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The Sea Road

A Viking woman's journey through the North Atlantic

Margaret Elphinstone author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Canongate Books

Published:7th Aug '01

Should be back in stock very soon

The Sea Road cover

This historical novel presents the remarkable journey of Gudrid of Iceland, a pioneering woman in Viking exploration. The Sea Road redefines adventure through her eyes.

In The Sea Road, readers are taken on a captivating journey back to the 11th century, where the extraordinary life of Gudrid of Iceland unfolds. This historical novel reimagines the Viking exploration of the North Atlantic through the eyes of a remarkable woman. Living on the fringes of the known world, Gudrid navigates a starkly beautiful landscape, where the sea serves as a vital connection to distant shores. Amidst the tension between Norse mythology and the rise of Christianity, she encounters the spirits of the dead and the challenges posed by Viking raids on foreign lands.

The narrative centers on the accidental discovery of North America, as Gudrid embarks on a multi-layered voyage into the unknown. Her story is rich with atmospheric detail, immersing readers in a world where adventure and danger intertwine. With each page, The Sea Road captures the essence of exploration, bravery, and the indomitable spirit of a woman who defies the conventions of her time.

Elphinstone's writing is both haunting and compelling, paying tribute to Gudrid's legacy as a pioneer in her own right. The novel is not only an exploration of physical landscapes but also an emotional journey, reflecting the warmth and resilience of its protagonist. As Gudrid navigates her path through uncharted waters, she invites us to reconsider the narratives of exploration and the women who have been overlooked in history.

a gripping historical novel...written with considerable style. * * The Bookseller * *
the author cleverly interweaves Gutrin's discourse with her innermost thoughts ... the Sea Road will appeal to historian, environmentalists, anthropologists and just ordinary cruising seamen. * * Cruising * *
The Sea Road offers a new take on the remarkable early seafaring adventures of the Norwegians, and on the spread of Christianity in the pagan north, and is all the more rewarding for that. * * The Scotsman * *
Forget Richard Branson, the audacious female traveller Gudrid of Iceland is the original explorer's explorer ... Elphinstone has written a fine tribute to a woman whose tale is as warm and inviting as a hot spring on a clear winter day. * * The Times * *

ISBN: 9781841951768

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 16mm

Weight: 174g

256 pages

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