Laughing Shall I Die
Book description
In this robust new account of the Vikings, Tom Shippey explores their mindset, and in particular their fascination with scenes of heroic death. The book recounts many of the great bravura scenes of Old Norse literature, including the Fall of the House of the Skjoldungs, the clash between the twoâŚ
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1 author picked Laughing Shall I Die as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Why do the Vikings seem so modern? Tom Shippey thinks itâs their attitude toward losers. They âknew that in the real world, conditions arenât fair.â Heroes are trapped, outnumbered. Their luck runs out. âThat doesnât make you what we call âa loser,ââ he writes. âThe only thing that would make you a loser would be giving up.â
The Vikings showed their spirit by refusing to take death seriously. âWhat was best was showing you could turn the tables, spoil your enemyâs victory, make a joke out of death,â Shippey writes, and in Laughing Shall I Die: Lives and Deaths ofâŚ
From Nancy's list on Vikings, their humor, and their world.
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