
Button Books ISBN: 978-1-78708-153-6
£12.99
The Factology series shows no signs of flagging with this colourful dive into one of the most romanticised civilisations, although some people have called them barbarians! As usual there are 96 pages and normally there are double page spreads on diverse topics such as shipbuilding, weaponry and games. A longer section covers the gods and beliefs and whilst many of us have heard of Odin but what about Audhumla and Ymir.
Having had my DNA tested I was surprised to discover that there was a small Scandanavian percentage, so probably this was the result of some raiding centuries ago! Some 29% of Shetlanders are also descendants.
Is your surname Goodman, Osborne (like my mother’s) Collings, Hemming, Osmund, Gamble, Gunn, Rogers or Rogerson? If so and it’s a big hint about your ancestry!

A thing called ironically ‘The Thing’ is introduced and this is an early form of local assembly where residents would gather and thrash out disputes. We also read thaat horned helmets didn’t exist (shame),and that skulls were not used as drinking vessels.
Food and life in a long house are depicted too. Every page is full colour and there are photographs and great graphics along with charts and comparisons.
Like every book in the series there is a big quiz at the end and there are 25 questions with some hints as to where to find the answers.
This is a fine in troduction to an age that still resonates in street names, our bloodlines and even language.