Sworn Brother

Viking #2

by Tim Severin

In London in 1019, a few months have passed since Thorgils escaped the clutches of the Irish Church, only to find himself at the center of a capricious love affair with Aelfgifu—wife of Knut the Great, ruler of England, and one of the most powerful men of the Viking empire. As this passionate relationship between the two begins to unfold, it forebodes inevitable consequences. When Thorgils is finally on the run again, he meets Grettir, an outlaw feared for his volatility, and the two become travel companions and sworn brothers. At the gates of Byzantium, Thorgils’ loyalty is put to the ultimate test.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Ebooks, Mythology

354 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2005

About the author

Tim Severin was a British explorer, historian and writer. Severin is noted for his work in retracing the legendary journeys of historical figures. Severin was awarded both the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the Livingstone Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He received the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award for his 1982 book The Sindbad Voyage.

He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India in 1940. Severin attended Tonbridge School and studied geography and history at Keble College, Oxford.

Severin has also written historical fiction along with non fiction. The Viking Series, first published in 2005, concerns a young Viking adventurer who travels the world. In 2007 he published The Adventures of Hector Lynch series set in the late 17th century about a 17-year-old Corsair.

Reviews

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched historical novel.
Acqual rating: 3.5

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2006, and its the 2nd volume of the wonderful "Viking" trilogy.

This starts off in the year AD 1020, and Thorgils after having escaped the Irish Church, he finds himself at the court of King Cnut the Great of England, one of the most powerful men of the Viking empire, and having an affair with the King's wife, Aelfgifu.

When their relationship is discovered Thorgils must flee the realm and during his flight he will meet with a certain outlaw called, Grettir.

They decide to travel together and will become "Sworn Brothers", binding them together until death.

Their bond will be finally tested at the gates of Byzantium, where they will have to fight to the death and Thorgils' loyalty will reach the ultimate test.

What is to follow is a terrific Viking tale, in which Thorgils is wonderfully pictured in his dealings with people and circumstances, in peace and war, but always busy living and fighting the Viking way, and all this is brought to us by the author in a excellent fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is a great addition to this wonderful Viking trilogy, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Viking Sequel"!

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Шеметните приключения на Торгил Лейфсон го водят през множество премеждия и придобити знания към най-великия град в света по онова време - Константинопол!

Лека за четене и навлизане история, която обаче съдържа много информация и желаещите да научат повече за света тогава няма никак да скучаят.

Интересно е, как старите северни богове отстъпват твърде лесно пред напористия култ в прослава на Белия Христос, а той същевременно е застрашен от младия, но много по-войнствен ислям.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book was excellant & this chapter takes it forward & surpasses it. Very well written & I love the author's style as you learn jus about everything there is to know about the period be it as a Viking, a soofsayer, an adventurer etc you get the drift & there's a developing story to boot with very belieavable charactors.

Highly recommended for anyone whose remotely interested in the Viking era BUT most definitely not for yous pulp h/f buffs, you need to stop & move right along......

[Greenguitar · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife picked this up for me in the library on a whim as we had both completely read everything by Bernard Cornwell and were completely dry. Being a Viking 'snob", I was fully prepared to dismiss this author as a wannabe.

I would have been wrong. Very well written and engaging. Most of the history is accurate and there is just enough mythology thrown in to make you wonder. Hadn't even read the first book and yet this stood on it's own.

Going to get book 3 and then circle back to 1. You should enjoy this!

[kostas vamvoukakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα καταπληκτικό ιστορικό οδοιπορικό μέσα στη μεσαιωνική Ευρώπη. ..Πολύ ιατρικό και λιγότερο μυθιστόρημα αλλά πολύ ενδιαφέρον .ξεκινά από Αγγλία και φτάνει μέχρι Βυζάντιο. ..

[Yrinsyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up the first book in Target, which my mum then bought for me. It really engrossed me from the moment I began reading. Tim Severin is a gifted writer - he brings history to life literally - so much so, that you feel you are there. He entwines fact, myth,and fiction in a compelling way and creates characters that the reader feels total empathy for. Sworn Brother, the second in this series, continues the story of Thorgils. His meeting and friendship with Grettir the Strong is the lynch pin of this story. Grettir's death almost moved me to tears, it was so tenderly written (although his death was far from tender). I am looking forward to reading the last part of this saga.

