MICEL FOLCLAND BIBLIOGRAPHY VIb
Working on a new version of the bibliography and sharing it here. These books are recommended—or warned against—by members of the group and other medievalists. Please write with any additions you suggest!
Logan, Robert K. The Alphabet Effect
A thought-provoking book examining the difference results phonetic and ideogrammatic scripts impose on their cultures.
Loyn, H. R. The Vikings in Britain
An older but still valid book on the subject.
Magnusson, Magnus. Iceland Saga
Iceland is a fascinating culture, and this book very neatly and succinctly retells its history.
Magnusson, Magnus. Vikings
Companion to the television series, a good overview of the Viking era, profusely illustrated and engagingly written Later editions are slightly edited, less profusely illustrated but still well written.
Margeson, Susan. Viking
If you want to know a basic overview about something, find a kid’s book. Kids have an avid sense of curiosity, and they don’t accept the bullshit that adults sometimes seem willing to put up with. This is an Eyewitness book, and volumes consist of photographs of pertinent items both authentic and replica with a minimum of explanatory text. The opportunity to actually see the items in question, not merely to be told about it, is a welcome and edifying experience.
Morris, Ian. Geography Is Destiny
A history of many eras specializing in Britain.
Morris, Marc. The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400–1066.
An overview of the Englisc era, fairly standard but not incorrect.
Oliver, Neil. The Vikings: A New History
A lot that is covered just as well in other books but containing new information and based on the latest facts.
Parker, Eleanor. Winters in the World: A Journey through the Anglo-Saxon Year
A book on the year during Englisc times. Little about swords and warfare, only extraneous appearance of royalty and wonderful light-hearted writing on the year, on religion and other common matters. Very recommended!
Pollington, Stephen. Anglo-Saxon FAQs
Well-done series of questions and answers about the Anglo-Saxon culture.
Powell, T.G.E. The Celts
On Stephen Silver’s Barbarian Bibliography.
Pye, Michael. The Edge of the World: A Cultural History of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe
A series of accounts and observations, some pertinent to England and Scandinavia in th early middle ages and others not at all. But always enlightening and interesting.
Roberts, Clayton and David. A History of England, Prehistory to 1714
A hellishly good textbook, well illustrated.
Roesdahl, Else. The Vikings
Well written overview of the Norse culture of the Viking Age.
Rollason, David. Early Medieval Europe 300–1050
An unorthodox overview of the period, with heavy concentration on England, giving a variety of viewpoints and often reminding me of a class trying to interpretation as well as the facts.
Sawyer, P. H The Oxford illustrated history of the Vikings
Excellent compilation of essays on various aspects of the Viking Age.
Schama, Seven. A History of Britain Volume One
A companion volume to the television series, brilliantly illustrated and audaciously written.
Skurlock, William H. The Book of Buckskinning II
Although directed toward early American reenactors, all of the Books of Buckskinning (seven volumes so far) contain articles of interest to reenactors from many time periods, including medieval. Book II is of special interest because of an article on constructing camp equipment. Highly recommended.
Tetlow, Edwin. Enigma of Hastings: William the Conqueror
A splendid examination of the Battle at Battle.
Wahlgren, Erik. The Vikings and America
Well-researched book on the controversial subject.
Wallace-Hadrill, John Michael. The Barbarian West, 400-1000
On Stephen Silver’s Barbarian Bibliography.
Wall, Martin. The Anglo-Saxons in 100 Facts
No listing of provenance or sources, so not recommended.
Wawn, Andrew. The Vikings and the Victorians: Inventing the Old North in Nineteenth-Century Britain (Modern History)
A look at the creation of the modern—and incorrect—interpretation of the Vikings.
Williams, Gareth, Peter Pentz and Matthias Wemhogg (editors). Vikings: Life and Legend
Wonderful color photos from and essays on the 2014–2015 Viking exhibition shown in Sweden, Australia and Chicago.
Williams, Mary Wilhelmine. Social Scandinavia in the Viking Age
A fascinating look at the social cultures of the Viking Age, written just on the cusp of the transformation from romantic Victorian history and modern objectionist history. Very interesting, though it mus bread with more than a little care.
Winroth, Anders. The Age of the Vikings
A very readable book that deals with much of the material that most books of this type deal with but also contains fascinating observations that are not generally available elsewhere and, when they are, are not generally brought together in a single place, with notes on clothing, on customs, on runic writing and on poetry. I would wish for more documentation, but the list of further reading is quite well done and informative.
Wolf, Kirsten. Daily Life of the Vikings
An excellent look at the Norse culture of the Viking Age, using the most current citations. One of Greenwood’s excellent “Daily Life Through History” series.
Wood, Michael. In Search of the Dark Ages
Early volume by Wood, a companion to the television series and cited by many Regia members as essential to forming and channel their interest in the early middle ages. Wood released a revised edition in 2022.
MICEL FOLCLAND BIBLIOGRAPHY VIa
Working on a new version of the bibliography and sharing it here. These books are recommended—or warned against—by members of the group and other medievalists. Please write with any additions you suggest!
Fagan, Brian. The Great Warming
A follow-up to The Little Ice Age, excellently written and dealing with the climate optimum. Only two chapter really deal with Britain, but these chapters should not be missed!
Fagan, Brian. The Little Ice Age
Although dealing primarily with 1300–1850, it also sets up the preceding warm era.
