The history of the Vikings is bloody and eventful, and Viking warriors capture the popular imagination to this day. They made history, establishing the dukedom of Normandy, providing the Byzantine Emperors' bodyguard and landing on the shores of America 500 years before Columbus. Beautifully illustrated with colour photographs and original Osprey artwork, this book presents a new window into their way of life including detailed studies of the Hersir, the raiding warrior of the Viking world, and the legendary Viking longship.

Mark Harrison has a Bachelor's degree in Medieval Studies from Lancaster University. He is a Curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London and has a strong interest in the early medieval world. He lives in Colchester, UK.

Ian Heath is a highly respected author, currently working on a five-volume project covering the armies of 19th-century Asia. Ian lives in Cambridgeshire.

Keith Durham lives in Northumberland. He has had a lifelong interest in the Vikings and their ships.

René Chartrand was a senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He lives in Quebec.