The Farfarers: Before the Norse

by Farley Mowat

Mysterious Longhouses in the Arctic, ancient stone beacons in Newfoundland—are they evidence of Europeans who crossed the Atlantic before A.D. 1000? Farley Mowat advances a controversial new theory about the first visitors to North America.

Mowat's Westviking: The Ancient Norse in Greenland and North America (1965) was highly influential in helping to establish the belief, now commonly held, that the Norse visited North America some 500 years before Columbus. And yet "a worm of unease" plagued Mowat even then, a vague feeling that he hadn't gotten it quite right. He spent the next 30 years in search of a theory that would explain inconsistencies in the archaeological evidence (such as carbon-dated ruins not left by the Inuit, but that predated the arrival of Vikings in Newfoundland by hundreds of years). Now in The Farfarers he asserts that another Indo-European people he calls the "Alban" preceded the Norse by several centuries.

Throughout The Farfarers, Mowat skillfully weaves fictional vignettes of Alban life into his thoughtful reconstruction of a forgotten history. What emerges is a bold and dramatic panorama of a harsher age: an age of death-dealing warships and scanty food supply, of long, cold journeys across the night sea into unknown lands.

"A spellbinding story . . . told by a master storyteller at the top of his form."
—The Globe and Mail

"The book is a fascinating glimpse of yesteryear and offers brief histories on the Celts, Saxons, Vikings, Inuits, and other peoples of the northern hemisphere. Written in vigorous, picturesque prose."
—The Edmonton Sun

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada, Travel, Adventure, World History, American History

377 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Farley McGill Mowat was a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.

Many of his most popular works have been memoirs of his childhood, his war service, and his work as a naturalist. His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books.

Mowat studied biology at the University of Toronto. During a field trip to the Arctic, Mowat became outraged at the plight of the Ihalmiut, a Caribou Inuit band, which he attributed to misunderstanding by whites. His outrage led him to publish his first novel, People of the Deer (1952). This book made Mowat into a literary celebrity and was largely responsible for the shift in the Canadian government's Inuit policy: the government began shipping meat and dry goods to a people they previously denied existed.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship RV Farley Mowat was named in honour of him, and he frequently visited it to assist its mission.

Reviews

[Bgmcleod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is about the Albans and the theory that these Europeans had a presence in North America a thousand years ago. The Albans were the people who populated Europe before the arrival of the Celtic Indo-Europeans (The Basque people are descendants of this group.) They were pushed out, into Alba (Britain) northward into Pictland (Scotland,) the outer islands, Iceland, Greenland, and finally North America. The author makes a case that these people originally colonized Iceland and Greenland, not the Norse. If you enjoy historical mysteries, and stories about "what happened before...? you will like this book.

[Tom Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Anyone who knows me knows I really enjoy historical fiction because I love good storytelling and I love history - not the events themselves, but how it affected people and how they responded to it; how they live their lives through the events. So it should be no surprise that I enjoy this book, The Farfarers. It was fascinating for several reasons: it is somewhat controversial (historically speaking); Mowat presents the evidence of the likelihood that Europeans migrated to North America several hundred years before Leif Erikson; and although it has the scope of a full-on history book, Mowat wrote it in a more narrative style. He presents the evidence and his conclusions in the context of a people group and their lives, tracing fictional generations to tell the story of the migration of the Alban people across the Atlantic by way of Iceland, Greenland and Labrador to Newfoundland, Canada. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history, people groups, and factual narratives. I only gave it 4 starts however, because it does digresses in some places into more of a textbook style, requiring some perseverance in staying with it.

[Mike Slates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book with an almost comical view of the authors thesis, that people from Northern Scotland were in North America long before the Norse, and finished the book quite convinced not only of it's possibility, but of it's probability.

[John Tendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Mowat worth it, this prehistory Irish seafarers

[Rick Caster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating combination of archaeology, history, and speculation about the first europeans to come to north America, from my new favorite Canadian writer.

[Joe White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally agree with most of the author's observations and assumptions. There is something about the writing style that makes this book a long drawn out read. Several portions are describing geography that isn't commonly familiar to most people.

This book would be an excellent exercise to re-present in a modern multimedia format. Maps of each place named would enhance the reading experience greatly, particularly if individual place names used in the text were marked and distinct. Any new material regarding DNA testing in the region of Newfoundland, Scotland, Greenland, etc. could be a valuable supplement. Images of the rock cairns from multiple perspectives would be helpful. Images of what is left of the wildlife in the region would be an enhancement. Images of the navigation issues, including wind-batttered shores, sea conditions during tide changes, harbor entrance perspectives, etc., all would really enhance the message and clarity of understanding for the reader.

