I'm glad I missed the Viking years. I don't know which is worse, being a Viking, or being a villager in one of the towns they plundered. Either way, life isn't long. In one of the books I checked out a Viking king's subjects were telling him not to take so many risks. His response, "Kings are made for honor, not for long life." Hmmmm statements like that and pictures like the one above and names like Haarold Forkbeard are all very romantic. Plus I love the look of their boats. But still, they were the terrorists of early medieval times. I don't like that England had to pay the Vikings huge tributes as "protection" money. Very mafia-like. I guess some things never change. I think I'll stick with the romance--mighty warriors drinking mead (or whatever), thumping their chests and telling tall tales all while looking like Hollywood stars with all of their teeth, and basically hearts of gold under their rough exterior. It's no sillier than this Viking story----