[Meena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot decide whether I liked this book more than the first one. One thing's for sure: this book was amazing. Its ending had the same effect on me as the first one's ending did; it made me want to re-read it and experience the awesome events that take place.
Even though I AM looking forward to reading the third book of the trilogy, I am a little hesitant to read it because I don't want the adventure to come to an end after finishing it! :(

[Speesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Sworn Brother', is number two in the 'Viking' series and is another excellent read. A good story, nicely written and exhaustively researched.
I thought at one point that it could perhaps do with having a bit more blood and thunder in it, but then I'm probably criticising it unfairly. I have, after all, just come off two rather more violent Viking sagas (by Robert Low and Giles Kristian). This is a whole different animal.
'Sworn Brother' and the 'Viking' series, is more of a thorough examination of the whole Viking Age. It is clear that Tim Severin has done his research and wants to show it - and wants us to learn.
The main character continues with his telling of his life and events (as though his saga has been found and read by a hostile Christian priest). He continues his journey around the known Viking world. Previously he was in Iceland, Greenland, Vinland and back, now he's off to Iceland again, several times, Norway, Denmark, Sweden (possibly), then into the far north, what is now Finland, then on to the east, (today's) Russia and down to Byzantium and the Arab world. All thoroughly possible in the Viking Age. There is a hint of what's to come in the final instalment and it also fits - though it would seem Mr Severin was incredibly lucky he found a Viking who got himself involved in so many pivotal events of the Viking era...
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the Vikings, their times, customs, beliefs and adventurous spirit.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

i Just happened to find this trilogy at a book sale. i loved the cover. i read the description. and then fell in love with the book, after reading it!!
Poor Thogils is constantly on the run. these books are so mixed with fact, mythology and fiction that i just had to look up on wikepedia on a few things.
fiction books that make you learn hmmm .... could be onto something.

[Paul Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago and picked it up again solely because I needed a tree book to read and I'm glad I did. I had forgotten how good a story this is. Thorgils is one traveling dude. I will do a full review at a later time. I want to go back and reread book 1 and then book 3. :-)

[Mikkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeg var vild med den første, og Sworn brother gør det lige så godt!
Jeg er vild med de anderledes aspekter af kulturen dengang, og at disse vikinge bøger handler mere om det spirituelle, religiøse, og fortællinger, og mindre om krig død og ødelæggelse.
Vi får et indblik i Seidr magi, og hvordan de troede på det overnaturlige. Men også på den mere logiske forklaring bag, og hvordan disse Vølvere udnyttede det til deres fordel. Bogen giver også indblik i den tidligere kultur i blandt andet Finland, Rusland, og Mellemøsten med Konstantinopel/Miklagaard som destination på rejsen :)

Jeg glæder mig til at gå i gang med sidste bind i Tim Severins fortolkning af den skandinaviske kultur for 1000 år siden :)

[Graham Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tim Severin is a very strange writer - he is perhaps best known for his experimental archaeology travelogues - and he certainly approaches the historical fiction genre with the same episodic technique. The structure of "Sworn Brother" suffers particularly in this regard, so much so that at the end of the book a character remarks on the improbable co-incidences of the plot. Severin must have wrung his hands over some of these as he often has to resort of magic or divine intervention to move his protagonist between the set piece scenes. The strange thing is - if one is willing to suspend disbelief - these books are kind of fun.

There is a silly chewing gum ad currently showing on Australian TV - where a fresh faced man smiles and says "hello" (with a pleasant breath no doubt), and is serially adopted by angry bikies.... burly policemen..... queer circus performers... "Hello ?"... Well that's the structure of "Sworn Brother".

If I'm feeling generous I could describe these stories as a string of pretty beads, the string being the flimsy plot - but each bead is an interesting cluster of historical lectures in its own right. We have hunting, hawking, and minting (with an aside on corruption), Icelandic marriage practices, the saga of Grettir , Jomsvikings, the Sami, and the New Varangian Guard. I had quite a good time with each of these and learned some little known facts to fill in the gaps of my historical knowledge.

