The History of Iceland
Iceland's story is one of the most unusual in Europe. Settled by Norse voyagers in the ninth century, this small volcanic island in the North Atlantic developed one of the world's first parliaments, produced a literary tradition that still influences writers today, and survived centuries of isolation, famine, and foreign rule. Most people know it for volcanoes and Vikings, but there's far more to the history than that.
This book traces Iceland from its earliest settlers through the saga age, the long period of Norwegian and Danish control, devastating natural disasters, and the twentieth-century path to independence. It covers the cultural achievements that made Iceland punch well above its weight -- the medieval sagas, the preservation of the Old Norse language, and a national identity forged under some of the harshest conditions in Europe.
What's inside:
The Norse settlement of Iceland and the founding of the Althingi, one of the oldest parliaments in the worldThe saga age -- how a small island produced some of medieval Europe's greatest literary worksCenturies under Norwegian and Danish rule, and the struggles that came with itVolcanic eruptions, famines, and plagues that nearly wiped out the populationIceland's road to independence and its rise as a modern Nordic nationReader review:
"Picked this up before a trip to Reykjavik and it gave me so much more context for what I was seeing. The section on the sagas was really interesting -- I had no idea how important they were to European literature. Good balance of detail without dragging." -- Sarah M.
If you're interested in Viking history, planning a visit to Iceland, or just want to understand how a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic built such a distinct culture, this book lays it all out clearly and without fluff.
Order your copy today.
Customer Reviews
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