For me, following the repetitive descriptions of the natural scenery and wildlife, as applied to differing locations that could only be imagined in relation to other locations already described, bogged down the central message of the migration and settlements of a thousand years ago which are not acknowledged by mainstream archaeologists.

[Thomas Vree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mowat posits the theory that Iceland, Greenland and Canada were discovered long before the Norse. The Albans, a culture who predate the Celts or the Picts, or the Angles or the Saxons, driven ever further north by successive waves of invasions, up into the islands off Scotland. When Viking raids begin striking at the British Isles they have nowhere left to flee. Being seafarers who had been chasing “valuta” or ivory for centuries they were already well aware of Iceland and Greenland as rich hunting grounds. Fleeing there, they settled Iceland. When the Vikings found them they of course did what they were wont to do - murder, pillage, rape and enslave. So they fled West again, this time to Greenland. When the Vikings found them there, they fled West once again, this time to Canada.

It is all very speculative of course, and many “proper” historians scoff at his notions. He stretches the evidence further than he likely should, and his work includes passages of overt fiction. But I have to say I found it a very engrossing narrative. History is written by the victors as they say, so it is not entirely inconceivable that it is different than it has been written

Fascinating read if you have any interest in British history, seafaring, exploration and alternative views of history.

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farley Mowat does it again. Best known because his book Never Cry Wolf was made into a live-action film by Disney, and a 5-star film it is, this book has fascinating historical implications on every page (at least for history nerds). When he previously wrote about the Vikings and their expeditions to Vinland— Canadian Maritime provinces— he was unconvinced that they were the first Europeans to explore North America. This book fleshes out his theory that there were folks from the British Isles who were driven across the ocean by the murderous Vikings, took up residence in Labrador and Newfoundland, and left traces of their existence. Great stuff!

[Richard Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling look at an alternative theory of the first European settlers in Northeastern Canada. Makes amazing sense. Well documented.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. The writing style is a little “difficult” as it tends towards “scholarly” writing but the information and speculations are thought provoking. I would suggest having detailed maps of Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador handy otherwise it could be more difficult to follow the “migration” patterns. If you enjoy learning about human population movement, this book is for you.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mowat seems to think there were visitors to America before the vikings. He calls them Alba and they came from what is now England. His view is from Canada and whether it applies to what is not the USA is not covered. But what I found most facinating is several "long Houses" that were being investigated. The stone walls were in the shape of a ship or boat. They found not wood structure for the roof and indeed there were no trees in these areas. But then Mowat came up with the answer. They used the boat they came in for the roof and upper structure of the longhouse. That is why the foundation is in the shape of a ship; it was the foundation for the ship turned over. The book is very interesting and well done. For those interested in the pre-columbian days of America it is a must. Also his book Westviking.Nice pictures and illustrations showing ruins and ships and what the longhouse might have looked like.

[Gene Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting fresh look at the colonization of the North American northeast

Careful research , an open mind , lifelong curiosity, and years of coastal boating equipped Mowat with the unique skills and insights needed to synthesize this superb fresh look at the historic migrations from northern europe to Iceland, greenland , Newfoundland, and the Canadian Arctic. Goodbye to Leif Erickson as the first European in North America. Key insight: the generational comingling that takes place over centuries.

[Danielle Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. It's an interesting concept, and I liked the picture of these people that Mowat painted. However, it's technically a non-fiction book, and therefore, I have to criticize its lack of evidence. Little of Mowat's theory has any supporting evidence other than a few unusual archeological sites in northern Canada, Greenland and Iceland, and he fills in the gaps with pure speculation. I think this would have been best presented as a novel.

[Dwight · Rating 1 out of 5]

Farley Mowat is full of shit, in my opinion. This is an attempt by an old kook to take credit for what a responsible anthropologist might spend years accumulating data to support. Some old rocks and the disappearance of a species of seal indicates a new history of northern people. In my opinion the most over-celebrated author in Canada.

[David R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

A pretended history. Mowat is inventive but persistantly refuses to adhere to even the minimal standards of archaelogy and historical inquiry. Anyone who cites more of his own works in footnotes than all others combined should warrant a wide berth.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author argues that the Vikings were not the only Europeans to reach North America before Columbus but were themselves preceded by earlier unknown Europeans. He bases his observations on visits to little known or explored sites. This is an interesting alternative history.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm biased. I think so much of Farley Mowat that it's hard for me to be critical. He's wicked smart. A lot of his writing comes from first hand experiences which he tells in such a way as to make me feel like he's there. He thinks for himself without being worried about looking stupid. And...he has an awesome sense of humor.

