Viking Boys

Fifteen-year-old Yaspard Adiesen watches boats crossing the Shetland waters and wishes he could live like the Vikings. His younger sister Signy listens to his plans for sailing, discovery and adventure among the islands. The orphaned siblings share an affectionate bond, while an old family quarrel keeps Yaspard from making friends with the boys whose seamanship he admires. His dissatisfaction with ordinary life soon leads to a secret idea that he promises to share with Signy.

Jessie Margaret Edmondston Saxby's children's novel places youthful ambition among fishing boats, rocky channels and small islands. In a later scene, Yaspard binds an injured sailor's wounds and hears how a schooner struck a hidden rock after following a misleading light. The coastal setting gives practical weight to questions of courage, friendship and responsibility. Readers looking for a sea adventure can also follow the contrast between Yaspard's romantic picture of the past and the urgent demands of helping another person.