5/8/2023 0 Comments Literature 0 ad 1100 ad![]() Many weird tales of the North even came from within the region itself, and when newly literate Scandinavians began to re-work their oral traditions into written form after 1100 AD, these myths of their past underlay newer legends and stories serving to support the development to Christian national monarchies. It was Europe’s last bastion of recalcitrant paganism. Since ancient times, the North has been considered as a place that exuded evil: it was the end of the world, the abode of monsters and supernatural beings, of magicians and sorcerers. A remote location, harsh climate, a boundless and often mountainous wasteland, complex ethnic composition, and strange ways of life: all contributed to how the edge of Europe was misunderstood by outsiders. The history of the Far North is tinged by dark fantasies. ![]() “Myths and Magic in the Medieval Far North is a welcome addition to the discussion about the role of the high north in the formation of the Norwegian kingdom and the interactions between the Sámi and the Norsemen.” (Sirpa Aalto, in Speculum, 98/1, 2023, p. “This volume marks an important step along the way to a strengthened understanding of the subtle nuances of a somewhat obscure history for the Far North and reveals the fundamental importance of interdisciplinarity for fields where evidence might be fragmentary.” (Roderick McDonald, in Parergon, 38/2, 2021, p. Recommended reading for anyone interested in this vanished world.” (Neil Price, in The Medieval Review, 21.11.08) ![]() (…) as the studies collected here are thought-provoking, original, and open up exciting new paths into the editors’ New North. There is also a useful index of people and places, in addition to the general listing. ![]() “The book’s production values are of high quality, with some exceptionally clear maps and a few well-chosen illustrations, all in colour. ![]()
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