Catching up with Clare

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with Professor Clare Downham about her new compilation of primary sources on Vikings and philosophical reflections on the human condition.

This time we welcome friend of the show Professor Clare Downham of the University of Liverpool back to the show for an unprecedented THIRD time. We always have so much fun chatting with her that we can’t seem to stop! Clare is one of the world’s foremost scholars on vikings, particularly vikings in Ireland and England, and this time she talked to us about the new compilation of primary sources she’s just completed that will be published by Penguin Classics next year. But that wasn’t all. As we historians tend to do, we wandered into philosophical questions about the human condition which transcends time. It seems vikings were so very different from us and not so very different at the same time. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. It’s your opportunity to eavesdrop on what historians talk about when they talk like no one is listening. Skál! Vikingology is reader-supported. To make sure the fun doesn’t end, please consider becoming paid subscriber. Get full access to Vikingology Podcast at vikingology.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Guest: Professor Clare Downham

Topics covered

• Vikings
• history
• philosophy
• primary sources
• Ireland
• England

Keywords

• Vikings
• Clare Downham
• primary sources
• history
• Ireland
• England
• philosophy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Liverpool, Penguin Classics

Places: Ireland, England

More episodes of Vikingology Podcast

• The Saga of the Earls of Orkney · April 29, 2026 · 1h 14m
• The Secret Code of the Vikings · April 10, 2026 · 1h 10m
• Playing in the Halls of Asgard · April 6, 2026 · 1h 1m
• For the love of Beowulf · March 27, 2026 · 1h 21m
• A milestone episode with Jackson Crawford · February 14, 2026 · 1h 33m
• Myth and belief in the Viking Age and beyond · January 24, 2026 · 1h 10m