Written by Hjalmar H. Boyesen in 1895, this is a history of Norway, written without the poison of political correctness.
A sweeping history of the Norwegian people from the earliest Viking age to the modern nation. Combining political, military, cultural, and social history, Boyesen traces the forces that shaped Norway’s distinctive identity across more than a thousand years.
The narrative follows the exploits of the Viking explorers and sea-kings, the coming of Christianity, the consolidation of the Norwegian kingdom, and the country’s long unions with Denmark and Sweden. Along the way, Boyesen introduces the kings, warriors, churchmen, and statesmen whose actions influenced the course of Norwegian history, while explaining the development of the nation’s institutions and traditions.
Written with both scholarship and literary skill, the book places Norway within the wider story of medieval and modern Europe, showing how geography, commerce, exploration, and national character combined to shape the country’s remarkable past. Boyesen’s clear and engaging style makes even complex historical developments accessible without sacrificing depth or historical insight.
Included are the country’s geography and the people of Norway, the first Norsemen, Aryan migrations, early tribes, Viking Age, Scandinavian kinship, Sigfrid, Godfrey, Hastings, Ragnar, Asgeir, Rörik, Thorgisl, Olaf the White, Vikings in England, Simeon, Halfdan the Swarthy, Yngling race, Aun the Old, Sigurd Hjort, Erik Eimundsson, Harold’s vow, Earl Ragnvald, Gyda, Duke Rollo, Kveld-Ulf, Queen Ragnhild, Guttorm Sindre, Haakon, Gunhild, Erik Blood Axe, Egil, Berg-Anund, reforms, first Christians, Agvaldsness, Harold Blue-Tooth, Earl Erick, peasant revolt, Kark, Olaf Tryggvesson, Astrid, Russia, Thore Hjort, Earl Sigvalde, Bjarne Herjulfsson, Leif Eriksson, Olaf the Saint, Earl Sweyn, Sweyn Alfifasson, Magnus the Good, Harold Hard-Ruler, Olaf the Quiet, Haroldsson, Magnus Barefoot, Sigurd the Crusader, Olaf Magnusson, Magnus the Blind, Harold Gille, Haakon Broad-Shouldered, Erlingsson, Sigundsson, Sverrosson, independence, Kalmar Union, Napoleonic wars, the modern era up to the 1870s with most pages dedicated to Norwegian history through 1817.
Softcover, 50 illustrations, 556 pages, #821.
