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Margaret Elphinstone
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The Sea Road Paperback – August 7, 2001

by Margaret Elphinstone (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 130 ratings
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A haunting, compelling historical novel, The Sea Road is a daring re-telling of the 11th-century Viking exploration of the North Atlantic from the viewpoint of one extraordinary woman. Gudrid lives at the remote edge of the known world, in a starkly beautiful landscape where the sea is the only connection to the shores beyond. It is a world where the old Norse gods are still invoked, even as Christianity gains favour, where the spirits of the dead roam the vast northern ice-fields, tormenting the living, and Viking explorers plunder foreign shores.

Taking the accidental discovery of North America as its focal point, Gudrid's narrative describes a multi-layered voyage into the unknown, all recounted with astonishing immediacy and rich atmospheric detail.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Canongate Books
  4. Publication date
    August 7, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    5.08 x 0.63 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1841951765
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1841951768
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

The Sea Road offers a new take on the remarkable early seafaring adventures of the Norwegians, and on the spread of Christianity in the pagan north, and is all the more rewarding for that. (The Scotsman)

a gripping historical novel...written with considerable style. (The Bookseller)

the author cleverly interweaves Gutrin's discourse with her innermost thoughts ... the Sea Road will appeal to historian, environmentalists, anthropologists and just ordinary cruising seamen. (Cruising)

Forget Richard Branson, the audacious female traveller Gudrid of Iceland is the original explorer's explorer ... Elphinstone has written a fine tribute to a woman whose tale is as warm and inviting as a hot spring on a clear winter day. (The Times)

About the Author

Margaret Elphinstone is the author of eight novels, including The Incomer (1987), A Sparrow's Flight (1989), Islanders (1994), The Sea Road (2000), Hy Brasil (2002), Voyageurs (2003) and Light (2006). She has also had published short stories, poetry and two books on organic gardening. Her next book, And Some There Be, will be published by Canongate in 2009. She lives in Glasgow and teaches at the University of Strathclyde.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Canongate Books; Revised edition (August 7, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1841951765
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1841951768
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.08 x 0.63 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 130 ratings

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Margaret Elphinstone

Margaret Elphinstone

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
130 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

RPH
5.0 out of 5 stars It’s a very enjoyable historical novel
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
I’m really enjoying this book, almost finished. I have read, a couple of times, a nonfiction book called The Far Traveler, by Nancy Marie Brown, which is an account of the author’s involvement in archeological projects looking at the Vikings in Iceland, Greenland, and L’Anse au Meadows. Ms. Brown’s specific interest is Gudrid, who traveled with 2 different husbands, as documented in Saga of the Greenlanders, and eventually traveled on her own to Rome. The Searoad has Gudrid in Rome, recounting her life to a priest who writes it down. Its a gret read, both historical and slightly mystical.
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Fairlee E. Winfield
4.0 out of 5 stars Saga Light
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2010
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OK, so maybe the battle axes don't swing and we don't get the titillating sexy scenes, but I truly enjoyed this book and I've read the sagas and plenty of the historic Greenland novels. What did I like about it? I liked the tension between the heathen and christian beliefs. I liked that the characters were still at the crossroads there--unable to commit totally to one or the other belief. Most of all I like the characterization of Leif Eriksson. For the most part, we find him such an heroic figure. Elphistone shows him as rather conniving and not entirely the prince charming we are accustomed to seeing. In "The Sea Road," he's good old Erik the Red's son, only a bit away from dad's violence.

I'm not sure how accurate some of the ambiance is. I don't think the Greenlanders were able to keep chickens, and the ponies? Maybe only early on. But hey, this is a fun read. Wish I could have gotten it on Kindle though  Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) .
6 people found this helpful
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Erling Aspelund
5.0 out of 5 stars is well read ---- like all outstanding authors
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2015
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The author, Margaret Elphinstone, is well read ---- like all outstanding authors. Her story is based on three Sagas of the Icelanders, i.e. Eirik the Red's Saga, The Saga of the Greenlanders, and The Saga of the people at Eyri, with very interesting inputs of her own - of course.
This is one book which is very difficult to put down or in other words stop reading. One is always tempted to go to the next chapter. The story flows like a fine wine. Excellent book.
Erling Aspelund
3 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Took awhile
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2015
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Not my favorite. Bogged down many times for me.....esp. when describing the environment over and over!! But on the plus side, it was very well researched.
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Winifred M. Ely
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2013
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This was a remarkable book about an amazing saga. Absolutely worth the time. Had read Voyageurrs by Ms Elphinstone and thought it was a wonderful book in every way. Well written and totally fresh and engaging. This was almost as good. Fascinating and good craftsmanship. And no authorly showboating from this writer.
2 people found this helpful
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Martin Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars The Softer Side of Norse Life
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2012
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If you're looking for historical novels of the Viking Era that emphasize the rough aspects of Norse life (not disputing that the Vikings were a tough bunch) and are filled with epic battles and constant fighting, this book is not for you (I'd suggest you look towards something like Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales). However, if you've read those types of books are are interested in something a bit more cerebral, then this book is an excellent choice, albeit one that does take time to get moving.

