A Danish warlord long past his fighting days decides that he wants to share his life story with his family and an experienced story teller, hoping that his reputation will live on after his death. The realities of his old age and his vivid memories of his violent past provide the reader with a portrait of an unexpectedly complicated man. He doesn't match the popular image of the brutal Viking warrior.
The historical Viking generally known as Thorkell the Tall was one of the most important figures involved in Viking raids and invasions of England during the period 990-1016 A.D. David Mullaly provides a narrative that offers a plausible story of Thorkell's growth from the son of a murdered jarl in the Danish holding of Skane into a brilliant leader of warriors who defies a king, and then becomes a king-maker. Blood feuds were a familiar thing for the Vikings, and Thorkell's desire for vengeance is almost as strong as his love of personal honor. Although this novel is based on the historical record, like the popular musical
Hamilton
, it is a unique blend of history and imagination.
The Vikings defined themselves by their actions, and then by how they hoped to be remembered. Thorkell's life ended a thousand years ago, but this novel provides a memorable experience for both the knowledgeable Viking fan and the general reader. Thorkell would be pleased.
Fans of the fiction of Bernard Cornwell, Robert Low, and James L. Nelson will appreciate this historical novel. Mullaly's first novel,
Eadric and the Wolves
, deals with the same period from an English perspective.