If I were to be critical, I'd accuse Severin of being a bit Romantic about some of his Pagan Cultures - the Sami in particular in this book had that warm fuzzy glow common to all western depictions of noble savages - and I confess that I am more than a little skeptical about the reconstructions of period religious practices - but Serverin is certainly more cautious than some of the other writers attracted to this period of historical revisionism. As always - he comes up tops on the material archaeology. If you want to know about the differences in Sami ski technology, Severin's your man. If you want literary writing, believable characters and plots you probably should look elsewhere.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Severin does a great job of putting us in the age of brute strength, superstition, and adventure. He ties in the legend of Grettir the Strong with this trilogy of Thorgill the Viking, putting the reader in the thick of hand to hand combat and exploring this odd world of ice and rock of the Northern countries. I especially loved the weaving in of the struggles between the old religions with the new Christianity that was sweeping Europe, and it does a great job of explaining many of the pagan ideals that are still entangled with Christianity.
If you are looking for a book to cut the heat of summer, then follow Thorgill as he tromps through the pagan worlds of Vikings, Monasteries, and mythology.

[Daren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the first of this series, Sworn Brother reads as a part of a story, rather than as a stand alone novel. Again, there is the well researched and factually correct cultural and historical context appear correct, but the main character has got to be the most lucky man in the history of the world. There is limited plausibility in the story, but it is still an enjoyable read. However it is probably my fascination with the authors fantastic non-fiction works that makes this series enjoyable for me, rather than it's stand alone story.

[Miloš · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, if I turn around to the words I have written about the first book, I have to say that this, the second book makes me feel excited.
It is well written, with a very good plot, and a lot of interesting facts about the Northern people and their way of life.
I liked it. And I do not want to tell anything more about it.
I will let you that to find it by yourself.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will have to say this is the very first book I ever had "fun" reading; a pure joy. I stumbled upon this author's first book at Half Price Books, read it and loved it. Bought this second installment on Kindle and finished it on a cruise. It was so good, I could not wait to get back to my cabin room to pick up where I left off. The protagonist is a virtual "Forrest Gump" of the Viking Era...

[Ali Muhammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this 2nd Book of Viking even more than Odinn's Child...Thorgils adventure to England, Jomsburg, Lapland, and Constantinople is so alive.

check this link for my complete review:
http://toelistangan.wordpress.com/201...

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again Severin doesn't fail to use an existing saga to build into a brilliant novel. Well worth a read for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in Norse mythology. I loved this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Couldn't wait for the next book!

[James Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this book! Great world building. I really enjoyed it!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid book. Became a little bogged in it, although I don't know if that is any fault of the book, more of the reader. Anyway, definitely recommend if you read the first volume.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first one. The plot thickens

[Cherryl Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immense, powerful, deep and sinuously subtle. I enjoyed it.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Sworn Brother much more than Odinn's Child and found it all much more interesting when it was explained in author's notes/afterwords that the protagonist of the series, Thorgils, son of Leif the Lucky and Thorgunna, actually existed and is mentioned in the Saga of Erik the Red. It also explains that the story of two of the other characters in this novel, Grettir and Thorstein, is largely true and detailed in 'Grettir's Saga'. I think perhaps this knowledge made the characters all feel a lot more rounded in this one and I was able to feel more of a connection to them. I think Odinn's child was mainly more of a build up to this one.

Thorgils seems to settle down longer in places as well so we saw more of the relationships develop between all the different characters, making it all seem more realistic. I also liked that female characters featured a lot more and that it dealt with love and relationships which we did not see much of in the first book.

Again, like the first in the series, the text is preceded by a letter from the monk Aethelred who found the hidden records of Thorgill's adventures in the monastery and is sending them on to Abbot Geraldus to ask what should be done with them. It hints that things have progressed on from the first novel here, perhaps also suggesting they may have originally been intended to be one single book, because the letter states that:

"Alas, I must warn you that many times the work is even more disturbing than its antecedent. So deeply did the author's life descend into iniquity that many times I have been obliged, when reading his blasphemies, to set aside the pages that I might pray to Our Lord to cleanse my mind of such abominations and beseech Him to forgive the sinner who penned them".

Unfortunately, Sworn Brother does not pick up immediately where Odinn's Child leaves off as Thorgils was still at sea in a boat at the end of that one telling tales of his adventures to his rescuers. Instead it opens with "I lost my virginity - to a King's Wife"! (although it does go back and explain a bit about his rescue later on).

There were a few typos (as there were in Odinn's Child) which distracted me a little bit but overall I was pleased with this one - much more character development, I enjoyed the hawking scenes near the beginning of the novel, and all the well-researched bits about Norse mythology and beliefs in magic and the spirits. Actually left me quite eager to read the third one (King's Man).

