The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson

This is not the edition I found and read, but it is the edition that you can buy right now. I discovered Fran G, Bengtsson while going thru the sale table at my favorite book shop in Bangkok, Thailand,  Besides a Viking ship on the cover, it also had a blurb by my favorite authors on it. Joe Abercrombie wrote " A rip-roaring saga that's vivid and authentic... No one should go a-viking without it."  So, of course I had to buy it despite the rather worn condition. 

  So thank you Joe, This book was written in 1954 by Mr. Bengtsson who first came into the publishing world as a Swedish Poet who later on wrote a couple Swedish histories, This tale of Red Ohm is his first foray into historical fiction and I found it brilliant,

    The novel historical setting is 980 to 1010 C. Vikings  for decades set sail to gain fortune in England, Ireland and France. The books main character is called Ohm. who was captured in a raid and brought upon the Viking ship, where he quickly became a favorite among the crew and found his best friend. The tale followed his journey as Ohm went from captive to a Viking raider to galley slave to a bodyguard to Prince to a theft of a holy relic to the household of King Harald. 

    It is a book you must read if you love all thing Vikings. The pacing was perfect. The plot took enough turns to keep you glued to the page wondering what was to happens next.