3 x Nonfiction

Three nonfiction books that I have read lately, all of them outside Nonfiction November.  Tree of Salvation, Yggdrasil and the Cross inte the North by G. Ronald Murphy, S.J., The Edge of the World, How the North Sea Made Us Who We Are by Michael Pye, and Evolutionen och jag (Evolution and I) by Johan Frostegård. Two of them are histories of Northern Europe and one is a history of the world, showing the evolution of man and the various theories attached to it. 

Tree of Salvation, Yggdrasil and the Cross inte the North by G. Ronald Murphy, S.J.

"At the heart of the mythology of the Anglo-Scandinavian-Germanic North is the evergreen Yggdrasil, the tree of life that holds up the skies and unites and separates three worlds: Asgard, high in the tree, where the gods dwell in their great halls; Middlegard, where human beings live; and the dark underground world of Hel, home to the monstrous goddess of death. With the advent of Christianity in the North in the early Middle Ages, Yggdrasil was recast as the cross on which Christ died to save humankind. G. Ronald Murphy offers a fascinating look at the lasting significance of Yggdrasil in northern Europe, showing that the tree's image persisted not simply through its absorption into the cross of Christ's crucifixion, but because the new Christians identified the truth of their adopted religion in the symbols and narratives of the mythology they left behind. 

Rather than dwelling on the theological and cultural differences between Christianity and older Anglo-Scandinavian beliefs, Murphy shows how the new belief system was a new manifestation of the old. He shows how architectural and literary works, including the Jelling stone in Denmark, the stave churches in Norway, the Dream of the Rood, the runes of the futhark, the round churches on Bornholm, the Viking crosses at Middleton in Yorkshire, and even the Christmas tree, are indebted to the cultural interweaving of cross and tree in the North. Tree of Salvation demonstrates that Christian and older Northern symbols can be read as s single story of salvation."

G. Ronald Murphy, S.J. guides us through the fascinating story of how the old Viking gods and beliefs were integrated into the new Christian belief, when Christianity reached the northern part of Europe. They seemed to have had a pragmatic approach to the whole thing, both as regards theology as well as art and culture. Instead of getting rid of all the old beliefs they added the new teachings into it, merging it into beautiful art when it came to decorate and build churches and other religious buildings. It is interesting how it works and together with the author we visit churches, rune stones and other constructions where their art is still visible today.

The Edge of the World, How the North Sea Made Us Who We Are by Michael Pye

"This is a story of saints and spies, fishermen and pirates, traders and marauders - and of how their wild and daring journey across the North Sea built the world we know. 

When the Roman Empire retreated northern Europe was a barbarian outpost at the very edge of everything. A thousand years later, it was the heart of global empires and the home of science, art, enlightenment and money. We owe this transformation to the tides and storms of the North Sea. 

The water was dangerous, but it was far easier than struggling over land - so it was the sea that brought people together. Boats carried food and raw materials, but also new ideas and information. The seafarers raided, ruined and killed, but they also settled and coupled. With them they brought new tastes and technologies; books, clothes, manners, paintings and machines. 

In this dazzling historical adventure, we return to a time that is largely forgotten and watc has the modern world is born. We see the spread of money and how it paved the way for science. We see how plague terrorised even the rich and transformed daily life for the poor. We watch as the climate changed and coastlines shifted, people adapted and towns flourished. We see the arrival of the first politicians, artists, lawyers: citizens.

From Viking raiders to Mongol hordes, Frisian fishermen to Hanseatic hustlers, travelling as far west as America and as far east as Byzantium, we see how the life and traffic of the sea changed everything.

Drawing on an astonishing breadth of learning and packed with human dramas and revelations, this is the untold story of how we came to be who we are."

The history and development of Europe mostly highlights the south. Maybe it has to do with the Roman Empire who for so many years ruled Europe and established itself as the basis of our civilisation. As a contrast to the enlightened south, this book takes a look at the northerners. Mostly considered a little bit backwards, pagan and maybe even uncivilised in comparison. Everyone seem to remember the Vikings and their raids. 

Historian Michael Pye changes all that with this thoroughly researched story of the development of the North Sea states. It is a fascinating story where he looks at society and its achievements, both from a national point of view as well as from personal points of interest.  We meet people in all areas of society, we follow their work, their dreams and how they live.  He looks at important questions like nature and science. The invention of money and the economy of states and people. Lawmaking. The development of cities, and the ever present politics and wars. It shows that the northern parts were not so backwards after all. 

Evolutionen och jag (Evolution and I) by Johan Frostegård

Johan Frostegård looks at mans' place in the world. Is man an animal among all other? The evolution theory has been called the best idea ever, but there are still no answers to the really big questions. The book is about evolution, you and me and where we fit into the line. He takes a look at human knowledge from various aspects, such as moral, gender questions, religion, AI and micro organisms.

The book is partly rather scientific, but Frostegård manages to explain it in a way that even a non scientific person can understand his reasoning. It is very interesting, well researched and he put forward theories from scientists with different views and stands on the evolution. Of course, the basis of all is Darwins On the Origin of Species and his other books. I am full of admiration for Darwin who dared put his theory to the public in a time when an idea that man was not created by God was a mischief. Frostegård himself thinks that the biggest question of all is on how and why man developed and became what he became. 

The book raises a lot of interesting questions on the evolution of man. Non easily answered. Scientist are still researching and as more and more results come into the open, we will know more. However, we have to accept that we might not know it all.