People automatically think of the Northlands when they picture Vikings. Indeed, the book explains that Norsemen is a play on the word North. Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland are all integral to the Vikings. The author explains that despite the popular notion that Vikings only expanded southward, they also went into arctic and Russian territories. A reader gradually recognizes the expansiveness of the Viking's reach and adventure. The chapter traces their relationship between Icelanders, the Sarni, and other little-known people like the Knives and Finnars. Importantly, the narrative also follows traders such as Ohthere as they traversed the cold, bleak, but beautiful regions near the arctic seeking resources and selling what he had. The novel shows how the trade for commodities such as furs, wool, linen, and rings was essential to the Viking's expansion (Barraclough 73). Another credit to Barragclough's narrative skills is making relatable references that help a reader with little knowledge of the topic get a more vivid picture.

Any literature about the Viking and Norse society would be incomplete without their religion, supernatural elements, and magic. After all, these are some of the most famous things that people know about Northlands. The author occasionally details the significance of witches, trolls, giants, monsters, and rituals that seem exotic and entertaining. They give a sense of wonder that contextualizes Norse life and beliefs.

The average reader might know the Vikings were adventurous. However, the book puts it into perspective. Barraclough shows how they moved even to North America, thus dispelling the common perception that they only went to Europe. Readers might be surprised to read that some of Viking's sagas include stories about Africa (Barraclough 343). Therefore, the author gives Norsemen an expansive view rather than the narrow focus some works use when they limit Vikings to warriors fighting in Europe.

Barraclough traveled to many of the Nordic destinations she mentions in the book. She also acknowledges that most information about Viking comes from the outside and does not tell much of how they saw themselves and experienced the world.  Her experiences in these places complement the numerous primary and secondary sources from which she gets her information. The book heavily relies on translated Viking Sagas, which have extensive first-hand information about the Viking's adventures and experiences across many centuries. Although she mainly uses them as references, they are critical in immersing the reader into the narrative to get glimpses of how Norsemen saw their world. The book also uses numerous illustrations, such as pictures, drawings, maps, and historical artifacts. Overall, such elements allow the reader to relate to much of the content. At nearly 400 pages long, the book has considerable information on Vikings. It provides sufficient information about Norsemen. It also avoids being overbearing and providing too much information or overwhelming the reader with anecdotes and facts. However, it is not a book a reader can finish in one sitting.

One minor drawback is that although the book seeks to explain Viking Voyages, it does not off er much information on how they traveled the sea. The Viking Longship is a core part of Viking seafaring past since it allowed to traverse large water bodies. However, it receives little mention in the book. Barraclough does not explain how the ships worked or navigated across the Atlantic Ocean or Baltic Sea.

Arguably, the book's most significant strength comes from Barraclough's conversational tone and relatively simple grammar. It prevents the narrative from becoming a boring narration of facts and occurrences about an ancient tribe. Instead, she gives the Vikings life, so the reader understands they were complex people. The book also reminds a reader that 'Vikings' and 'Norsemen' are only convenient terms for many cultures that once lived across several countries and centuries (Barraclough360). Additionally, even though they were significantly distinct from people living in other European regions, the book humanizes them. For instance, Barraclough shows the Northlands were not immune to the fear of witchcraft, so Norsemen had their fair share of witch-trials.

The novel started by addressing the Viking stereotype as bloodthirsty barbarians, it concludes by showing how stories evolve. Stories are different depending on which side the narrator belongs to. Consequently, history has gradually shaped Vikings into adventurous and romantic heroes. Barraclough reiterates the irony that without narration, stories disappear, but the narration also transforms them.

The book uses a creative and engaging narrative. It is a good recommendation for anyone who might be curious about Vikings, their way of life, and their historical significance. The author covers multiple Viking-related topics, so she gives her audience a sufficiently wide scope. Therefore, Beyond the Northland s is also an ideal first book for a person who might want to delve deeper into Vikings. The reader enjoys the book because of the saga's entertainment value and because it is very informative on Vikings.

Works Cited

• Barraclough, Eleanor Rosamund. Beyond the Northland s: Viking voyages and the old Norse sagas. Oxford University  Press, 2016