The Farfarers : Before the Norse

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating revision of North American history
Review: In this book, Mowat argues that people he calls the Albans migrated from the British Isles to what is now Canada long before the Vikings reached those shores. He tracks historical records and visits previously unexplained archaeological sites, many of which are pictured in the illustrations. According to Mowat, the Albans migrated first to Iceland, then Greenland, and finally to Labrador and Newfoundland. In each case, escaping threats from other peoples such as the Vikings was a driving force. The traces of their final settlement in Southwestern Newfoundland may now be detectable only by genetic analysis.

This book is readable and informative even if you don't completely buy Mowat's theory. Along the way, you learn things about Romans, Celts, Picts, and others. The only question this reviewer would raise is the use of fictional recreations at the beginning of some chapters.