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The Last Viking

The True Story of King Harald Hardrada

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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents The Last Viking by Don Hollway, read by Mark Meadows.

‘The Last Viking is a masterful and pulse-pounding narrative that transports the reader into the middle of the action.’ Carl Gnam, Military Heritage

Harald Sigurdsson burst into history as a teenaged youth in a Viking battle from which he escaped with little more than his life and a thirst for vengeance. But from these humble origins, he became one of Norway’s most legendary kings. The Last Viking is a fast-moving narrative account of the life of King Harald Hardrada, as he journeyed across the medieval world, from the frozen wastelands of the North to the glittering towers of Byzantium and the passions of the Holy Land, until his warrior death on the battlefield in England.

Combining Norse sagas, Byzantine accounts, Anglo-Saxon chronicles, and even King Harald’s own verse and prose into a single, compelling story, Don Hollway vividly depicts the violence and spectacle of the late Viking era and delves into the dramatic events that brought an end to almost three centuries of Norse conquest and expansion.©2021 Don Hollway (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Europe Great Britain Military Scandinavia Middle Ages Viking Royalty Norse Norse Vikings

Critic reviews

"Riveting! [Listen to] this [audiobook] and be prepared to see it through to the end. Fascinating and thoroughly engaging!" (Edward Zapletal, History Magazine)

"The Last Viking is a masterful and pulse-pounding narrative that transports the [listener] into the middle of the action." (Carl Gnam, Military Heritage)

"The story pulls you in, and doesn't let go." (Stephen Harding, New York Times best-selling author of The Last Battle)
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An excellent narration paired with superb writing and thorough research. The history is brought to life in a way that’s both engaging and informative, making complex events easy to follow and genuinely interesting. I learned a great deal and was hooked throughout. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Viking history, medieval history, or simply expanding their horizons.

Fascinating

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loved this. learnt so much about Byzantium empire of the time too. hardrada was truly a flawed but amazing man.

gutted when finished. a truly amazing man. 👏Sean.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this and felt I learned a great deal about the Vikings from it.
Well narrated although I needed to slow it down a little.

Well researched

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Yes, the events may be debatable, as made clear in the book, but what a story!! Up there with the best audiobooks I’ve listened to.

A gripping adventure

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I was intrigued by the information about this book, as I realised I knew very little about why the Viking era came to an end. I wasn't disappointed, as this is a comprehensive history (perhaps a bit too detailed at times) which draws from a range of historical sources as well as traditional sagas. I hadn't realised how far the Vikings influenced politics in the Mediterranean, and in particular the Byzantine Empire. In all, an interesting listen, well narrated but perhaps a little stretched out. It has certainly filled a gap in my historical knowledge.

Viking History ... and more!

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