The Vikings

by David Angus

Overview

Between the 8th and 11th centuries Vikings stormed out of their Scandinavian homelands to raid and loot along the coasts of Europe. In old Norse to 'go-a-viking' meant to go on an adventure - to seek wealth and fame. Vikings would take to the sea in a long ship, sometimes for a trading trip, sometimes a piratical raid. Often it was both. Explorers and traders, warriors and poets, they ranged between Byzantium in the south and Iceland, and even North America, in the North. Their fame lives on.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843796497
Publisher:	Naxos Of America
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	159 KB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

David Angus is the author of several educational children's books, including The Vikings, Great Inventors and Their Inventions, and The Story of Jesus, among others.

Joe Marsh graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2008, having previously read English at the University of Cambridge. His theater credits include Alexander Onassis in Aristo and Olivia in Twelfth Night. His television credits include Silent Witness and Above Suspicion.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 4 Up—Opening with a dramatic Wagnerian fanfare, this audiobook by David Angus will thrill listeners at every turn. The turmoil and violence that the Vikings wreaked in a wide swath from the 8th through the 11th centuries is legendary. The stories of looting and pillaging ("to go a-viking" was apparently a verb meaning to go raiding) monasteries in North Umbria were particularly disturbing, but the Vikings were disgusted by the refusal of the monks to defend themselves. Courage in combat was their strongest value, so they felt justified in stealing priceless items from over 794 monasteries throughout what was to later become Great Britain. These "merciless marauders" loved to fight, have adventures, and then regale their fellows with the stories and poems of their great feats. Not just thieves and warriors, Vikings were also astonishing inventors, explorers, artists, carvers, furriers, traders, and even poets. Most striking was their invention of the keel in shipbuilding, which counterbalanced the stout masts and sails of their longboats, and enabled them to navigate the wild, frigid waters of the North Sea. This audiobook presents exciting stories about the Viking's history, culture, mythology, adventures, exploration, and accomplishments. Joe Marsh reads these fascinating tales with a distinctive British accent, providing a thrilling interpretation of the text and making this gripping history absolutely riveting. Highly recommended as an excellent resource for history classes.—Lonna Pierce, MacArthur Elementary School, Binghamton, NY

School Library Journal

The Vikings are as intriguing as one would anticipate, and Naxos makes this audiobook a thrilling educational experience. Here dragons of old are REAL—they are the fiercely decorated Viking ships. Narrator Joe Marsh brings his humor, enthusiasm, and excellent pronunciation to this book. The "wild" men have names, and their bravery is heralded. Their rich history is covered, and their myths and legends are fully explored, making them even more beguiling. Best of all, Marsh sounds like he's talking solely to the listener. What a great way to learn! Angus has also written The Great Explorers of the World series. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2011 - AudioFile