The Wolf Age

The Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons and the Battle for the North Sea Empire

By: Tore Skeie

Narrated by: Michael Page

The first major book on Vikings by a Scandinavian author to be published in English reframes the struggle for a North Sea empire and puts listeners in the mindset of Vikings, providing new insight into their goals, values, and what they chose to live and die for.

The Wolf Age takes listeners on a thrilling journey through the bloody shared history of England and Scandinavia, and on across early medieval Europe, from the wild Norwegian fjords to the wealthy cities of Muslim Andalusia.

Warfare, plotting, backstabbing, and bribery abound as Tore Skeie skillfully weaves sagas and skaldic poetry with breathless dramatization as he entertainingly brings the world of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons to vivid life.

In the eleventh century, the rulers of the lands surrounding the North Sea are all hungry for power. To get power they need soldiers, to get soldiers they need silver, and to get silver there is no better way than war and plunder.

This vicious cycle draws all the lands of the North into a brutal struggle for supremacy and survival that will shatter kingdoms and forge an empire . . .

©2018 Gyldendal Norsk Forlag; English translation copyright 2021 by Alison McCullough (P)2022 Tantor

excellent history

if you are interested in Norse history start here, you will be satisfied but want more

Brilliant!

This is a masterful weaving into one synchronous, fascinating story of the many and varied developments during the Viking era among regions adjacent to the North Sea, and successfully makes sense of it all from a Scandinavian perspective.

Riveting history/Perfect pronunciation!

Couldn’t put this down. Fascinating. Got the paperback too. But hearing all the names pronounced correctly was wonderful. Excellent narration.

Enjoyed but I like history

A compelling overview, succinct yet detailed, The Wolf Age gives an interesting account of the entire Anglo-Saxon era, from the 450s to the eve of the Norman Conquest. Recommend.

Easy to fallow the timeline

Great listen, for an understanding of the latter days of the Viking age. For any true lover of early English and Viking history.

Scandinavian & English History around 1000

Interesting account of the invasions of England by Scandinavians around 1000.
Would have been helpful if there was a .pdf of maps and list of the players.

Great narrative about an exciting time!

I enjoyed the readability and the pace. Lots of digestible facts that paint great pictures.

Perspective matters

I appreciate the Scandinavian POV enhances my understanding of the human history. This will be integrated in to my inquiry into world history.

So. Dense.

This is not story telling or history staring or insight provision. This is a list of dense facts into a book with no relief. May be for you, wasn’t for me.