So it's no surprise that I really liked this book. He tells his theory about how Alban (Picts) people moved from northern English isles hunting and following the walrus populations as they were discovered, depleted, and rediscovered, etc. Also how conflicts with other populations of people from around the island such as Celts, Scoti, and later Vikings pushed them off their ancestral lands into Iceland, Greenland, and eventually North America where they intermingled with the Tunit who also traveled in those circles. His theory is that they were the first true European settlers to arrive in North America.

What's so cool about all these theories is eventually DNA evidence will be able to prove or disprove this hypothesis. I'm inclined to think it is correct.

My favorite part about this book was how he wrote about his theory, with supporting evidence, scholarly...blah,blah,blah, then he would write a narrative on how he felt it could have played out. Sometimes it felt a little repetitious and speculative, but I didn't mind because the narrative would help me file away the facts I just read in a cohesive way. The narrative also brought out interesting details on how they journeyed.

An unexpected result of reading this book makes me see how trade between peoples creates imbalances. They once used walrus in a sustainable way, for food, skins for boats, blubber, and ivory. Once they discovered a market for walrus ivory they rapidly hunted the walrus to extinction in many areas.

An isolated population of people is inclined to reach a neutral homeostasis with their environment. A population with a trade network creates social stratification, exhaustion of natual resources, population imbalances, which results in famine, crime, disease, exploitation of humans... Sigh...

[Laurel Rockliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't a "riveting read"!!  ....but I found his theory of those Albans beating the  Vikings to North America thought provoking.  Of the Albans themselves too..... and what little evidence they left behind of their existence.   And as for themselves as a recognisable people - well, after centuries and centuries, of inter-mingling their genes with all those other peoples they encountered - only DNA could sort that out ..  maybe, or maybe not ... because there is no Alban "yardstick"  left to compare with.!   So.... did they exist ??!!

Interesting about the "old" population of Newfoundland, calling themselves Jakatars, a real mixture of DNA.

But what I got from the read anyway, was a more mundane awareness of Newfoundland (I want to visit!), and that Labrador coast ..even that west Greenland coast with it's fiords/inlets which I had no idea about, let alone that they were, or had been, inhabited!  And by Christians, no less !   And of course Iceland (Tilli); the Faroe Islands, and Shetlands and Orkney s.    My g grandfather was from Yell in the Shetlands, so probably of Viking stock.

Those skin boats must have been sturdy, to carry cattle, and horses.  I liked that story about that suspected-left-behind Viking Ari, and his cohorts, riding horses in the year 900/1000  (can't remember) - way before the Spanish took the first horses to the Americas, which are supposed to be the first ones to reach there.  

Hmmmm.. well, as to how accurate and/or credible the story is, it's opened my eyes to the North Atlantic, and that it wasn't just a frozen desert. It was always well peopled.
The upturned FarFarers boats on the low stone-walled base, for roof shelter was fascinating too.  Such a clever but logical thing to do. 

[Harvey Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book about life in the western Atlantic...Greenland, Iceland, Newfoundland ...written by a contemporary Canadian author who pieces together how these areas were peopled, conquered, hunted, and raided over time. The author uses written history, archeology, interviews with current peoples, and personal site visits.

Often the same areas had multiple cultures occupying the same land over thousands of years. Ultimately, the advent of better sea ships brought hunters and raiders who basically conquered many of the societies, be they farmers or indigenous peoples. The entire region became a dangerous free for all, with guns and canons being used against peoples without such technology.

Very interesting to see the flow of societies, cultures, and economies change over a 1500-2000 year period. Also the realization that the current inhabitants are descendants of societies that used to exist.

[James Frase-White · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? Mowat tells a well-researched tale about the first peoples to reach Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the other lands between Europe and the west. And of course, coming the other way, the peoples who came from West to East, the indigenous tribes. Many of us have studied various settlements in the North East, including Iceland, Greenland, and the famous first settlements on the mainland of North America. Mowat takes scholarship to new levels, with extensive covering of all texts and tales. The amazing trade of all peoples for the ivory tusks of Walrus, and later cod fishing. The notoriety of the Norsemen is well noted, without horned helmets, but with a thirst for blood that rivaled that of many of the religious people who came making claim on the land that their god led them to. The great Canadian chronicler of the north lives up to his grand reputation in this exhaustive study.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in 2001 and it’s been mocking me from my bookshelf for all that time. I’m glad I finally picked it up. It’s an historic/archeological book theorizing that Europeans were not the first to travel west to North America, that in fact many centuries before Columbus, there were non-indigenous people migrating to Canada, Alaska, Iceland, and Greenland. These people were advanced seafarers but not explorers—their travel was to seek materials with which to live and to trade. They followed walrus and polar bears and seals in an attempt to live on. I especially resonated with the section on Vikings, who took raping and pillaging to the next level—marauding and claiming lands not to better them but to destroy, plunder, and move on. Humans may look different now, but human nature is much the same. My explorer-brain loved everything I learned in this book!

