Extreme North: A Cultural History

In this latest work, Brunner (The Art of Lying Down; Inventing the Christmas Tree) explores the cultural constructs that surrounds northern climes through literature, travel, and the arts. The “North” in this work is predominantly northern Europe: Iceland, Denmark and Greenland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Brunner examines misappropriations of northern culture included mythologizing their gods, customs, and sagas, the author explains. For example, the horns on Viking helmets are not supported by archaeological evidence and were probably created by a costume designer for Richard Wagner’s Ring cycle opera. The narrative also explores the popularity of Nordic culture over the centuries. For example, Nordic culture was so popular that a rumor circulated in the 19th century that Queen Victoria was related to Odin. Unfortunately, not all appropriations were benign. The Nazis used Nordic tropes in their propaganda to bolster their claims of antisemitism and the purity of the Aryan race. As the author tells, these ideas of a “white and unsullied population” still resonate as evidenced by President Trump’s 2018 comment calling for more immigration from Norway.