What do you think?
Rate this book
Swords from the North
Based on the life of Harold Hardrada.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
About the author
Henry Treece
105 books38 followersHenry 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 10, 2024
What a sad ending! The author’s voice took awhile to get accustomed to, but I ended up enjoying this. It’s sort of like a vague sketch of history and adventure strung together by the unique conversations and the many tragic deaths of the characters. I feel so bad for Maria…I’m not sure that Harald ever comprehended what she went through because of him. Ouch.
Here are a couple selections for your enjoyment:
“One evening when the stars shone through the dark indigo sky like pin pricks in a lantern shield, a group of Norsemen sat around the log fire that Harald always had built in an iron grid on his deck. And Eystein said, "Men grow big by suffering."’
And:
I come from Iceland-which even you may have heard of-and up there we have as many sheep and gulls as Orkney ever had or will have. I can see that your hand is creeping toward your ax, but that does not trouble me. Two of my friends stand directly behind you, waiting for you to lift it-then you will know no more." The big Swede looked around quite pleasantly and saw Wulf and Gyric with their hands on their weapons.
So he said, "I am by nature an inquiring man, Haldor Snorreson, and the motion of my hand toward my ax only showed my great interest in the conversation. But I think you are a liar and a fool, and I will be prepared to demonstrate both to you if I may, and without the persuasion of your friends who stand directly behind me."
And:
"I admire the way you Northmen speak with one another. In the old days, when my people were finding themselves and striking out at all who stood in their way, the captains spoke to the kings, and the soldiers to the captains, in the way you people speak. They spoke as straight as the arrow flies, which is the way that men should speak to each other. But now those good days are over, and in the name of courtesy men speak with one another in such riddles that it is hard to know what they mean half the time. Let me advise you, see that you always speak as you do now, and one day your peoples will grow to be truly great. For straight speech is a sign of strength, of honesty of purpose, and no people can stay great without these qualities."
Here are a couple selections for your enjoyment:
“One evening when the stars shone through the dark indigo sky like pin pricks in a lantern shield, a group of Norsemen sat around the log fire that Harald always had built in an iron grid on his deck. And Eystein said, "Men grow big by suffering."’
And:
I come from Iceland-which even you may have heard of-and up there we have as many sheep and gulls as Orkney ever had or will have. I can see that your hand is creeping toward your ax, but that does not trouble me. Two of my friends stand directly behind you, waiting for you to lift it-then you will know no more." The big Swede looked around quite pleasantly and saw Wulf and Gyric with their hands on their weapons.
So he said, "I am by nature an inquiring man, Haldor Snorreson, and the motion of my hand toward my ax only showed my great interest in the conversation. But I think you are a liar and a fool, and I will be prepared to demonstrate both to you if I may, and without the persuasion of your friends who stand directly behind me."
And:
"I admire the way you Northmen speak with one another. In the old days, when my people were finding themselves and striking out at all who stood in their way, the captains spoke to the kings, and the soldiers to the captains, in the way you people speak. They spoke as straight as the arrow flies, which is the way that men should speak to each other. But now those good days are over, and in the name of courtesy men speak with one another in such riddles that it is hard to know what they mean half the time. Let me advise you, see that you always speak as you do now, and one day your peoples will grow to be truly great. For straight speech is a sign of strength, of honesty of purpose, and no people can stay great without these qualities."
Displaying 1 of 1 review