Tim Severin Knihy

Přátelství stvrzené přísahou a kapkou krve Čtenáři trilogie Tima Severina Vikingové, kteří sledovali osudy dítěte Thorgilse, narozeného roku 999 našeho letopočtu daleko na severu, jako chlapce a posléze muže, na cestách po severských zemích, na nově objeveném Vinladu - dnešní Americe, a dále pak po celé Evropě, jej v třetí části trilogie zastihují v Byzanci, ve službách císaře tehdy nejbohatší říše, v nejluxusnějším městě tehdejšího světa, v Konstantinopoli. Tady Thorgils poznává Varjagy, vikinské válečníky, kteří Byzanci nabízejí pomoc proti Saracénům. V jejich čele stojí Harald, jehož bratr ho lstivě připravil o norský trůn, a Thorgils se mu oddal tělem i duší, neboť v něm vidí posledního možného zachránce víry ve staré bohy, kterou nemilosrdně vyhlazuje vítězné křesťanství. Pomáhá Haraldovi k návratu na norský trůn i získat spojence v dobyvačné bitvě o vládu v Anglii a nakonec jej před rozhodující bitvou o Anglii u Stamfordského mostu roku 1066 marně varuje. Harald prohrává a umírá, jeho vojsko je rozehnáno a Thorgils si uvědomuje, že právě v tomto okamžiku nastal definitivní konec vikinského světa. Kroniku svého života a celé své doby dopisuje jako stařec potulující se v rouše falešného mnicha po křesťanských klášterech s jistotou, že jeho rukopis bude k jejich velkému pobouření jednoho dne objeven.

Vikinského mladíka Thorgilse, který byl v prvním dílu trilogie Vikingové šťastně zachráněn na rozbouřeném moři ve člunu bez kormidla, sledujeme v druhém dílu severské ságy do Anglie, a to rovnou do lože choti anglického krále. Vzápětí prchá zpět na rodný sever a během cesty uzavírá krví posvěcené bratrství s Grettirem, mladíkem dobré vůle, ale převeliké fyzické síly, která z něho nechtě činí násilníka. Z nešťastného manželství se hrdina zachraňuje útěkem mezi jómské Vikingy, věhlasné bojovníky, s nimiž zažije jejich poslední bitvu. Poté se stává svědkem smrti svého přísežného bratra Grettira, jehož kouzelnými runami, vyrytými do doručeného polena, zabíjí volva neboli čarodějka ve službách jeho nepřítele. Osamělý hrdina, jistý si vůlí Ódinovou, pokračuje v cestě na ruský sever mezi domorodé lovce kožešin, do Kyjeva, mezi švédské Vikingy Varjagy, kupčící s kožešinami i jejich lovci, až konečně dorazí do Miklagardu, jemuž svět říká Konstantinopol.

Thorgils, dítě narozené roku 999 našeho letopočtu, žije postupně na Orknejích, na Islandu, v Grónsku a dokonce i ve Vinlandu, jak se tehdy říkalo teprve zadlouho poté oficiálně objevené Americe. Žije bez matky a bez otcovského zájmu, zato od útlého věku prožívá neuvěřitelná dobrodružství pod ochranou pohanského boha. Takový je hrdina románu Tima Severina Vikingové, odehrávajícího se na severu v době působení prvních křesťanských misií. Obracení na Kristovu víru na severu není snadné ani rychlé, ti, kdož věří v celý panteon bohů v čele s Ódinem, umí svět své víry bránit. Když autor uvádí čtenáře mezi vědmy, znalé magického umění seidr nebájí, ale seznamuje ho se skutečným duchovním dědictvím pohanského severu na podkladě vědeckého bádání, jemuž podrobil i rodinné, sousedské a politické vztahy oné doby. Kromě napínavého děje čekají čtenáře v tomto prvním díle trilogie tedy i dosud prakticky neznámé informace. Autor sám tyto informace získával nejen studiem - povoláním je badatelem, filmařem a autorem odborných publikací - ale opírá se i o vlastní zkušenosti, sám podniká výzkumné expedice, včetně cesty přes Atlantický oceán ve středověkém koženém člunu, a sklízí za svá díla mezinárodní ceny a uznání.

