Viking's Dawn

Viking Saga #1

by Henry Treece

Harold is an adolescent who sails with his father on a raid to Scotland. They come to grief on an island in the Hebrides.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Young Adult, Adventure, British Literature

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1956

About the author

Henry Treece (1911-1966) was a British poet and writer, who also worked as a teacher and editor. He wrote a range of works but is mostly remembered as a writer of children's historical novels.

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harald and his father join the crew of a Viking ship, but Harald's father breaks his leg before the ship leaves and is unable to travel with the boat. Onboard is the captain, Thorkell, a brave and charismatic leader, as well as the captain's friend and rival, Ragnar. The Vikings set off, and soon see another ship, and the crews of the two ships battle, for there is treasure aboard the ship and the Vikings want it.

This is a story originally published in 1955, and it is filled with swords and axes and fighting and usurpation and heroism and danger and death. I am a person who never looks for books about swords and axes and fighting and usurpation and heroism and danger and death, but I was surprised to find that I enjoyed reading this story.

It's a story told without sentiment, and the world views of the characters are very different from the world views of most people today.

You won't find many books such as this today, but I imagine that lots of kids would love to read a story like this one.

----Quotes from the book, with some spoilers----

Here are a few quotes from the book. There are some spoilers in the quotes.



When Harald sees the man who is to be captain of the boat, he is captivated by him. But his father cautions him: 'Harald’s father, Sigurd, curled his lip a little disdainfully. “It is always thus, my son,” he said, “before a voyage. Men seem heroes in the torchlight at a feasting. But we must wait till the harsh salt cakes on their hands and the bitter wind tears their fine cloaks from them before we can judge whether they be true men or no.”'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 378-380). Kindle Edition.



Harald's father shares a little of his life philosophy with his son: '"So what can you change with all your worrying? You are but an ant crawling on a hunter’s boot."'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Location 479). Kindle Edition.



A discussion among two of the Vikings about the man who acted against the wishes of the captain:

'But Kragge said, “And you are a child, Hasting, not to see that this Ragnar, being so ruthless, is such a leader as would stop at nothing once his mind was set toward a thing. He is the man to bring us to our hearts’ desire. He is a man to be followed.” “Aye, and feared,” said Björn, turning his head in disgust. “Who thinks worse of a man for that?” said Kragge. “That is what a leader should be, for if we fear him it means that our enemies must surely fear him more!”'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 797-802). Kindle Edition.



A different way of looking at the world:

'Thorkell was silent, for it was against the law for any man to prevent another from fighting, if he thought fit.'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 1011-1012). Kindle Edition.



When Harald was ill, and the other Vikings were almost without water:

'No man had tasted water for two days, and they were too weak to battle any longer against the sea which seemed determined to keep them from the shore. Yet, even though they suffered agonies of thirst, they had agreed to let the sick boy have what water there was. Harald never knew this. No viking would tell him a thing like that.'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 1281-1284). Kindle Edition.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA historical novel about a young man's first voyage on a Viking ship. Well-written, with lots of action.

[Matilda Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harald and his father Sigurd were vikings. Their king died, so they planned to go 'a viking' (on a voyage) to seek riches and treasure. They joined a crew by the coast and helped prepare the ship - Nameless. Unfortunately, whilst pushing the boat into the sea, Sigurd slipped and his leg was brocken under the bulk of the huge vessel. He was left in a nearby fisherman's hut to recover while his son Harald set off.

The captain of the ship, Thorkell, took on the role as Harald's father. Then the Nameless began to plunder nearby towns along the coast. Then, after so much good luck, the vikings find themselves prisoners and must escape...

[Natalie Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

New comer to Treece but love it! He may not engage in the world building of Tolkien but he is matched in rich characters and thoroughly read on Viking history. Treece's writes beautifully and you are gripped by plot and setting. You can smell the fresh oak as the ship is built and the pine woods as you sail along the coast.

[Mikaiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent children's novel. A bit darker than I remember as a child but a lot of real life aspects in there. Authors don't write like they used to.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first historical fiction books I ever read. I went on to read everything I could find by, Treece, Roger Greene and several others, but Treece alwas remained my favorite.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book and the others in the trilogy really introduced me to the power of a good book to hold you and so dominated my YA reading.

[Dave Appleby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of a trilogy, this book follows the adventures of Harald Sigurdson, apprentice Viking, as he sails under Thorkell on the ship Nameless. They seek to steal treasure from other ships and coastal communities (this is a children's book so there is no rape) but they pay for it with the death of some of their comrades. There's a lot of death. There is treachery but there is also honour among thieves. There is also a lot of superstition: they take a treasure which is cursed and brings bad luck, two men meet one another in their dreams, there are monks and druids.

Classically paced, the first quarter of the book takes place before the ship is launched, Harald's first killing is just after the half-way mark, and they meet the Christian holy man who will play a significant part in the climax at the three-quarters mark.

The hero is a young man thirsting for glory and fiercely loyal to his leader. One would hope that the character would develop over the course of the book as a result of some fairly traumatic experiences, but Harald is a hero to the end.

Many of the myths of the Vikings on which this book relies (eg that they wore horned helmets into battle) has been disputed. The book rather glamorises the Viking way of life.

Is it suitable for a children's book? Treece's Vikings are amoral, seeing might as right and stealing what they can. There is a lot of killing and a lot of death and these are lightly born: the general feeling being that the point of life is to have a 'good' death, preferably in battle. I suppose that may accurately reflect the attitude of people for whom life was full of unexpected death, in whose face they were relatively powerless: "You are but an ant crawling on a hunter's boot. That boot may carry you a long distance and you will think that life is good to you. Or it may crush you, then you will know no more." (Ch 5). It may also reflect the attitude of the time: it was written in 1955 so it probably reflects the attitudes of a man who served in World War II, though Treece was an RAF Intelligence officer rather than a soldier.

