Valkyrie: Women of the Viking World

Valkyries are mysterious beings from Scandinavian mythology who embody the tragic side of war through heroic deeds. Their essence intertwines reality and the afterlife, drawing scientists’ interest for centuries. Using the latest historical and archaeological data, as well as analysis of ancient texts, the author tries to shed light on the real lives of the valkyries—showing them in childhood, youth, adulthood, and on the threshold of death. Johanna Katrin Fridriksdottir is a doctor of medieval literature, who conducted research at the universities of Reykjavik, Brighton, and Oxford, and completed an internship at Harvard University.