This September, join us for a new virtual book talk on The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered the World with Arthur Herman! Now out in paperback from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York Times historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist Arthur Herman’s epic story of this remarkable and truly diverse people was acclaimed on its 2021 release as “a fresh and wholly engaging reassessment of the legendary Vikings” (Booklist) and “a fine history of a people who deserve more attention” (Kirkus Reviews). In a follow-up to his 2021 talk at Scandinavia House on the book’s release, Arthur Herman returns to discuss themes that have gained new relevance over the past year — including recent archeological discoveries regarding the Viking legacy, Finland and Sweden’s application to join NATO, and the Viking context to the Marvel film Thor: Love and Thunder.
For millennia Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Swedes lived a remote and rugged existence among the fjords and peaks of the land of the midnight sun. But when they finally left their homeland in search of opportunity, these wanderers — including the most famous, the Vikings — would reshape Europe and beyond.
In The Viking Heart, Arthur Herman melds a compelling historical narrative with cutting-edge archaeological discoveries and DNA research to tell their story. He also explores how the Scandinavian experience has universal meaning, and how we can still be inspired by their indomitable spirit and the strength of their community bonds — much needed in our deeply polarized society today.
This event will take place as a Zoom webinar. Please ask questions in the chat or send them in advance to info@amscan.org.
“Honestly assesses the results of the Vikings’ past actions around the world and makes an evenhanded argument for the importance of Viking culture in U.S. history…As we wrestle with how to make our world a better, more equal place, The Viking Heart provides a framework for recognizing the importance of the past in shaping our present and future”—BookPage
About the Author
Arthur Herman is Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and author of nine books, including the New York Times bestseller How the Scots Invented the Modern World and Gandhi and Churchill. His novel Gandhi and Churchill was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Washington, DC.