It is a classic boys' adventure story, almost devoid of women except as home-makers, but nowadays one might question what the subtext is. For example: "Ships be like any other creature. Show them who is master and they will obey; but once let them have the upper hand and they will run wild and break their backs in rebellion." (Ch 6)

An easy read. A

[Naaytaashreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sailors always grumble. Once they feel the planks bucking under their feet and get the sound of the sea-mews in their ears, they will forget all this. A Viking is born, my son, and never escapes his destiny. As some men love horses and others love hunting wolves, so a Viking loves ships, every plank and rope of them, and he is never happy unless he is riding the track of the whale, treading the path of the gannet."

I don't know how to explain this read.
It was just so enjoyable, fun and you get suck into a world.

There is no expectations or questions where the story might go.
You just follow the flow of the story to where it is going to bring you.

The writing of the book was simple and easily read but it was felt with such depth and emotions.
There is such an adrenaline to where Harald's journey was going that you embrace every betrayal, death, grief, loss and happiness.

I can't wait to set on to the next adventure

"He has been where none of us will ever go. He has come back to us from the belly of the sea."

[John Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last of Treece’s trilogy about Harald that I read, which I am not sure I read in childhood. Started with the Road to Miklagard, the middle work, because I teach early Rus’ian history. Nice to read about 9th-century Constantinople and the Khazars. Kyiv is mentioned but that reflects old historiography (like the horns on Viking helmets) and while the settlement existed, it was part of the Khazar realm and not what it became under the Vikings. The stories are well told and the hero maps out the extent of Viking travels (old - Roman - to new world - indigenous American Indians). It was all really enjoyable. Our more recent understanding of the Vikings and the wealth of their experience - the Danes in England and Norse on Scotland’s mainland and islands - is shown here too. Be assured, Harald, like a true hero, dies a good death.

[Amber Scaife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Harald and his father, Sigurd, sign up to travel with Thorkell Fairhair on his ship, The Nameless. Harald's father is injured and must be left behind, but Harald voyages with Thorkell and his colorful band of Vikings, meeting with adventures and misfortunes all along the way.
This one was more engaging and entertaining than I suspected it would be. For a children's book, it doesn't sugarcoat Viking life and the ending is bittersweet, which is refreshing, to be honest.

[Kalilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such gripping, action-packed adventures! I haven't read/watched any Viking-based historical fiction before, so this was a very fresh and exciting read. I would highly recommend it.

[reginald alan elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a boy and was instantly a fan of Henry Treece. I loved the escapist adventure excitement and in addition the historical interest the book held.

[Chris Speck · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love of Vikings began here. It was the early eighties in the school library. Sincere thanks for this.

[Garry Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the age of 10, or thereabouts, I embark on my first trilogy...

[Frankie Rufolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike the Children's Crusade, (my first book by Henry Treece) which told a HUGE story, this book is proud to tell a very small story. This leaves a lot of room to develop the characters REALLY well. They're very layered and complex, but at times, just pleasant and likeable. It was really interesting to see a conversation that could go from being dark and serious to being casual and friendly.
Harald is pretty well-written as the main protagonist. The father-son relationship felt real and you really see him admiring all these other men who act as father figures, and his journey as a character.

Another of the book's strengths is the descriptive writing. I nearly always had a very clear picture in my head and the vocabulary challenged me as a reader, but not too much.
The Vikings having horned helmets is fairly stereotypical and historically inaccurate, but I did learn a bit about Norse culture, I get the vibe at least. The book isn't all savagery and blood, but it's not swashbuckling fun. It gets a good balance and talks a lot about religion, loyalty and fate.

Admittedly, I did get some of the characters confused a couple of times, forgetting who was who, despite Treece taking so much time to set them up. Also, the illustrations let the book down a little. Not that they weren't detailed or impressive, but sometimes an illustration would interrupt a fight scene or an emotional moment and because the characters' eyes are just black, it put a bit of distance between me and the book's heroes.

Overall, Viking's Dawn is a very thoughtful and enjoyable story.

[Tim Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the very first historical fiction book I read. I can't remember how old I was, but it must have been about 35 years ago now. It had such an impact on me that I still remember, vividly, the first page and the little black and white sketch of the two characters overlooking the burning building. This book ignited a lifelong passion in me for historical fiction and I was thrilled to find it was available digitally.

So of course, I had to read it again, despite the risk of destroying my nostalgia induced affection. It didn't disappoint. Although aimed more for children / young adult, it's still a great read. I just love the prose.

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

These classic children's books did not treat children as childlike: they wrote about young people, sure - but they didn't talk down to the child reader, simply were moderate in language and contained no gratuitous violence and sex. In short, they were excellent stories from masterful storytellers.

It was a joy to read this, a ripping yarn that galloped along with our young protagonist as he experienced his first trip a' Viking. I heartily recommend this short read to anyone who loves the Dark Ages or history at all.

[Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

A friend gave me this as I'm interested in children's historical fiction and it was one she remembered fondly from her childhood. Unfortunately I found it tedious and depressing. It was difficult to keep track of the large cast of Vikings and their nicknames, much less become fond of any of the characters - which was lucky, because practically everyone dies.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is a very good book because it has very well made characters and has realistic situations. also it is historical.

[Ernest Marlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, a must-read!