When author Hilary Green heard that the long-forgotten site of the Battle of Brunanburh (937) had been located not far from where she lives, she had to find out more… Everyone knows about the Battle of Hastings, but how many of us have heard of the Battle of Brunanburh? Yet the outcome of this battle […]
The power of alliance in the Viking Age
Matthew Harffy is well known for his Bernicia Chronicles, set in Northumbria in the turbulent mid-7th century. For his new book he moves place and era, and his research has led him to ask an intriguing question: were there two kings of Wessex who could claim to be called ‘the Great’? My latest novel, Wolf […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 20, The Reckoning
SPOILER ALERT. A number of characters meet their ends in this episode. One death, at least, has been anticipated for some time. One is a total surprise, so if you haven’t seen this episode yet, read on at your peril. (And now you can’t resist, can you?) The Reckoning has elements of King Lear, Richard […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 19, On The Eve
Before I recap events in Vikings Episode 19, On The Eve, in which Ivar and Co. land in Repton, and King Ecbert sends his son, Prince Æthelwulf , to fight them, let’s have a look at the historical timeline: King Ecbert died in 839. King Ecbert’s son, Æthelwulf, died in 858. Ivar the Boneless and […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 18, Revenge
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. I mean, really. In Revenge, Vikings series creator/writer Michael Hirst takes a walk on the dark, disgusting side and forces us to go with him. Thanks a lot. So if you are not into equating ritual human sacrifice with sexual penetration, or you are not eager to watch a graphic depiction of […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 17, The Great Army
The underlying theme of this week’s episode of Vikings appears to be ‘Vengeance and the Alpha Male’. The women are around, to be sure, but in this episode they are mere ciphers – items to be acquired (Margrethe and Tanaruz), threatened (Lagertha), vilified (Judith) or put to whatever use the men see fit (Astrid in […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 16, Crossings
The title this week seems to refer to three different kinds of CROSSINGS. The first would be the journey that Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and company take, crossing a wide expanse of sea to reach the Mediterranean. The second might be a reference to double crossing, as Bjorn’s companions Harald (Peter Franzén) and Halfdan (Jasper Pääkkönen) […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 15, All His Angels
Spoiler Alert! Reader Beware. As the episode opens, King Ecbert (Linus Roache) has decided to deliver his ‘frenemy’ Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) into the hands of King Aella, who will very happily kill the viking leader. Tormented by guilt at this decision, Ecbert agrees to Ragnar’s request to speak alone with his son before Ecbert sends Ivar back […]