The Long Ships
by Frans G. Bengtssonliterary work· published 1941
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The Long Ships or Red Orm (original Swedish: Röde Orm, "Red Serpent = Snake/Dragon", lit. 'Worm the Red') is an adventure novel by the Swedish writer Frans Gunnar Bengtsson. The narrative is set in the late 10th century and follows the adventures of the Viking Röde Orm - called "Red" for his hair and his temper, a native of Scania. The book portrays the political situation of Europe in the later Viking Age, Andalusia under Almansur, Denmark under Harald Bluetooth, followed by the struggle between Eric the Victorious and Sven Forkbeard, Ireland under Brian Boru, England under Ethelred the Unready, and the Battle of Maldon, and then the Byzantine Empire and its Varangian Guard, Kievan Rus and its neighbors the Patzinaks—all before the backdrop of the gradual Christianization of Scandinavia,…
Adaptations (1)
The Long Ships was adapted into a 1964 film.
The Long Ships1964 · film · 126 min · dir. Jack Cardiff · IMDb ↗IMDb6.054%Moorish ruler El Mansuh is determined to locate a massive bell made of gold known as the "Mother of Voices." Viking explorer Rolfe also becomes intent on finding the mythical treasure, and sails with his crew from Scandinavia to Africa to track it down. Reluctantly working together, El Mansuh and Rolfe, along with their men, embark on a quest for the prized object, but only one leader will be able to claim the bell as his own — if it even exists at all.
