Vikings sometimes get a bad historical rap. There are countless medieval chronicles and records describing them as brainless barbarians, bloody savages, and ravenous, rapacious warriors.
In more recent times, on the small or silver screen, they are depicted no better – often as dirty warriors full of bloodlust and brawn.
So then, what do we make of Harald Fairhair, a Viking warrior who was said to be responsible for the unification of all petty kingdoms in Norway under his rule and who was renowned for his hair as much as for his martial skills?
Legend has it that Fairhair accepted a challenge from a would-be lover and would not cut his hair until he had united all of Norway under his grip.
The image of a Viking warrior with flowing golden locks making promises to a sweetheart is not exactly something we would associate with early medieval Europe's most feared warriors and brawlers.
This is, however, why Ole Åsli and Tony Bakkejord have chosen Fairhair as the subject of their Viking historical fiction novel, a fictional account – steeped in historical characters, facts, and events – of the early life of the man who was said to be Norway's first king.
- READ MORE: A Viking history of Norway (Part 1)
The authors reshape the familiar "boy destined to be king" trope through Harald Fairhair's enigmatic rise to power. Illustration: The Viking Herald
The boy who would be king
It must be said that Harald Fairhair: A Viking Historical Fiction Novel has a tried and tired trope at its premise: the story of the boy who would be king.
From later medieval lore to Disney animations, this idea has been tried and tested over the centuries.
It is, let's be clear, not an original idea. However, what sets Åsli and Bakkejord apart from what would be a hackneyed plot is their choice of protagonist: the enigmatic Harald Fairhair.
There is much academic debate about whether Harald Fairhair, as depicted in the sagas, was actually a true historical character.
Whilst there is no doubt that Fairhair represents the apogee of the societal trends that saw the political consolidation of the many petty kingdoms in Norway by the late 9th century, whether this was done by one man under an iron grip is open to debate.
However, the sagas, not historical records but imbued with much historical fact, would have us believe it was under this enigmatic figure of Fairhair.
It is precisely because Fairhair, to quote Winston Churchill, is "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" that Åsli and Bakkejord have ample artistic license to explore and expand upon the early life of Norway's first king.
The Flateyjarbók manuscript from the 14th century contains an illustration of King Harald receiving Norway from his father. Source: Public domain
Helps to fill in historical gaps
The rise of Harald Fairhair – if he did indeed exist – took place in the early medieval period, during the mid to late 9th century.
This was a time of limited historical records, which are brought to life by Åsli and Bakkejord, who go into much detail about the bloody battles, important alliances, and personal sacrifices that all led to Fairhair's rise to power.
Their depiction of Fairhair as a complex figure – a visionary leader driven by personal ambition yet prone to bouts of self-doubt and acts of blind love – adds depth to the novel.
His decision to forgo the hairdresser until he has united Norway and won the heart of his prickly sweetheart, Gyda, makes him all the more human and relatable.
We are drawn into Fairhair's mission because he is not just a brave warrior but an extraordinary human, as flesh and blood as any of us.
Ultimately, though, Fairhair's drive for total power comes at a great cost. Betrayal and death are ever-present throughout the novel, and we witness firsthand the personal toll of his bloody ascent to power.
This novel brings to life a semi-historical, semi-mythical figure and reimagines his rise to greatness.
Although he is said to be a pivotal figure in Norwegian history – the man credited with unifying the nation – the historical record offers little detail.
However, thanks to the work of Åsli and Bakkejord, we are given an immersive and deeply personal journey that charts the rise of the boy who would be king – the rise of a true Viking king.
Harald Fairhair: A Viking Historical Fiction Novel by Ole Åsli and Tony Bakkejord is available on Amazon here.
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