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The Long Ships

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The Long Ships

By: Frans G. Bengtsson, Michael Meyer, Michael Chabon
Narrated by: Michael Page
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About this listen

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 Action & Adventure Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Sea Adventures Adventure Royalty Viking Vikings Historical Fiction
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After the first few chapters I was ready to give up on this book due to the narration, I even checked my library to see if I had listened to other books read by Michael Page, because it seemed so bad. Thankfully I persevered, and as the story developed it also allowed the reader to develop too.

Ultimately I thought this was a great book, and would recommend it others who like this genre.

Great book after a difficult listen to start with

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Found the book a bit slow and boring to start but the enjoyment started, really enjoyed it because it was a little different to all he other Viking books I've listened to

Lucky Orm

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I really enjoyed this story. the travelling and adventures of a boy to man. the narrator was good.

FANTASTIC ADVENTURE

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Loved this. A ripping Viking saga and hilariously funny in places (not least in the introduction). Wonderfully narrated. Well worth a read. Only regret is that it's finished

Excellent yarn

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I loved it. Piity it is not one of a long series. Could manage many more.

good stuff.

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