A History of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland

This was the main history book I used decades ago when working on a minor in Scandinavian Studies. I have many other books that touch on Scandinavian society but most deal with Anglo Saxon or Viking history. Derry does not go into enough detail for me but it was intended to be an overview. It covers a large time period so it is a decent review.It does cover my favorite woman in history, Margaret I. After the viking era the Northern peoples went into decline. She united Scandinavia in the Kalmar Union. That union would have changed european history if her successors had her talent. The great powers like England and the Hanseatic League exploited internal cracks to tear it apart. The North again went into decline so it could not defend its neutrality with Napoleon or Hitler.

Scandinavian history is always a little difficult to read in that the names of the players are hard to follow some times and they did not have a written history in the beginning of their story. This book is as good as I have seen so far and does a good job of telling as much as is known so far. Some maps would have been useful but I still think it is worth the read.

This well written and researched work provides an excellent introductory overview of Scandinavia and the dynamic sources of people, geography, cultures and resources that molded this unique, multinational land. Reading it while traveling through Scandinavia, it became a rich source of knowledge and insight into the heart and soul of the land, people and cultural values. Like a fine map, SCANDINAVIA provides meaning and direction for the reader to grow and make sense of a rich and fascinating peoples and their journey over the centuries, especially of their similarities and differences. It is a good and helpful read for the beginner or seasoned inquirer seeking to better comprehend the peoples of these northern lands and waters called Scandinavia.

I wanted a comprehensive but brief history and this book does it. Covers from ancient history up to WW II. I've learned things about the relationships between the 5 countries which I didn't know and that will make my travel there more interesting. I have read more interesting histories but also some which were boring. This is in between.

Whoa. Is this book ever dense! Well written; packed with information, some of it minutiae. The anecdotes about the personalities add a lively note. For example, did you know that Marie Antoinette's lover figured prominently in Swedish politics? You will if you read this book. Would have been better had there been more subheads, as it often wasn't easy to discern where the recitation of history of one Scandinavian country left off and another started. It's clear Dr. Derry did his research, and for those looking for a scholarly, well-researched tome, this is it.

I am interested in some details of history and found a bit that I was unacquainted with in this work. The work has not bee updated, which is not surprising. The work would be more satisfactory if it was a bit more compelling. The author is complete, but manages to make the events lumber along at a rather dull pace. One would hope that there was a bit more excitement in the actual events than has been communicated here.Otherwise, Scandinavia would seem as gloomy a place as it must seem in some of the long winter periods of decreased daylight.

Just finished "The Vikings" and this book is a great sequel. The first chapter's prehistory is particularly well done ... wish I'd read that before "The Vikings." Scandinavia has an amazing history.

adding to my library, a good addition.

Excellent book, academically sound. But more as an introduction to the topic.

An incredibly informative, nuanced and coherent book about the five Scandinavian countries. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this part of the world.

Very interesting book, thorough and informative. Great for anyone interested in scandinavian history.

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I was hoping for an accessible overview of the history of Scandinavia. Instead this book is an accurate but challenging read. The reader needs a reasonably good knowledge of European history, an Atlas (only 1 small scale map at the front of the book) and preferably ready access to Wikipedia for cross-referencing to make the most of this book - unless you have an excellent knowledge of geography/history already...