"Viking's Dawn" by Henry Treece

 The first part of a trilogy, this book follows the adventures of Harald Sigurdson, apprentice Viking, as he sails under Thorkell on the ship Nameless. They seek to steal treasure from other ships and coastal communities (this is a children's book so there is no rape) but they pay for it with the death of some of their comrades. There's a lot of death. There is treachery but there is also honour among thieves. There is also a lot of superstition: they take a treasure which is cursed and brings bad luck, two men meet one another in their dreams, there are monks and druids. 

Classically paced, the first quarter of the book takes place before the ship is launched, Harald's first killing is just after the half-way mark, and they meet the Christian holy man who will play a significant part in the climax at the three-quarters mark.

The hero is a young man thirsting for glory and fiercely loyal to his leader. One would hope that the character would develop over the course of the book as a result of some fairly traumatic experiences, but Harald is a hero to the end.

Many of the myths of the Vikings on which this book relies (eg that they wore horned helmets into battle) has been disputed. The book rather glamorises the Viking way of life.

Is it suitable for a children's book? Treece's Vikings are amoral, seeing might as right and stealing what they can. There is a lot of killing and a lot of death and these are lightly born: the general feeling being that the point of life is to have a 'good' death, preferably in battle. I suppose that may accurately reflect the attitude of people for whom life was full of unexpected death, in whose face they were relatively powerless: "You are but an ant crawling on a hunter's boot. That boot may carry you a long distance and you will think that life is good to you. Or it may crush you, then you will know no more." (Ch 5). It may also reflect the attitude of the time: it was written in 1955 so it probably reflects the attitudes of a man who served in World War II, though Treece was an RAF Intelligence officer rather than a soldier.

It is a classic boys' adventure story, almost devoid of women except as home-makers, but nowadays one might question what the subtext is. For example: "Ships be like any other creature. Show them who is master and they will obey; but once let them have the upper hand and they will run wild and break their backs in rebellion." (Ch 6)

Great moments:

• "Life is never sure, Harald. Whichever way a man turns, he thinks he might have done better to take the other path." (Ch 1)
• "A man who is troubled in his mind might bite and do hurt without intending it." (Ch 6)
• "These were old vikings, who knew the sea as a friend, an enemy, a grave." (Ch 6)

An easy read. August 2020; 176 pages

The series continues with:

• The Road to Miklagard
• Viking's Sunset

Also by Henry Treece

• Horned Helmet: more Vikings
• Legions of the Eagle: Romano-British adventure
• The Golden Strangers: A story from prehistory

This review was written by the author of Motherdarling  and The Kids of God