Grand Prince Sviatoslav
Grand Prince Sviatoslav, ruler of the Rus in the 10th century, features largely in my novel, Sigurd’s Swords. He is a courageous man and a warrior’s leader, but did his courage lead to his downfall?
Kievan Rus’ and the Vikings
From the feedback I’ve received, it’s clear that more is known of the Vikings in England, France and Ireland, and that fewer readers know about this place called Kievan Rus’ or Gardariki – a place that will eventually become what is now called Russia, Belarus, and the Ukraine – or the important role it played in the Viking story and in the history of Eastern Europe. Hopefully this post will help shine a bit more light on that bygone kingdom.
Novgorod, Holmgard and the Rus
Writing historical fiction often presents difficulties. In my most recent book, Sigurd’s Swords, one of those challenges was understanding the place called Novgorod.