Valkyrie

By Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir,

Book cover of Valkyrie: The Women of the Viking World

Book description

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE Valkyries: the female supernatural beings that choose who dies and who lives on the battlefield. They protect some, but guide spears, arrows and sword blades into the bodies of others. Viking myths about valkyries attempt to elevate the banality of war - to…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Valkyrie as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

In the “traders vs. raiders” approach to Viking history, women stay home and look after the farm while the men go off on adventures. Three books published in the 1990s by Judith Jesch and Jenny Jochens brought the lives of these women out of the shadows, showing how vital their role was.

In Valkyrie: The Women of the Viking World, Jóhanna Kristín Friðriksdóttir brings these early studies up to date. With her mastery of detail from the Icelandic sagas, Friðriksdóttir follows an ordinary Viking woman from birth to death. She tells stories of women who are bold and successful,…

Want books like Valkyrie?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Valkyrie.

Browse books like Valkyrie

Book cover of Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings
Book cover of The Age of the Vikings
Book cover of Viking Age Iceland

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,173

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Middle Ages, women, and Vikings?

The Middle Ages 431 books
Women 649 books
Vikings 116 books