In 1037, a senior civil servant of the Byzantine empire faces a tedious journey to Greece, escorting the Army payroll. His only companions are a detachment of the Empire's elite Guard, recruited from Viking Scandinavia.
When the wagon sheds a wheel, he passes the time talking with two veterans, who have a remarkable story to tell; the Viking discovery of America.As he records the story, years later, he also considers its effect on the fourth member of the party; a young Norwegian guardsman who went on to become King Harald Hardradi, who died invading England in 1066 …
Praise for Thomas Holt's historical novels:
- 'Witty, ironic … and achieves a deeply felt authenticity' NEW YORK TIMES
- 'A fascinating, gripping, moving story' THE TIMES
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'This is a very funny book
- like most great humour it bites deeper than would a sombre book on the same theme' THE WASHINGTON POST
Hardback:
£17.99
Published 03/03/2005
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