[Steve Majerus-Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of this volume is almost certainly utter balderdash, a kind of crazy make-believe history of a people who never existed. Some of it is explicitly fiction. Some is speculative nonsense spun from the thinnest strands of evidence. And yet. It may be that by inventing the story of a people who never were, Fowat sheds light on long-overlooked facts that may run counter to the mainstream narrative of what happened in the north Atlantic as humanity spread and the wild world fell to our greed and weapons. I admire this book's verve and its wholly admirable bid to force a reconsideration of what we think we know.

[Mark Geisthardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mowat presents in this book an alternate way of understanding how Northern Eurrpeans came to Iceland and Greenland and the northwest coasts of Canada. Spoiler alert, it wasn't the Vikings who led the way it was a people who had traveled from place to place to place in search of a place to live peacefully. While he doesn't present proof positive that this is what actually happened a thousand plus years ago he does present a very strong argument in support of it and backs it up with historical documents which point in the direction of his theory and interwoven in this is his telling the tale of a fictional boat which he places into this historical setting. This is a very good read!

[James Frase-White · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can one read Mowat without wishing to travel along? And that is exactly what I did, traipsing into territory with the earliest adventurers, fisherfolk, seal and tusk hunters long, long before the macho evangelical Italian seeking gold and spices for the monarchy in Portugal. And before another Italian gave the new continents his name.
With these Nordic seafarers we meet the native people, not to conquer but often as curiosities and compatriots who could aid in the oceanic discoveries. A delight of a book, told with Mowat's clear and unique style.
I read this several months ago, and finally reconnected with goodreads.

[Richard Brylczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This far-reaching story of the early visitors and settlers of the northern reaches of the west Atlantic provides many possibilities for ore-Columbian activity in the New World by European peoples. Mowat combines historical references with well-researched possibilities in a written equivalent of ancient oral sagas. Tje sweep of this book is outstanding. The references show outstanding research accomplished. The story is told from a European viewpoint. The aboriginal peoples and visitors from the West are described but are not the focus of this book. I read it on my Kindle which made understanding the maps a bit tedious, but yhis was an outstanding accounting ovf the topic.

[Flash Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun bit of speculative alternative archaeology/history. While I believe Farley Mowat's "Albans" are far more fantasy than reality, his research (both serious and anecdotal) paints a convincing picture for the existence of this curious people, their disappearance and their remnants. My only complaint would be I wished he'd better cited his sources - some of the claims in this book were absolutely fasinating, but could find very little of them online save for sources pointing me back to Farfarers or his prior work, Westviking.

[James Ronholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1998 - Farley lays out a really convincing argument for European travelers being in North America (Canada) "Before the Norse." Since I haven't really heard any main stream changes to theories around North American colonization it doesn't seem like he convinced enough historians/archaeologists but as he says in the book - it is hard to turn academics away from what they consider established fact.

The book lays out a lot of dry fact, mixed with supposition, and is sprinkled with the odd "vignette" of peoples that he s writing about

[Rod Innis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the Farley Mowat books that I have read. This too was a good well-written book.
The history of who first came to the Americas first is full of speculation. Mowat adds to that speculation but has
some pretty convincing evidence. We may never know for certain but it is fun to study and to speculate.
Farley Mowat has added a good addition to the always speculative histories written about this topic.

[Jimmy In]

The thesis of this book is that some of the original inhabitants of the northern part of the British Isles, Scotland especially, emigrated to Iceland, then to Greenland, and finally, to Newfoundland and Labrador to escape their enemies the Celts and later, the Norsemen. Mowat calls these people Albans, after the original name of Scotland, which was Alba. Mowat did decades of research and I think he makes a plausible case, but very few historians agree with him.

[John Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farley Mowat was brilliant and if you're looking for a great theory about what happened to the Picts, this is the book for you. I might not bring it up to some of your archaeologically-minded friends, but if you want to be laughed out of your academic-watering-hole of choice, that's up to you.
Is it a fun read? Absolutely. For a few bucks, it is entirely worth it. Would I spend more than a few bucks on it? No.