Becky Bookworm Book Review: Valkyrie - The Women of the Viking World by Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir

 

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 make the pain and suffering, the lost limbs and deformities, the piles of lifeless bodies of young men, glorious and worthwhile. Rather than their death being futile, it is their destiny and good fortune, determined by divine beings. The women in these stories take full part in the power struggles and upheavals in their communities, for better or worse.

Drawing on the latest historical and archaeological evidence, Valkyrie introduces readers to the dramatic and fascinating texts recorded in medieval Iceland, a culture able to imagine women in all kinds of roles carrying power, not just in this world, but pulling the strings in the other-world, too. In the process, this fascinating book uncovers the reality behind the myths and legends to reveal the dynamic, diverse lives of Viking women.

Anyone with an interest in the experience of women in the Viking Age may have already come across a book on the subject by Judith Jesch which really broke the focus on Men during this era of history.

Well this book is a worthy Successor to the same goal and it is a remarkable achievement.

Johanna takes the rather logical route of exploring the lives of Norse Women (across the whole of Scandinavia and Iceland and Greenland) from their childhood and adolescence, into the role of wife and mothers, and ending with their role as the Elderly of the community and household and how they were treated and respected in death.

It is an astounding peice of research, done with passion, written clear and concise and FULL of so many stories found in sagas, poetry, based on archeological finds and even mythology too.

I implore anyone with a feminist interest in history, especially the Viking Age, to read this book.

You will not regret it. Bravo Johanna, Bravo!

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