Viking's Dawn

Harald and his father join the crew of a Viking ship, but Harald's father breaks his leg before the ship leaves and is unable to travel with the boat. Onboard is the captain, Thorkell, a brave and charismatic leader, as well as the captain's friend and rival, Ragnar. The Vikings set off, and soon see another ship, and the crews of the two ships battle, for there is treasure aboard the ship and the Vikings want it.

This is a story originally published in 1955, and it is filled with swords and axes and fighting and usurpation and heroism and danger and death. I am a person who never looks for books about swords and axes and fighting and usurpation and heroism and danger and death, but I was surprised to find that I enjoyed reading this story.

It's a story told without sentiment, and the world views of the characters are very different from the world views of most people today.

You won't find many books such as this today, but I imagine that lots of kids would love to read a story like this one.

—-Quotes from the book, with some spoilers—-

Here are a few quotes from the book. There are some spoilers in the quotes.



When Harald sees the man who is to be captain of the boat, he is captivated by him. But his father cautions him: ‘Harald's father, Sigurd, curled his lip a little disdainfully. “It is always thus, my son,” he said, “before a voyage. Men seem heroes in the torchlight at a feasting. But we must wait till the harsh salt cakes on their hands and the bitter wind tears their fine cloaks from them before we can judge whether they be true men or no.”'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 378-380). Kindle Edition.



Harald's father shares a little of his life philosophy with his son: ‘“So what can you change with all your worrying? You are but an ant crawling on a hunter's boot.”‘

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Location 479). Kindle Edition.



A discussion among two of the Vikings about the man who acted against the wishes of the captain:

‘But Kragge said, “And you are a child, Hasting, not to see that this Ragnar, being so ruthless, is such a leader as would stop at nothing once his mind was set toward a thing. He is the man to bring us to our hearts' desire. He is a man to be followed.” “Aye, and feared,” said Björn, turning his head in disgust. “Who thinks worse of a man for that?” said Kragge. “That is what a leader should be, for if we fear him it means that our enemies must surely fear him more!”'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 797-802). Kindle Edition.



A different way of looking at the world:

‘Thorkell was silent, for it was against the law for any man to prevent another from fighting, if he thought fit.'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 1011-1012). Kindle Edition.



When Harald was ill, and the other Vikings were almost without water:

‘No man had tasted water for two days, and they were too weak to battle any longer against the sea which seemed determined to keep them from the shore. Yet, even though they suffered agonies of thirst, they had agreed to let the sick boy have what water there was. Harald never knew this. No viking would tell him a thing like that.'

Henry Treece. Viking's Dawn (Kindle Locations 1281-1284). Kindle Edition.