Olaf Guthfrithson

c. 9th century–941

Olaf Guthfrithson was a Norse-Gaelic king associated with Dublin and Northumbria in the tenth century. He was one of the rulers involved in the great coalition defeated by Æthelstan at Brunanburh in 937.

In Tim Hodkinson’s Eye of the Raven, Olaf Guthfrithson and Constantine II of Scotland prepare to challenge the growing English kingdom, drawing former comrades and related communities onto opposing sides. Bernard Cornwell’s War Lord places Olaf Guthfrithson within a narrative shaped by military command and battlefield decision-making and court politics and dynastic power.

In non-fiction, Olaf Guthfrithson is discussed in M J Porter’s Clash of Kings and M J Porter’s Kings of War. M J Porter’s Clash of Kings approaches the subject through court politics and dynastic power and family, marriage and personal loyalty.

Series

Series featuring Olaf Guthfrithson (2 series)

The Last Kingdom in Order

by Bernard Cornwell 13 books 4.4

The Last Kingdom series follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon nobleman raised by Danes, through the Viking wars and the creation of a united English kingdom. Beginning with the Great Heathen Army’s destruction of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the novels trace Alfred the Great’s recovery of Wessex and the…

All books in this series

The Last Kingdom

4.3

The Pale Horseman

4.4

Lords of the North

4.4

Sword Song

4.4

The Burning Land

4.3

Death of Kings LP

4.5

The Pagan Lord

4.5

The Empty Throne

4.5

Warriors of the Storm

4.6

The Flame Bearer

4.6

War of the Wolf

4.6

Sword of Kings

4.7

War Lord

4.8

The Whale Road Chronicles in Order

by Tim Hodkinson 8 books 4.4

The Whale Road Chronicles follow the Icelandic warrior and poet Einar Unnsson through the North Atlantic world of the 930s. His journeys connect Iceland, Orkney, Norway, Ireland, Anglo-Saxon England, Francia, al-Andalus and Byzantium as Viking warbands, Christian kings and competing dynasties struggle for control of kingdoms and sea…

All books in this series