Viking's Sunset

Viking Saga #3

by Henry Treece

Harald is now a mature man, and enjoying a peaceful life of farming with his wife and sons. When his village is attacked, he forms a crew of Vikings and pursues the raiders. The chase leads him across the Atlantic Ocean to the east coast of America. He and his crew encounter Inuit and then Native Americans. Harald's final fight takes place among the native tribes. In a great battle, it is revealed that he is a berserker.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Medieval

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Henry Treece (1911-1966) was a British poet and writer, who also worked as a teacher and editor. He wrote a range of works but is mostly remembered as a writer of children's historical novels.

Reviews

[Naaytaashreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Grummoch said, ‘There is little profit in talking to him yet. These berserks live in a closed world of conflict and brotherhood. It will be long before Knud Ulfson’s ears will be open to the voices of men, for he is in the battle-trance yet, and I doubt whether he could see his hand before his face. That is the way of berserks.”

This whole series was such an easy read.
However the second book was too long.
I think it should have been kept short just like the first and third book.

This was such a great story to an adventure coming to an end.
Reading through the series, we really see how Harald grew up from a boy to a man.
The responsibility, the people he grew up with, his adventures.


“Harald Sigurdson, I am a fool who has come to his senses. I obey you in all things. I love you in all things. I am your man. Let us now fight as brothers!’
Harald did not hear these words. For he too was a berserk. . . .”

[Christopher Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the last book of Henry Teece's Viking saga trilogy. I first read these books as a child in the 1960's and I rememembered them with much affection. It is not always a good idea to go back to books you liked as a child over 50 years later. However, I am pleased to say this tale did not disappoint. It is quite refreshing to read a story designed for children/young adults. The language is easy to read, the book is short and the narrative goes ahead at a cracking pace. This book tells the story of Harald Sigurdson who sets out with his crew of Vikings in a longship. Their aim is to avenge an attack on their village by a rival group of Vikings. Alas, a fierce storm blows the longship off course and they find themselves first in Iceland and then Greenland where they meet a tribe of Innuit. Following this adventure they travel even further west and make landfall on the American continent. In this new land the Northmen meet up and befriend the Native American tribe called the Beothuk. This is a classic adventure tale. For me personally it was very nostalgic and I was pleased that the story seems to have stood the test of time.

[Mael Brigde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, especially considering it is the conclusion of a trilogy of which I haven’t read the first two installments. Nevertheless, I enjoyed so many things about it — the historical settings, the characters and their interplay, and so on — that I contacted the library to see why I couldn’t take out the first book, despite it being in their collection. In the end, an inter-library loan has books one and two winging their way to me.

Now, this book came out in 1960. For its time, it is amazing in terms of how it perceives the Vikings and the Inuit and First Nations. Crikey, it even uses the word Inuit, not Eskimo. It doesn’t get everything right, about First Nations life or, I am sure, Viking, and most notably, what women there are stay absolutely in the background. That said, it is a good story and in many ways a heartwarming read with the clear intention of showing the humanity of all of the peoples encountered and the possibility of equal friendship among them. That is pretty cool, from where I sit. I look forward to reading [Viking’s Dawn] and [The Road to Miklagard].

[Dave Appleby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harald Sigurdson, whose Viking career has already been chronicled in Viking's Dawn and The Road to Miklagard, sets of on a voyage to revenge himself on a renegade Viking who has looted and burned Harald's own village. With his best mate Giant Grummoch and a crew of characters, he chases northwards to becomes the first Viking to visit Greenland and live with the Inuit; they then voyage on to North America.

As with the other books, this is concerned with bravery in battle and manliness. Cowardice and weakness are despised. Meeting a good death is everything. Women must stay at home, keep house and bring up children. It is a sobering reminder of the mindset not only of the Vikings but of writers for children as recently as 1960.

[Oussama El Marsani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, fairly short, beautifully written by giving very precise descriptions to the details,it expanded my vocabulary while i was reading it (learned many new words), i recommend it for anyone who would like to read about vikings and old scandinavian stories.

P.S: I really loved the Berserker's descriptions.

[Tony Tubb · Rating 4 out of 5]

In AD 780., Norse youth, Harald Sigurdson sails for the Road to Miklagard for treasure, a journey that puts him on the path to his nemesis.

[Jo Beale]

1967 penguin

[Mathias · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun writer!

[Garry Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Treece trip to North America. Vikings and Indians, it didn't get any better for a ten year old.

[Matilda Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harald's village was burnt down by a group of warriors. Some of Harald's men thought they should go after them as revenge and hunt them down. So Harald and a batch of warriors boarded his ship and sailed to find them. After weeks of voyaging, they found that their boat had been wrecked.

Across the sea, they saw the coast of Greenland. They befriended a warrior tribe there. The chief had two sons - Wawasha and Heome. Wawasha was a brave, young warrior, and Heome had lost the use of his hands, because of a childhood incident with a bear.

Unfortunately, whilst out hunting with Wawasha and Grummoch, Harald was ambushed. In the attack, Wawasha sadly died.

[Mikaiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

not the best of the series, but a great ending to the trilogy and consistent with the rest of the series. I remember reading this as a child in my public school library and to read it again so many years later, I felt that child's excitement again, but appreciated new facets of the book through my now-adult spectacles. I'm glad Goodreads helped me find this book again, and enabling me to purchase a copy for my collection.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is one of the greatest endings of a series that I have read because the hero dies in the end and becasue of the last scenes with him alive.

[Ernest Marlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book.