The writing style for the book is unusual, in that it is told almost completely in the first person, as the main character relates the story of her life (and in particular, her voyage to Vinland) to a monk in Rome. The book does take its time developing the storyline, but it then envelopes the reader in the tale of Iceland/Greenland/Vinland.

Elphinstone is strong on nuances and atmospherics; it's most noticeable during the parts where she shifts from first person to third person to describe near-supernatural events that may or may not actually be occurring. She also has a good eye for detail, and captures many of the subtleties of Norse culture (for example, how the main character is impressed when her husband-to-be shows her linen and colored cloth when all she's ever known is undyed wool).

Again, if you're looking for a rip-roaring tale of adventuring warriors, this isn't the book. But if you're looking for a story that will leave you wishing there was a sequel (there isn't) and that you could meet the characters in the real world, this is an excellent choice.
15 people found this helpful
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David Keck
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Evocation of a Fascinating Time
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2014
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The book took a while to get hold of me, for reasons that are likely more about me than the text. Elphinstone does wonderful work in conjuring up the fragile world of Northern Europe in the days of longships, traders and the end of paganism. The place is populated with spirits. The Sea Road brings them back to life.
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Carol O'Neill
4.0 out of 5 stars A look at an old woman's memories
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2020
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the cultural descriptions and lifestyle/living conditions of the era were very informative - the style of writing held my attention and the mental conflict relative to the old beliefs and the inroad of Christianity also held my interest.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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martin petersen
5.0 out of 5 stars Tolles Buch.
Reviewed in Germany on December 3, 2018
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Prompte Lieferung. Very good read.
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valkyrie1008
5.0 out of 5 stars A great viking history classic!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2012
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This book truly shows the origins of Historical Viking fiction by demonstrating how any good historical novel doesn't just focus on the events featured but on the people those events effect.

In this case it was the life and travels of a young Icelandic womam called Gudrid and the transformation and dramatic shift her life takes as she grows up in Iceland where Christianity still vyes with the beliefs of the Nordic Gods, to then set sail with her father in the hope of meeting up with an old friend who left many years before, in the newest found lands of Greenland. From there she finds herself fated to marry several times after tragic deaths before the biggest challenge awaits her with her soon to be future and lifelong merchant husband, the journey to and settling over Vinland (North America). A land that is so foreign it has dangers that not even the old gods can protect them from

It is a remarably captivating book depsite the way it is narrated through several persepctives and reveals the life of nordic people in such magnificance and beauty you couldn't ever think of them as being related to those that raided and invaded Englands costs only a few hundred years ago when the story is set.

Definitely a classic to look into for any viking fiction fans.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Bring Margaret Elphinstone back into print.
Reviewed in Canada on February 11, 2016
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"The Sea Road," like the two other books I've read by Margaret Elphinstone, have been delightful examples of the best kind of well researched, thoughtful, plausible and therefore fascinating and compelling historical / pre-historical fiction. All this, and the writing is elegant and engaging. My only regret is that it is so hard to find her books.
One person found this helpful
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Biggles
4.0 out of 5 stars Harrowing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2013
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A good imagining of the the life and journeys of a real woman of the Viking age. The description of her childhood makes you wonder that she survived though. The last third of the work seems to travel too quickly for my liking.
One person found this helpful
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K. Stemp
5.0 out of 5 stars Intersting Read
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book gave me a real feeling of what it might have been like to cross from Iceland to what is now Newfoundland in the midst of harsh and unforgiving conditions. Highly recommended.
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