Review: All Their Gory Glory
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 6, 2013
A short, but thorough, well-researched and reasonably well written history of the Viking "Golden Age," (not so golden for the rest of Europe), from the late 700s through the 1300s.  He doesn't hesitate to tell the truth about these violent, aggressive, brawling people, who were also traders and empire builders - in France, Russia, England, Ireland, and Iceland (Europe's, and perhaps the world's, first republic).  Master ship builders, restless of foot, they always seemed to want to know what was over the horizon or around the coast, leading to truly epic journeys.  Excellent reading for your high schoolers needing a book report or class project, and for anyone interested in history.  There are even bits in here for those with an interest in linguistics, ship building, and navigation.  Highly recommended.