Theatrical Vikings: The Performative Aspects of Norse Society
The performative side of the Vikings for law | “I’m Not a Historian.” | Author Update
Welcome to the newsletter, where history, storytelling, and inspiration meet. Every week, I share some of the fun historical research I’ve done while writing my novels, writing reflections (and sometimes tips), and sharing updates on my work and journey. If you were forwarded this message, you can join the weekly newsletter here.
Today’s Dispatch
The performative side of the Vikings for law
“I’m Not a Historian.”
W.F. Howe and my break into the Swedish market.
This week’s book recommendation.
Viking History
The Performative Aspects of Norse Society
This past week, I had the pleasure of recording another Vikingology episode with Viking Age law expert Dr. Alexandra Sanmark. In our discussion, she brought up something I had not considered in my research on how people may have behaved in the Viking Age: performance.
The Vikings did not have an advanced writing system that could support the full breadth of their legal structure and agreements. Today, we take for granted that when we enter a deal with someone, we have a piece of paper to back it up (in case anyone tries to renege). What would we do if such a writing system did not exist to guarantee that both parties would follow through?
The Viking Age Scandinavians had a solution to this. They needed witnesses. Not only that, but they required witnesses to remember what they saw and what was agreed upon. Therefore, lawmaking and agreements had to be performed.
The tradition of the Thing (or assembly) gathered community members to carry out such public exhibitions of lawmaking. As Dr. Sanmark explained in our discussion, it all had to be done in the open. Ritual served as a means to organize lawmaking and agreements, and certain symbolic acts, such as the passing of a stick to signify a transfer of property ownership, facilitated the memorization of decisions made. Attendance requirements ensured an ample number of people from each community received and remembered the new lawmaking.
So, in the absence of being able to write a contract or draft a constitution, Viking Age Scandinavians appear to have acted it out. That sounds like a fun gathering to attend, if you ask me. It certainly sounds more fun than our current legal system, which generally involves sitting around reading and interpreting stacks of documents.
Watch the episode with Dr. Alexandra Sanmark, available HERE on the Vikingology substack.
Writing and Publishing
“I’m Not a Historian.”
A few years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Bernard Cornwell after my round table at IMC 2017 to ask him, “How historical is historical fiction?” I used the same set of questions as the conference organizers, and his answers were illuminating. One stood out among them.
When asked, “How do you balance accuracy, authenticity, and creativity?” he answered: “By remembering that I’m not an historian. I’m not here to teach Anglo-Saxon history or any other history. I’m a storyteller, so my first responsibility is to tell a story! That story is fiction, even if it’s based on a well-known episode of history.”
At the time, I appreciated his candor and approach. I also differentiated my work from his by positioning myself as a history teacher first and fiction writer second. I did want to teach. And for the past 15 years, I’ve been teaching through my blog and social media.
But…teaching hasn’t gotten me anywhere. After a recent streak of events, I’ve had to do a little soul-searching as I figure out this whole “full-time author” thing, and it occurred to me the other day that my positioning might have been wrong this whole time. I’ve lived by the idea that people buy authors, not books, and that remains true. But I thought if I taught history, it would demonstrate thought leadership and lead to book sales.
It didn’t.
In inventorying all my marketing efforts to date, it occurred to me that the only thing that worked—and worked reliably—was paid advertising. All my organic marketing, such as blogs (like on Substack) and social media, has done nothing to move the needle. Why not? Until this past week, I wasn’t willing to see the answer.
I got so carried away nerding out on Viking history that I led with my historical knowledge. While people who enjoy that kind of content are wonderful, they don’t appear to buy fiction books. Looking at other authors in my genre, no one else is pretending to be a historian (OK, I’m not pretending; I do have a Master’s and have published, but you get the point).
So, I’ve had a positioning problem. And oddly enough, in my previous day job, that’s what I was paid to solve! I’ve had to put my ego aside (because I do one day want to go for my doctorate), and I’ve started to reorient all of my efforts based on the correct positioning, as I should have done before.
Channeling my inner Bernard Cornwell, I’m putting the “historian” aside and going full storyteller. I’ll still share fun things I learn about Viking history, of course, but I’ll lead with the fact that I’m approaching these things as an author and storyteller first.
Hence, the reorganization of this newsletter. Moving forward, it will be sent once per week and include the four sections you see on this one today. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Author Update
I Signed with W.F. Howe for the Swedish Market!
W.F. Howe, a British publisher, approached me to purchase the rights for the first three novels in The Saga of Hasting the Avenger in Sweden. This follows my re-signing with Vent-DesLettres in France as my family and I prepare to repatriate. If you’re in Sweden, stay tuned!
Book Recommendations
Embers of the Hands
Synopsis:
Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age offers a fresh perspective on Norse society by delving into the lives of those often overlooked in traditional Viking narratives. Historian Eleanor Barraclough explores the daily experiences of women, children, artisans, and enslaved individuals across the Norse world—from Scandinavia to the British Isles and beyond. Through artifacts like rune-inscribed sticks, combs, and gaming pieces, she reconstructs a vivid tapestry of everyday life, revealing a culture rich in complexity and humanity.
Why You Should Read It:
This book stands out for its original insights into the quotidian aspects of Viking life, moving beyond the typical focus on warriors and raids. Barraclough's engaging narrative brings to light the personal stories etched into artifacts, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the Viking Age. It's an essential read for anyone interested in the social fabric of history and the diverse experiences that shaped the Norse world.
And, as always…
Buy my novels!
