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The Long Ships  By  cover art

The Long Ships

By: Frans G. Bengtsson, Michael Meyer, Michael Chabon
Narrated by: Michael Page
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Publisher's summary

Bengtsson's hero, Red Orm-canny - courageous and above all lucky - is only a boy when he is abducted from his Danish home by the Vikings and made to take his place at the oars of their dragon-prowed ships. Orm is then captured by the Moors in Spain, where he is initiated into the pleasures of the senses and fights for the Caliph of Cordova. Escaping from captivity, Orm washes up in Ireland, where he marvels at those epicene creatures, the Christian monks, and from which he then moves on to play an ever more important part in the intrigues of the various Scandinavian kings and clans and dependencies. Eventually, Orm contributes to the Viking defeat of the army of the king of England and returns home an off-the-cuff Christian and a very rich man, though back on his native turf new trials and tribulations will test his cunning and determination.

Packed with pitched battles and blood feuds, and told throughout with wit and high spirits, Bengtsson's book is a splendid adventure that features one of the most unexpectedly winning heroes in modern fiction.

©1954, 2010 Frans G. Bengtsson; translation copyright 1954 by Michael Meyer; Introduction copyright 2010 by Michael Chabon (P)2017 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Long Ships

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Beautiful

This is a beautifully written book but only to be matched by the way it was read. Can’t wait for the movie... whenever that day may come.

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28 people found this helpful

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Wonderful!

Amazing!. A little bloody to start, but what an amazing historical picture of the spread of the Christian faith throughout Scandinavia. A beautiful story of courage and faith, and the power it produces.

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5 people found this helpful

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Viking piqueresque, wandering and plundering

Jolly and bloody with plenty of historical details, one adventure after another narrated with aplomb in a genuine Viking-sounding accent. A big boy's Tom Sawyer.

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2 people found this helpful

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amazing read for the traveling mind

I loved this book for the opportunity to travel from the seat of my car while working. It gave me the opportunity to be a viking in a Viking ship will set it in my car doordash eating my heart away. I will always remember my Adventures is a Viking. great read!

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GREAT Listen

Fantastic book, fascinating characters, travels and adventures. Told in "old english" helps to allow you to live the story. I'm a fan of The Last Kingdom and this just added to my enjoyment of all things Viking. I'm so glad I took a chance on this

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Who would think a Viking Story could be...

...humorous, witty and somewhat tongue-in-cheek? In the midst of doing what Vikings do (or what we think they did) we have a tale encompassing religious conversion, domestic angst and individual circumspection. A thoroughly likable collection of Brigands, but those listeners who are looking for Berserker carnage will be disappointed, nonetheless, it is, as the forward claims “a good story.”

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Outstanding story, excellent reading

Like Mark Twain, but it is about Vikings, profound and ridiculous at the same time, sorry when it was done.

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I didn't think I would love it as much as I did!

This captured my imagination, and my interest right away and held it the whole time. I can't recommend it more. Its a great adventure and a history and culture lesson all in one. The narrator is wonderful and does all of the characters so well. He is creative with his voices and characterizations. Well done!

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Great 👍

A great adventure of long ago, wish it was longer. Hope to find another or the next one in this story.

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A Very Good Book!

This is a faux history of a 10th century Viking swaggering and adventuring his way around Europe and North Africa. It's very easy listening and very enjoyable. At times I was reminded of the Ascent of Rum Doodle for reasons I could not begin to explain. The author only ever wrote a biography of a Swedish King in addition to this masterpiece, which is a pity, but I am grateful he wrote this. Apparently the most loaned library book in Sweden when people used libraries. If you like class fiction with an historical background that doesn't take itself too seriously this is the book for you.

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