Feuerlichte, Roberta Strauss. Vikings (World Around Us)
Gloriously farbily illustrated graphic examine of Norse culture during the Viking Age, with illustrations by such noted comic artists as George Evans, Sam Glanzman, Gray Morrow, Norman Nodel and Angelo Torres.
Ferguson, Robert. The Vikings
A general study of Norse life during the Viking Age, incorporating the most current resources.
Fischer, David Hackett. Historians Fallacies
I cannot recommend this book enough. Just a cursory glance will change the way any reader looks at sources, historians and logic.
FitzHugh, William W. and Elizabeth I. Ward (eds.). Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga
A series of articles on aspects of Viking territorial expansionism, with appendices on representations of Vikings in popular culture and Viking reenacting, among other subject. Based on the traveling museum exhibit.
Frossier, Robert. (Translated by Lydia G. Chochrane). The Axe and the Oath: Ordinary Life in the Middle Ages
One might think from the subtitle that this would be an ideal book to read for living history that tries to re-create ordinary everyday life. That person would be wrong. The book is rambling, arrogant, defensive, undisciplined with nothing to back up the author’s assertions that people just never changed. What is worse, besides a lack of any provenance for the author’s statements, there are absolutely no citations, no bibliography, no index and no illustrations. Popular history should not be this unpopular.
Gabriele, Matthew and David M. Perry. The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe.
A general history of what has been called the Dark Ages, pointing out the irony of that term and with a good collection of humor. People who dislike the term “Dark Ages” assert that it will become standard popular history.
Girouard, Mark. The Return to Camelot: Chivalry and the English Gentleman
Account on the Victorian medieval revival inspired by such writers as Scott, events as the Eglinton tourney and other aspects of popular culture, until its doom in the First Worl War.
Graham-Campbell, James. The Vikings: The British Museum, London
Catalog for a museum exhibits containing high-quality shots of artifacts.
Hadley. D. M. And Letty ten Harbel. Everyday Life in Viking-Age Towns
An examination and study of Norse communities in England and Ireland from 800–110.
Hall, Richard. Book of Viking Age York (English Heritage)
Informative and illustrated book written by the late director of the York Archaeological Trust.
Harty, Kevin. The Vikings on Film
Not currently up to date but very interesting.
Haywood, John. Encyclopedia of the Viking Age
A good collection of essays on the era.
Haywood, John. Viking: The Norse Warrior’s [Unofficial] Manual
A light-hearted but informative book that features contributions from Kim Siddorn and other Regia folk.
Higham, Nicholas. The Anglo-Saxon World
A good overview of early medieval England.
Holman, Katherine. Historical Dictionary of the Vikings
Good collection of entries on the era.
Holman, Katherine. The Northern Conquest: Vikings in Britain and Ireland
Up to date overview of Anglo-Scandinavian and Hiberno-Scandinavian relations. Very illuminating.
Howarth, David. 1066: The Year of the Conquest
Gloriously opinionated book that also covers everyday life in pre-Conquest Britain.
Hunawalt, Barbara A. The Ties That Bound: Peasant Families in Medieval England
Strictly speaking, outside the realm of Regia, but a peasant’s lifestyle remained the same for centuries. An entertaining and unique examination of common folk in the Middle Ages, relying to a great extent upon coroners’ roll. Sometimes macabre but always illuminating. Recommended.
Ingstad, Helge. Westward to Vinland: the Discovery of Pre-Columbian Norse House-sites in North America
Popularized account of the excavations at L’Ans aux Meadows done by the co-founder of the site.
James, Peter and Nick Thorpe. Ancient Inventions
A collection of inventions or innovations, how they were discovered and how much earlier they existed than commonly supposed.
Janaga, Eleanor and Neil Max Ennanuel. The Middle Ages: A Graphic History.
An amusing illustrated look at all of medieval history. Not a comic book.
Jarman, Cat. River Kings.
A history of the Norse concentrating on new discovers, interpretations and the Silk Road.
Jochens, Jenny. Women in Old Norse Society
Fine examination of the role of women in Norse society.
Johnston, Ruth A. All Things Medieval: An Encyclopedia of the Medieval World (2 Volume Set)
A compendium of articles, perhaps geared toward younger readers, tt deal with a good many subjects of interest to persons examining the Middle Ages.
Jones, Gwyn. The History of the Vikings
Well written overview of the Norse culture of the Viking Age.
Jones, Terry. Terry Jones’ Barbarians
Strictly speaking not our period but a very illuminating look at maligned peoples. From the television series.
Kolofny, Annette. In Search of First Contact
An innovative and opinionated look at the Norse in North America with great emphasis on the natives.
Koenigsberger. Medieval Europe, 400-1500
This is a real winner.
Labarge, Margaret Wade. Small Sound of the Trumpet
On medieval women.
Lacey, Robert and Danny Danziger. The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium
Not really a cautionary tale comparing the turn of the First Millennium with the then-upcoming turn of the Second, but a good look at everyday life using the Julius Work Calendar as the internal theme. Dealing specifically with England.
Leahy, Kevin. Anglo-Saxon Crafts: Revealing History
This accessible volume addresses different crafts practiced by the Anglo-Saxons, including woodworking, leatherworking, pottery and textiles. Looking at surviving artifacts, Leahy comments on construction and technology.
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The Anglo-Scandinavian Chronicles 