In 1980, in the Sutanate of Oman on the Arabian Sea, a replica was built of an Arab sailing ship of a kind that had not been seen for centuries -- a vessel like those which navigated a quarter of the way round the globe in search of trade more than a thousand years ago. As in Tim Severin's previous exploit, The Brendan Voyage, the journey was based on meticulous research. Sohar (named at the wish of the Sultan after the town said to have been Sindbad's birth place) was built form trees personally chosen by the author from the forests of the Malabar coast in India. Not a single nail was used in teh construction -- the ship was tied together with some four hundred miles of coconut rope. With a crew of twenty, including eight Omani sailors, Sohar's 6,000 mile journey took her across the Arabian Sea to India, then to Sri Lanka and across the Indian Ocean to Sumatra and the Malacca Straits, and finally through the China Seas to Canton. The story of this astonishing 7 1/2 month voyage is told here -- one of the most remarkable sailing stories of modern times.

Using a replica of a Bronze Age galley, Tim Severin and his crew set off on the voyage of Odysseus to discover if Homer's Odyssey could possibly be true...Did Ulysses make a real voyage home from the siege of Troy to Ithaca? Did Scylla and Charybdis and the Cyclops really exist in any form? and what about the Sirens and Circe the witch? In this gripping modern detective story the clues lead to a most startling solution.

Described as the greatest epic voyage in modern Irish history, Tim Severin and his companions constructed a boat using only sixth-century A.D. techniques and materials, mirroring the time when St. Brendan was believed to have sailed to America. The vessel was made from forty-nine ox hides stitched together and stretched over a wooden frame, with the leather skin measuring just a quarter of an inch thick. Severin and his crew embarked on their journey from Brandon Creek in Dingle to Newfoundland, enduring storms and even a puncture from pack ice. This dramatic account of their adventure captures the essence of being in a small, open boat amidst the vast North Atlantic, encountering curious whales, misty landfalls, and the warm hospitality of seafaring communities along the way. The narrative is both brilliantly written and meticulously researched, making it a classic of modern exploration, translated into 27 languages. Tim Severin, an explorer, filmmaker, and lecturer, has undertaken numerous expeditions, including crossing the Atlantic in a medieval leather boat and searching for Moby Dick. He has authored several books and received multiple literary awards, including the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Book of the Sea Award.

Ambushed by a gang of hardened sea robbers headed for the South Sea, Hector Lynch, pirate and fugitive, is obliged to navigate their vessel on a nightmarish journey through the stormy seas off Cape Horn and when his ruthless shipmates abandon him in Peru, he learns that Maria, the young Spanish woman who stole his heart and whose false testimony saved him from the gallows, is now living on the remote Ladrones, the Thief Islands, on the far side of the Pacific Ocean. His epic voyage to reach her will bring him face to face with a Japanese warlord who submits trespassers to his island to a deadly duel and with a naked Stone Age tribe who file their teeth to sharp points and sail boats that outpace the fastest galleon. In "Pirate: Sea Robbers" Tim Severin takes the reader on an enthralling adventure through the seventeenth-century world of the seafarers who risked scurvy, shipwreck and drowning in hopes of reaping fortunes in spice and treasure.

The Pope's Assassin is the third book in Tim Severin's thrilling historical adventure series set in Saxon times.

