The Long Ships: Frans G. Bengtsson

Set in the tenth story during the Viking raids of England and the defeat of Ethelred the Unready's army at Maldon. Orm, son of a famous pirate, is shanghaied by the Vikings near his home in Sweden. He sailed with them until captured by the Moors and spent several years as a galley slave. He escaped to Ireland, fought in the Battle of Maldon and then journeyed down the unknown Russian rivers in search of gold. Epic battles and bloody feuds with authentic historical details and plenty of zest and humour.