Western audiences have only recently started consuming media based on and within Norse mythology and history. However, audiences elsewhere in the world have delighted in stories of Vikings and their kin for far longer. Case in point: Vinland Saga, a Japanese manga by author Makoto Yukimura. This past July, it wrapped up a nearly 20-year publishing run, having attracted a massive international audience and spawning a successful anime adaptation. Notably, the manga has an English translation, making it accessible to non-Japanese readers. With the story now complete, it won’t be long before the English volumes catch up with their source material.
Vinland Saga makes a near-perfect entry point for anyone interested in the rich history of the Vikings and their culture. The story itself features real-world historical figures alongside a blend of mythical characters. It also focuses on a highly personal story that mirrors some events in The Saga of the Greenlanders and The Saga of Erik the Red. The author weaves historical data with fictionalized events in an engaging, exciting, and affecting way. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re interested in reading it.
Where To Find Vinland Saga
If you’re interested in immersing yourself in Vinland Saga’s compelling world, you can find the first chapter in English for free on its publisher’s site. There, you can also purchase digital copies of the available chapters. If you’re more interested in the anime adaptation, the first two seasons are available on Netflix and Crunchyroll. If you’re outside the regions that can access those platforms, you should consider using what is widely considered the best VPN for unlocking international digital content.
If you plan to watch the anime, you can choose between the original Japanese version with English subtitles and an English-dubbed version. The former is far more loyal to the original text, though. And, you should know that the available seasons only adapt two of the four story arcs. However, the show’s producers expect to continue it for a third and a fourth season. Unfortunately, air dates for those seasons aren’t forthcoming. So, you may find yourself awaiting the conclusion of the story for some time.
A Tale of Revenge and Personal Growth
The story of Vinland Saga centers on Thorfinn Karlsefni, a real-life Norseman who lived between 980 and 1020. The historical Thorfinn attempted to create the first European settlement in the Americas, and his son became the first known child of European descent born in the New World. Vinland Saga spins a fictionalized account of Thorfinn’s life, leading up to his attempt to establish the aforementioned colony around the modern-day Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The story begins in Thorfinn’s childhood, when he witnesses his father, Thors, die at the hands of a mercenary leader named Askeladd. The latter is a fictional character based on the Norwegian fairy-tale character Askeladden. The fairy-tale version appears in multiple stories and represents the archetype of the youngest child with no familial expectations. In Vinland Saga, Askeladd plays against type as a cunning, capable warrior who routinely bests his supposedly superior opponents.
What follows is Thorfinn’s long quest for revenge against Askeladd, which sees him grow from a somewhat timid child into a fierce warrior in his own right. In the process, Askeladd takes on the role of unofficial caretaker and father figure for Thorfinn. In the end, Thorfinn fails to get the revenge he so desires, but learns, in the process, that freedom from anger and violence is the prize he should have sought all along. That sets Thorfinn on his historical path, which takes him into slavery in Germany, then a regional Viking war, and eventually to Vinland and his destiny.
The Lure of Thorfinn’s Tale
What makes Vinland Saga so effective as a historical vehicle is how well it humanizes its characters. Rather than serving up a dry retelling of Norse history, it instead compels the reader to identify with the characters and their motivations. That stands in stark contrast to plenty of other media involving Vikings, which tend to cast them as savage killers bent on endless conquest. In comparison, Vinland Saga represents the full spectrum of Norse civilization, including its raiders and warriors, as well as its civilians and social structures. At its heart, however, it’s the story of a kid overcoming overwhelming forces pushing him toward violence, emerging on the other side seeking to give those around him the gift of lasting peace.
