Though infamous for their violent marauding, Vikings were but one part of the complex Scandinavian culture from which they emerged. This excellent and intimate study goes beyond the rumors of the fury of the Northmen, into the prosaic realities of the greater Scandinavian community, and is ideal for readers who want to discover the everyday details of living in this dynamic time and place. What were Viking families like? How were slaves treated? Were older people treated well, or regarded with contempt? Exactly how did they manage to travel from Baghdad to Greenland? Author Kirsten Wolf answers all of these questions and many more in this highly readable and informative resource volume, which will be a benefit and pleasure to the student and the general reader alike.

For the reader's convenience, the work is organized into chapters covering all aspects life: domestic, economic, intellectual, material, political, recreational, and religious. It includes a historical timeline of Viking history, complementary pictures, illustrations, and maps, and a bibliography.