I had already presented one of the books in this collection, Egypt of the Pharaohs, to you in September 2020. Two years later, Larousse editions are offering a new book that adapts to the theme of the latest Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed Valhalla . This time, we are going to the XNUMXth century, to discover the life of the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons.
Like its predecessors, The Time of the Vikings is based on the Discovery Tour, an independent game mode for educational purposes, created thanks to the assets used in the various games. In our case, Valhalla (Origins for Ancient Egypt and Odyssey for Greece). A true living museum, the interactive experience plunges us into the heart of civilization in a fun way. Integrating a quest system and an avatar, the unique scenario was created in collaboration with experts, taking you on a tour of Scandinavia and Great Britain, to meet historical figures such as Ivarr the Boneless and King Ælfred. If you want to know more, rather than paraphrase the official site, I invite you to go to the description of the Ubisoft site. The bundle with the three is currently sold for €21 (€8 per unit). Knowing that this mode is also included in the games if you have them.
The book is organized into six main chapters which follow the framework of the Discovery Tour and which follow the adventures of four characters through eight main quests. Having recently watched the Vikings series, I admit that I find it difficult not to draw parallels with some of the characters in the series from the History channel, you will excuse me. However, I would like to point out that the time is not the same (the series takes place at the end of the XNUMXth century, beginning of the XNUMXth century) and Ragnar is not quoted only once on the hundred pages.
Invasion et Raids makes an inventory of the geopolitical situation of Brittany, Scandinavia and England in the XNUMXth century.
Thorsteinn's Quest focuses specifically on the daily life of the Vikings by following in the footsteps of a couple of merchants who find themselves accused of theft of goods. On the program: society, justice, ship, exploration, trade, daily life, whether in a village or aboard a ship. Typically what we see when we follow Ragnar in the early episodes of the first season, when he is in Kattegat.
Monk Ealric Quest takes you, unsurprisingly, to a monastery in Wessex. Following the newly ordained young man allows you to learn more about monastic life, literature, medicine, cooking, agriculture... This is typically Athelstan's life before he crossed Ragnar's route, although the series doesn't really expand on that aspect until season two.
Alfred and the Vikings place on the throne of Wessex, with its king, Alfred the Great, where we find Ealric, held hostage by the king, who also plays the role of adviser. Once again, the parallel is easy with the series, when King Ecbert gives a similar role to Athelstan. This is an opportunity to talk about the clash of cultures, through raids, battles and attempts at mutual conversions.
Quest among the gods also has an explicit title, with a chapter dedicated to the gods of the Vikings: the creation of the world, the main gods, the beliefs... I particularly remember the episode Sacrifice when Ragnar's family joins the pilgrimage that the Vikings perform every nine years in Uppsala. But also all these discussions around the fire when the Vikings try to instruct "the monk" of Ragnar.
To learn more serves as a conclusion by making a quick point on the latest discoveries and techniques of archeology, before listing the iconographic credits (and the list is long).
Reading is pleasant, with many inserts. Magnificently illustrated on glossy paper, with a multitude of details that immediately make you want to play Valhalla again, this book is to be put in all the hands of lovers of History, with a capital h. The hard cover adds to the cachet of this beautiful book which could be a perfect gift. In addition, compared to the quality, the price is quite fair: only €16,95.
- Discovery Book - Egypt of the Pharaohs
- Discovery Book - Ancient Greece
- Discovery Book - Le Temps des Vikings