[a.g.e. montagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tim Severin è uno che si diverte. Era ancora un under graduate ad Oxford quando nel 1961 intraprese il primo dei suoi viaggi, che solo anni dopo sarebbero diventati resoconti—o travelogues, per usare un termine di moda. A quel primo exploit, appropriatamente sulle orme di Marco Polo, ne seguirono molti altri, sempre sulla scorta di un’autorità letteraria storica, o non di rado narrativa: Giasone degli Argonauti, Sindbad delle Mille e una notte, Ulisse, Genghis Khan, e avanti di questo passo. Tra 1976 e 1977, Severin si costruì un’imbarcazione secondo le tecniche in uso all’epoca di San Brendano (VI sec.), per dimostrare che la Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis narra di un viaggio nientemeno che al Nuovo Mondo. E riuscì a replicare la presunta traversata dell’oceano, con tanto di soste alle Ebridi e in Islanda. L’ultima sua impresa, nel 1999, seguì il tragitto del Pequod.

A quel punto, a sessant’anni compiuti, Severin deve aver pensato di averne combinate a sufficienza. I suoi travelogues si vendono a secchiate, e gli hanno guadagnato anche riconoscimenti ufficiali. Ma il nostro Tim non sa starsene quieto, e ha iniziato a comporre cicli di narrativa storica. Ovviamente, non avendo più l’impegno dei suoi viaggi, gli rimane più tempo per la scrittura; tanto che l’intera trilogia di cui questo volume è il secondo capitolo è stata pubblicata in un singolo anno, il 2005.
Ora, non sottilizziamo sul fatto d’iniziare la lettura di una trilogia a partire dal capitolo di mezzo: ho avuto gentilmente il volume in prestito da un’aNobiana mia concittadina, che a sua volta l’ha acquistato a meno di €3 (l’immagine del secchio, poco sopra, non era casuale).

Protagonista della saga Viking è Thorgils Leifsson: nato alle soglie dell’anno Mille in Groenlandia, nei possedimenti terrieri del padre; cresciuto in Irlanda, Islanda, Scozia e ovviamente Vinland; che vichingo sarebbe, altrimenti. Non so quanti di questi dettagli facciano parte del primo volume della saga, e quanti invece costituiscano semplicemente il background del personaggio. Nell’uno o nell’altro caso, il primo difetto della saga è evidente: Thorgils soffre di un involontario Wanderlust pari solamente a quello del suo creatore, e nel corso dei suoi vagabondaggi riesce ad essere presente praticamente a tutti gli eventi chiave del periodo, sopra il Mare del Nord e non solo. All’inizio di questo secondo volume lo troviamo, appena diciannovenne, a letto con Aelfgifu, regina e moglie nientemeno che di Canuto il Grande, re vichingo d’Inghilterra (e a chi stesse pensando che il nome Aelfgifu è il dettaglio più inverosimile dell’intera questione, faccio notare che questi sono personaggi storici), alla cui corte Thorgils è arrivato accompagnando il suo maestro, un aedo islandese. Ed ecco il secondo difetto: fin dal primo capitolo, Severin strizza tutti gli occhi strizzabili agli appassionati di storia nordica, in modo fin troppo smaccato: gli scaldi, le kenningar, il martello di Thor, Tyr & Gleipnir & Fenrir...

Al contempo, è chiaro che dietro la narrazione c’è una vasta ricerca storica, spero accurata, e che l’autore non perde occasione di usare il suo personaggio per svelarci man mano nuovi dettagli della vita in quel periodo e a quelle latitudini. Scopriamo così delle rivalità politiche tra vichinghi pagani e sassoni cristiani; delle norme che regolano il conio regale; dei vichinghi di Jom; e avanti spoilerando.

Certo, Thorgils gode di un tasso di paraculaggine strepitoso: dopo aver guarda caso ricevuto l’invito ad unirsi al seguito di Aelfgifu nella visita regale di costei a Northampton, viene sbrigativamente assegnato come aiutante all’addestratore dei cani da caccia, che però guarda caso è anche falconiere privato della regina, il cui migliore uccello appartiene ad una specie che vive guarda caso solamente in Groenlandia, &c.
L’apice del parossismo si raggiunge con l’entrata in scena di Grettir il Forte, figura (forse) storica cui è perfino dedicata una saga islandese, la Grettis saga Ásmundarsonar. Per la cronaca, il titolo originale del volume, Sworn Brother, ovvero “fratello di sangue”, fa riferimento appunto al legame tra Grettir e Thorgils; e anche il cinematografico titolo italiano si ricollega alle vicende di Grettir. Senonché nelle pagine di Severin Grettir è perseguitato da una sfiga di proporzioni quasi cartoonesche: dovunque vada ci scappa il morto, possibilmente più d’uno, e a causa della sua pessima fama Grettir viene sistematicamente incolpato. Una sorta di Will E. Coyote a rovescio.

