Books like The long ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson

Frans Gunnar Bengtsson’s *The Long Ships* is regarded as a living classic of Swedish literature, noted for its humor and exuberant storytelling. The novel follows the protagonist, known as Red Worm, as he embarks on a series of maritime adventures that span the Viking Age. Set around the year 1000, the book chronicles Red Worm’s odyssey from his accidental start on a Viking ship to episodes as a galley slave, a guardian for the caliph’s vizier Almansur in Hispania, a witness to the festivities at King Harald Blåtand’s court, and a participant in expeditions for Bulgarian gold. The narrative intertwines Norse and Eastern motifs, depicting encounters with Jewish silversmiths, Irish monks, Icelandic skalds, and other travelers across the sea. Originally published in two parts—*Sjöfarare i västerled* (1941) and *Hemma och i österled* (1945)—the work quickly became a bestseller in Sweden, with the first volume released during World War II to neighboring countries, Germany, and the United States. The novel has been translated into roughly twenty languages. This edition opens with a new foreword by Erik Andersson, noted author and translator.

First publish date: 1954