Book by Severin, Timothy

Sigwulf, a Saxon prince who has found himself at the court of King Carolus in France, is summoned by the royal advisor. A rare white elephant has been sent as a gift from the Caliph of Baghdad - and Carolus is determined to send an embassy to the Caliph bearing presents of equal prize to encourage good political relations. Sigwulf and his companions Osric and Walo are sent on a deadly mission to search the wild northlands of Europe for the rarest of creatures for the Caliph, including a giant, lethal wild ox, elusive hunting falcons and polar bears. Every animal they capture must be white, the royal colour of Baghdad. But it seems that someone is trying to prevent the embassy from succeeding. As they set out with their menagerie of creatures across the hot, dusty roads to the Middle East, Sigwulf finds them ambushed at every corner

Set in an ancient Viking world full of brooding Norse mythology and bloodthirsty battles, VIKING - Odinn's Child is the stunning first volume in an epic historical fiction trilogy.

"Who was the real Robinson Crusoe? In search of the world's most famous castaway, Tim Severin travels where men were shipwrecked or abandoned in the days of the pirates and buccaneers ... and lived to tell their tales of survival." "A Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk, has long been considered the real-life inspiration for Crusoe. So Severin begins his quest on the island of Juan Fernandez, 400 miles off the coast of Chile, where Selkirk was marooned for four years." "Seeking Robinson Crusoe combines travel to remote islands and shores with literary detective work. Its cast of characters ranges from rascally eighteenth-century sea captains to the present-day native peoples of the Caribbean rim, from a Scots schoolmaster to a research student from Canada who can speak the obscure Miskito language. A tale of adventure and discovery, Seeking Robinson Crusoe is a journey into myth and history."--Jacket

Revised edition featuring an interactive table of contents, cross-referencing, links to external websites, downloadable resources, and optimized content for Kindle e-readers. This historical writers’ guide aims to equip aspiring writers with the essential skills for crafting historical novels and short stories. It also serves experienced writers looking to refine their craft or transition to historical fiction. The step-by-step format includes practical activities that encourage experimentation with techniques necessary for creating authentic and engaging historical narratives. Organized into seven main headings, each chapter focuses on a specific writing skill or tool, allowing for independent use to address particular challenges or reinforce concepts introduced. The guide aims to provide the necessary tools for writing in various historical subgenres, including historical crime fiction. Contributions from notable historical fiction writers offer insights that both complement and challenge the activities, providing a diverse perspective on the craft. The activities stem from innovative workshops led by Myfanwy Cook, a published author with numerous accolades. She emphasizes that mastering writing is akin to an apprenticeship, requiring practical skills, imagination, and a commitment to the craft. This guide seeks to fill gaps in knowledge and inspire aspiring writers by enhancing their confidence and skills in historical fi

Tim Severin took up the challenge offered from antiquity by Marco Polo. Using the great explorer's journals as a route guide, Severin followed him all the way from Venice to Afghanistan - on a motorbike. This is his witty and enthralling account of a latter day caravan through Armenia and Persia, across deserts and mountains, as Severin and his companions overcome crashes, floods, sandstorms and linguistic muddles with zest and ingenuity. Ancient and modern jostle for attention in the bustling towns and panoramic landscapes of Turkey and Afghanistan. Seeking out thirteenth century Asia, they pass through he Valley of the Assassins to find the village of the Magi. And even with his foot in plaster, Severin takes a camel ride high into the Deh Bakri Pass in search of the famed apples of paradise.

Betrayal and treachery, The Book of Dreams is the first in Tim Severin's thrilling historical adventure series set in Saxon times.

1677, on a late summer’s evening two ships lurk off the coast of southwest Ireland. They are Barbary corsairs from North Africa, slave catchers. As soon as it is dark, their landing parties row ashore to raid a small fishing village - on the hunt for fresh prey . . .In the village, seventeen-year-old Hector Lynch wakes to the sound of a pistol shot. Moments later he and his sister Elizabeth are taken prisoner. From then on Hector’s life plunges into a turbulent and lawless world that is full of surprises. Separated from Elizabeth, he is sold to the slave market of Algiers, where he survives with the help of his newfound friend Dan, a Miskito Indian from the Caribbean.The two men convert to Islam to escape the horrors of the slave pens, only to become victims of the deadly warfare of the Mediterranean. Serving aboard a Turkish corsair ship, their vessel is sunk at sea and they find themselves condemned to the oar as galley slaves for France. Driven by his quest to find his sister, Hector finally stumbles on the chilling truth of her fate when he and Dan are shipwrecked on the coast of Morocco . .

Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick immortalized the concept of a battling white sperm whale, but did such a creature really exist? Explorer and writer Tim Severin travelled to the islands of the Pacific to find out. From Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas archipelago to Pamilacan and Tonga, Severin compares myth with reality in a fascinating journey of discovery. Along the way he investigates the real extent of Melville's whaling experience, and unearths other potential sources for his famous story; encounters the extraordinary whale-jumpers, who even now make their living by leaping on the backs of whales to ram home their spears; and observes a retired harpooner re-enact the curious ballet of a kill - transporting himself to his youth in the process, like a shaman from a forgotten age. Travel writing and personal and historical anecdote combine to offer an exploration of one of the ocean's enduring myths.

Rapito dai corsari e venduto come schiavo al mercato di Algeri, il diciassettenne Hector Lynch è riuscito con astuzia, coraggio e determinazione a sovvertire il proprio destino e a riconquistare la libertà. Ma la prospettiva d'iniziare una nuova vita nel Nuovo Mondo s'infrange ben presto tra le onde del Mar dei Caraibi, dove la sua nave viene intercettata da John Coxon, un bucaniere noto per la sua estrema crudeltà e spregiudicatezza. In un primo momento, però, la fortuna sembra assistere Hector: il giovane infatti convince Coxon di essere nientemeno che il nipote di Sir Thomas Lynch, il potente governatore della Giamaica. Tuttavia non può certo immaginare che il pirata ha intenzione di consegnarlo "in dono" a Sir Henry Morgan, il nemico giurato del governatore; perciò, quando l'inganno viene svelato, fuggire è il solo modo per sottrarsi all'ira del bucaniere. E quella fuga fa precipitare Hector in un vortice d'intrighi politici e di pericoli mortali: prima in mare aperto, tra uragani devastanti e paurosi naufragi, e poi nelle viscere della terra, dove gli spagnoli hanno scoperto immense miniere d'oro. E in un mondo in cui la menzogna e il tradimento sono le uniche monete di scambio, anche l'amore per una bellissima e nobile ragazza può rivelarsi una debolezza letale...

Mar Baltico, 1019 d. C. Il mare è in tempesta, onde altissime si infrangono sulla nave vichinga dell'esercito di re Canuto. Non c'è più traccia dei ribelli delle terre dell'estremo Nord che poche ore prima hanno scatenato la rivolta. All'improvviso, dietro un'onda spunta un vascello, poi due, poi tre: la bandiera è quella degli alleati, comandati dal signore di Ulf. Ma non sono venuti in aiuto dei Vichinghi. Il loro obiettivo è l'attacco. La collisione tra le navi avviene prima che l'esercito vichingo possa reagire. Lo scontro è durissimo. Poi tutto diventa silenzio e oscurità: i corpi dei Vichinghi giacciono senza vita sul ponte del vascello. L'unico superstite è Thorgils Leiffson, discendente del grande Erik il Rosso. A lui il compito di tornare a corte e denunciare il tradimento, prima che sia troppo tardi, prima che il re concluda un'alleanza destinata a distruggerlo per sempre. Di ritorno in patria, però, Thorgils non trova la gloria, ma l'esilio: su di lui pende l'accusa di essere l'amante della regina. Inizia così per Thorgils un lungo viaggio, che lo porterà fino alta lontana Bisanzio dove, tra le file della guardia imperiale, cercherà la sua vendetta.

Verslag van een zeiltocht door de Molukken in de voetsporen van de Engelse natuurvorser Alfred Wallace (1823-1913).