Severin usa in fin dei conti la stessa tecnica narrativa impiegata dai Wu Ming per il loro Q: inserire un personaggio fittizio come un foglio di carta nelle crepe della storia. Il problema è che Thorgils Leifsson è il peggior prezzemolino dell’anno Mille: in pochi anni gira buona parte dell’Europa del Nord (e non solo, con un periodo in particolare di pendolarismo tra il continente e l’Islanda, che insomma non è propriamente dietro l’angolo), rimbalzato da un colpo di scena all’altro, scivolando tra le mansioni più disparate, scampando alle sventure che invece di volta in volta fanno piazza pulita dei suoi contatti; e chi tra loro rimane in vita ricompare con un tempismo sospetto.
Questo si rivela però, tipicamente, anche il maggior pregio dell’opera: che è avvincente, avventurosa, condotta sapientemente con un ritmo che cattura il lettore. Tra i romanzi d’intrattenimento questo meriterebbe forse più del giudizio (solamente) buono che gli ho dato io; ma di solito io non leggo romanzi d’intrattenimento, e devo quindi misurarlo con il metro che uso per Melville e Omero.

Ah, lo scorso agosto è uscito Saxon: The Book of Dreams, primo capitolo di una trilogia ambientata ai tempi di Carlo Magno, annunciata come follow-up (meglio sarebbe dire prequel) di Viking. Per i medievalisti sarà imperdibile.

[Lurdes Teixeira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, este é o segundo livro de uma trilogia
- O herdeiro de Odin;
- Irmãos de sangue
- O Agente de rei

Por norma, mesmo sendo uma trilogia os livros dão para ler isolados. Este lê-se bem isolado, não se sente falta de nada anterior à história, mas é um livro "vazio". Nem consigo bem explicar o que sinto em relação a ele. Não tem a típica história básica que se desenrola para um objetivo. É uma história, com várias histórias em que nenhuma das histórias tem algo realmente relevante ou interessante. Parece mesmo o meio de algo. Como a descrição de cenas para se perceber a personagem, mas fica a faltar então a história "grande"...
Demorei imenso tempo a ler outra vez e só o acabei ontem porque nos últimos dias me obriguei a ler para ver se o terminava. E cheguei ao fim e só pensei: grande desilusão.. foi isto? O título é sobre irmãos de sangue mas eles só estão juntos uma dúzia de páginas, sem nada de relevante..
Sério... a capa é gira, fica giro na estante, mas o resto.. nop...

[Roldegar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il secondo volume della saga norrena di Tim Severin si mantiene a un alto livello narrativo, benché in quest’opera l’autore non sappia astenersi dallo sommergere il lettore di informazioni storiche, talvolta rallentando il ritmo della trama. Thorgils Leifsson, protagonista appena diciottenne, non sempre è parte attiva del racconto, ma in più occasioni è relegato a essere un semplice spettatore. Questo permette all’autore di renderlo partecipe a momenti significativi del XI secolo, senza tuttavia interferire più di tanto con il loro svolgimento. Come nel primo libro, Severin eccelle nel descrivere le pratiche religiose di tribù pagane, con una tale minuziosità (a volte eccessiva) che mettono ben il luce il grande lavoro di documentazione che c’è alla base di quest’opera. Imperdibile per chiunque abbia interesse a scoprire un alto medioevo più selvaggio, popolato dagli ultimi discendenti dei più grandi guerrieri del nord Europa.

[Wyktor Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sequel to Odinn's Child. This book takes Thorgils to the land of the Sami and he learns a little of their ways and beliefs. Then he journeys with the ruthless fur traders, who attack villages and take slaves along the way. Thorgils eventually ends up in Miklagard, the Norse name for Constantinople.
Like Odinn's Child this book is very well researched and offers the reader a view into life at the beginning of the ninth century AD. I highly recommend this trilogy to all lovers of adventure, history, and Vikings. A bloody good read!