Publisher's Synopsis
In the early 1800's, on a Hebridean beach in Scotland, the sea exposed an ancient treasure cache: 93 chessmen carved from walrus ivory. Norse netsuke, each face individual, each full of quirks, the Lewis Chessmen are probably the most famous chess pieces in the world. But who carved them, and where? This work explores these mysteries by connecting medieval Icelandic sagas with modern archaeology, art history, forensics and the history of board games. In the process, it presents a vivid history of the 400 years when the Vikings ruled the North Atlantic, and the sea-road connected countries and islands we think of as far apart and culturally distinct. The story of the Lewis chessmen also explains the economic lure behind the Viking voyages to the west, and brings from the shadows an extraordinarily talented woman artist of the 12th century: Margret the Adroit of Iceland.
