The Ship in the Hill

This historical novel is based on the true story of the excavation of a Viking burial ship from a hill in Norway in 1904. The find dumbfounded archeologists because it was the most elaborate Viking grave of all time, yet it contained the bones of a woman.  Historians had thought that the Viking world -- and certainly Viking ships -- were ruled by men.  Who was this woman?

Alternating chapters in The Ship in the Hill follow the archeologists unearthing the ship in 1904 and the Viking queen who sailed the ship a thousand years before.

This book can be read separately, but it is also the first in the Viking Saga series, which includes The Ship in the Sand (Book 2) and The Ship in the Woods (Book 3).

352 pages, 5-1/2"x8-1/2", 2 maps, 23 pen-and-ink drawings by Karen Sullivan

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Reviews

"The Ship in the Hill reminds me of Tolkien's writing in the best possible ways: high adventure in the style of the old northern sagas.  This super book has everything -- love, kidnapping, betrayal, revenge, adventure, heroic journeys.  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it." -- Book-of-the-Year staff pick, Amanda MacNaughton, Paulina Springs Bookstore

"A great read!  I loved how Mr. Sullivan moved back and forth between the 9th century and the early 20th century with such ease.  I hope you'll consider reading this book." -- Jane Kirkpatrick, author of "An Absence So Great"

"I teach sagas, so I can tell Sullivan has done his homework.  He's a novelist with a great knack for description, character, and dialogue.  I liked it a lot, and was quick to recommend it to my students." -- Jim Earl, medieval studies professor, University of Oregon

Norway consisted of 30 kingdoms at the start of the Viking Age. The Vikings ruled only in Vestfold, south of present day Oslo. Asa was the princess of Agthir, a kingdom to the southwest.

The Oseberg ship was found in a hill 3 miles from the ocean, near the Vikings' first capital, Tunsberg.

Readers may refer to this genealogy to keep track of people mentioned from the Viking Age.