Dragon Lords: The History and Legends of Viking England

by Eleanor Parker

Why did the Vikings sail to England? Were they indiscriminate raiders, motivated solely by bloodlust and plunder? One narrative, the stereotypical one, might have it so. But locked away in the buried history of the British Isles are other, far richer and more nuanced, stories; and these hidden tales paint a picture very different from the ferocious pillagers of popular repute.

In this book, Eleanor Parker unlocks secrets that point to more complex motivations within the marauding army that in the late-9th century voyaged to the shores of eastern England in its sleek, dragon-prowed longships. Exploring legends from forgotten medieval texts, and across the varied Anglo-Saxon regions, she depicts Vikings who came not just to raid but also to settle personal feuds, intervene in English politics and find a place to call home. Native tales reveal the links to famous Vikings like Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, Cnut, and Havelok the Dane. Each myth shows how the legacy of the newcomers can still be traced in landscape, place-names and local history. Meticulously researched and elegantly argued, Dragon Lords uncovers the remarkable degree to which England is Viking to its core.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Historical, British Literature

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2018

About the author

https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com.au/

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker clearly knows these sources like the back of her hand. It’s extraordinary.

[Mythlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly liked chapter 2 (sons of Ragnar Lothbrok) and chapter 5 (Havelok and the Danes), as I'd read both the Middle English romance Havelok the Dane and Shippey's Laughing Shall I die in 2018, and also took classes on Norse myths and sagas and Introduction to Old Norse.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you were to choose a book to be reading in public with the deliberate strategic purpose of getting the number of the guy who works in your local Indian takeaway, it is unlikely that you would choose this one, but truth is stranger than fiction and I must therefore tell you that that is exactly what happened when I wandered into the curry house on Crouch Hill holding a copy of Dragon Lords. "The history and legends of Viking England" is quite an enticing subtitle, so perhaps that had something to do with it; it was certainly a major factor in my requesting a reading copy of this from the publisher's rep. It's also a slightly misleading subtitle, since Dragon Lords is both more focused and less conclusive than an overview of late antique/early medieval British history might be. I think it might be a book version of Parker's doctorate (she's now a tutor at Brasenose College, Oxford), which is no bad thing, though it meant re-accustoming myself to writing that isn't necessarily for a general audience.

Dragon Lords is primarily interested in early medieval narratives about Anglo-Danish interaction. (Sexy!) Since there were multiple waves of Danish/Viking conquests, the history is not nearly as straightforward as the phrase "Anglo-Danish" makes it sound; the conquerors of one generation became the naturalised inhabitants of England, and the people conquered, in the next round of organised invasion. Intermarriage and cultural diffusion happened, as they always do, and the resulting culture was a whole lot of things rolled into one: pagan-Christian, Anglo-Saxon-Danish-with-a-splash-of-Norman. Naturally, the stories that this motley culture told itself over several hundred years—about where it came from, and why—also changed: sometimes a Dane is a good Christian king, sometimes he is the leader of a band of ravening, monk-murdering sea-wolves.

Because Parker's emphasis is on the continuity (or not) of narrative elements, the sheer accumulation of detail can sometimes be difficult to follow. In the second chapter, for instance, she follows the trail of a mysterious figure called Ragnar Lothbrok, who appears in Anglo-Danish narratives in all manner of guises. Sometimes he's a thug with many sons, murdered at the hands of the King of Mercia and avenged by his children; sometimes he's a more innocent figure, a stranger in a strange land betrayed by a jealous courtier. It's impossible to make any concrete assertions about the historical figure (or figures) that might have been behind the Lothbrok stories—he's like Robin Hood or King Arthur—but Parker's greatest asset as a writer is her curiosity, and that carries the reader a long way, too. (My particular interest in Viking Britain is literary, and I especially enjoyed her long section on the early verse romance Havelok the Dane. There are also some interesting sections on stories, or story elements, that Shakespeare clearly drew upon when he was writing Macbeth and Hamlet.) Dragon Lords is unashamedly niche, but if you want to know more about pre-Conquest Britain—and trust me, there is hundreds and hundreds of years' worth of eventful, exciting, violent history there—this is for you.

[Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book is like listening to someone talk very passionately about whatever their niche interest is for the ~200 pages of this book (the last 50ish pages are all references & sources to check out for further reading). I feel like I learned a lot about how Vikings (or the Danes as they are mostly referred to at the time) were seen during the fourteenth century, I had never really learned much about this part of history so I do think I struggled a little bit with understanding the wider picture but it was none the less interesting and you can definitely tell that Parker knows a lot about this part of history and is very passionate about it and probably also teaches it because its written in a very approachable way.

Would definitely read more by this author in the future although on a personal note I might go with an audiobook next time because I feel like I retain and process the information better when its told to me rather than reading - I often struggle with reading non fiction like this on a subject matter that really does interest me in a way that it doesn't just feel like I'm doing homework.

[Andrew Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot on the heels of Tom Shippey’s Laughing Shall I Die: Lives and Deaths of the Great Viking and in the middle of a on-line course on reading Poetry in Old Norse I read this brilliant work which gives a really focused and scholarly look at the integration of Danes into the culture of Anglo-Saxon England. Really enjoyed Dr Parker’s look at semi-legendary figures as Ragnar Lothbrok (and his very nasty sons), Siward and Havelock the Dane and the concept of the Danish right to rule going back to Modred. Very informative and well written with lots of excellent notes and bibliography. Highly recommend.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review of the legends of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, Earl Siward and Havelok the Dane, among others, Scandinavian-influenced tales extant in Viking England is informative and entertaining, bursting with examples of the tropes of these semi-mythical accounts. I quite enjoyed it and will look at the author's other works.

[Tom Fordham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderdully insightful read! Exploring the legends of the Anglo-Scandinavian cultural tales in the East of England, Eleanor Parker certainly changed my perception on Anglo-Scandinavian culture during the reign of Cnut the Great. Parker knows these sources intimately and shows a wealth of nuanced understanding through the book and presents it in wonderfully accessible way. From Ragnar, to Siward to Havelok, even Guy of Warwick and Hereward the Wake, these characters are thoroughly explored and brought to life. I feel a lot can be learned about Anglo-Scandinavian culture and how it's still prominent in the North and East of England today. The Viking left a significant impact on these shores and Parker gives you a great starting point into understanding that legacy through the stories they were captivated by.

There's a lot of food for thought here, so I'll definitely be thinking and looking further into these legends!

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was bought for me as a gift as I love history and in particular England at the time of the Vikings. This is not a general overview of Viking Britain however but more the writings of medieval monks and chroniclers telling the legends and myths from the view of both the Danes and English.
It is a good work and interesting for the most part but I found the academic approach somewhat dry and hard going in parts and references to people who actually lived cross referenced with others with similar or same names who were probably just legends got a tad confusing at times.
As someone who reads for the enjoyment of history I probably wouldn’t have chosen it this book for myself.

[Seth Woodley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parker explores the relationships of the Vikings and England by looking closely at several myths and historical developments. It is interesting seeing the numerous connections and how history likely influenced . For those interested in these particular myths or the development of England, this is an insightful read. I enjoyed this book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating analysis of the medieval literature written about the vikings in England from various different perspectives and then piecing together to analyse what was actually happening, what was reality and what was legend. I was absorbed.

[Butch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice look at history of the Vikings/Danes in England and their lore