From the longships that cleaved the northern seas to the sagas that shaped a people, Viking: Hammer of the North brings the Viking world to life with clarity and authority. Magnus Magnusson traces the rise of Norse culture—its voyages, gods, and rites—showing how myth and history braided together to forge a fierce, inventive civilization. Illustrated and richly contextualized, this book is an accessible guide for readers who want the sweep of Viking history without losing the human stories at its heart.