with details as to put one off, or so vague, that one is none the wiser for having read it. This text manages a pleasing balance, succeeds in whetting the appetite and supplying excellent online resources for the reader who wishes to find out more. Inside you will read about... ✓ The Creation in Norse Mythology ✓ The Nine Worlds ✓ Major Gods and Goddesses ✓ Valhalla ✓ Ragnarok ✓ The Sagas ✓ The Influence of Norse Mythology on Our Lives Today The author quotes generously from the most important relevant source which is freely available via the Project Gutenberg, and you are left with the sounds and taste of the times... ringing in your ears and tingling on your tongue. Read more

⛏️ REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION! ⛏️⛏️ THE MOST EPIC AND EXPANSIVE NORSE MYTHOLOGY BIBLE ON AMAZON!⛏️⛏️ DOUBLE THE PAGES OF OTHER BOOKS!⛏️This sprawling thirty-chapter book includes all major tales of Norse Mythology. From Thor and mischievous Loki to the twilight of the gods known as Ragnarök. Also included is the decryption of Runes, exploring Spells, Ásatrú, European history, warfare, ancient inspirations, to even expansive pages from the ancient book known as Poetic Edda. Each chapter will include stunning paintings to kindle the ancient Viking dreams...To my fellow fans of the Vikings, this Norse Mythology book is for you!This covers everything from the hammer-welding God Thor, to more esoteric stories like Iðunn and her life-restoring apples. This vividly told book also goes into detail about the Viking history, from the brutality of Ragnar Lothbrok, explorations and complications of Eric The Red, to the Shield Maiden Lagertha and victories in battle, to Leif Erikson's fleeting glimpses of the New World... to more!The Ásatrú religion is also explored in detail. From its beginning with the founder of Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson right down different festivals in Europe on the religion.In addition, there is an expensive background on the history of Vikings. From the beginning and to the end, with the Christianization of Europe and so merging into other societies.In addition to that, at the end of the book is lengthy excerpts from the bard himself, Snorri Sturluson's book Poetic Edda for reference into a bygone age.This also includes Hávamá, The Book Of Ancient Norse Poems/Inspirational sayings from the Vikings. Finally, this book will go into detail about everything from the quintessential battle-axe, longship, to more like One of the mysterious things, the Draugar, ancient undead Vikings lurking around tombs.Throughout these thirty-two chapters, you will find:Goddesses and Gods: From Odin, Idunn to Thor and Loki. This goes into vivid detail about all the main myths.When The Blood Axe Ruled: Within these pages, there is a detailed biography of many of the more memorable Vikings etched in Scandinavian history.Weapons, Food, and Ships: From battle axes to blood eagles to clinker technique on their dragon ships.Decrypt Runes: This breaks down the beginning of the runic alphabet of Elder Futhark to Young Futhark.Explore Spells: In-depth info about the basics of old Norse Magic Seiðr. Though, how is forever lost to the ages.Hávamá: A collection of ancient Norse Poems and inspirational sayings from the Vikings Bards.Asatru/Paganism: From the very beginning in the 1970s including the various holidays and what exactly is a blot.Poetic Edda: This includes select highlights from the Snorri Sturluson ancient writing. Over 100 pages from the ancient book.This epic multi-century book is, bar none, the most detailed and epic Norse Mythology Bible on Amazon! Read more

In 1939, tiny Finland waged war-the kind of war that spawns legends-against the mighty Soviet Union, and yet their epic struggle has been largely ignored. Guerrillas on skis, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, unfathomable endurance, and the charismatic leadership of one of this century's true military geniuses-these are the elements of both the Finnish victory and a gripping tale of war. Read more