The Long Ships, Frans G. Bengtsson
The Long Ships, Frans G. Bengtsson
29 Rating(s)
List: $34.99 | Sale: $24.50
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The Long Ships

Author: Frans G. Bengtsson, Michael Chabon, Michael Meyer

Narrator: Michael Page

Unabridged: 20 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/05/2017


Synopsis

Bengtsson's hero, Red Orm—canny, courageous, and above all lucky—is only a boy when he is abducted from his Danish home by the Vikings and made to take his place at the oars of their dragon-prowed ships. Orm is then captured by the Moors in Spain, where he is initiated into the pleasures of the senses and fights for the Caliph of Cordova. Escaping from captivity, Orm washes up in Ireland, where he marvels at those epicene creatures, the Christian monks, and from which he then moves on to play an ever more important part in the intrigues of the various Scandinavian kings and clans and dependencies. Eventually, Orm contributes to the Viking defeat of the army of the king of England and returns home an off-the-cuff Christian and a very rich man, though back on his native turf new trials and tribulations will test his cunning and determination.

Packed with pitched battles and blood feuds and told throughout with wit and high spirits, Bengtsson's book is a splendid adventure that features one of the most unexpectedly winning heroes in modern fiction.

About Frans G. Bengtsson

Frans G. Bengtsson (1894-1954) was born and raised in the southern Swedish province of Skane. His early writings, including a doctoral thesis on Geoffrey Chaucer and two volumes of poetry written in what were considered antiquated verse forms, revealed a career-long interest in historical literary modes and themes.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jeffrey

”His voice became frenzied, and he glared wrathfully from one to the other, brandishing his arms and crying: Blood-wolves, murderers and malefactors, adulterated vermin, Gadarene swine, weeds of Satan and minions of Beelzebub, generation of vipers and basilisks, shall you be cleansed by holy baptism......more

Goodreads review by Henry

At the end of the dark tenth century , Vikings and their ancient customs were changing rapidly, the bold men, sea pirates and land raiders didn't recognize it, that was a fatal mistake, the harsh climate of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, even distant Iceland, slowly becoming nations did not make illite......more

Goodreads review by Steve

In just a minute I’ll be trying my hardest to sell you Goodreading friends on this sensational Viking experience. Before that, though, seeing as how I’m foaming over with excitement and appreciation, I have multiple people to thank. ⊕ First, to the author: I know that you’re dead, but believe you mus......more

Goodreads review by Manny

Brilliant comic novel about life in Viking Sweden. Those Vikings were real tough dudes. My favorite bit is the sequence with Orm's first captain, who has a run of bad luck and ends up being captured and sold into slavery. The overseer knows he used to be a big guy and takes special delight in tormen......more