Dr. William R. Short is an author, filmmaker, lecturer, and independent scholar specializing in Viking-age topics, notably medieval Icelandic literature, Viking-age material culture, Viking-age weapons, and Viking-age combat techniques.
Dr. Short is the manager of Hurstwic, LLC, an organization that researches, practices, teaches, and demonstrates the fighting moves of Viking-age warriors. This teaching has led to the creation of a series of Viking combat training videos, as well as two feature-length documentary films with accompanying picture books based on historic Viking-age battles from the Sagas of Icelanders.
In the fall of 2019, Dr. Short and Hurstwic co-sponsored a festival of experimental archaeology in Iceland with Eiríksstaðir, the Viking-age home of Eirík the Red. The focus of the festival was uncovering the lost secrets of making iron in Viking-age Iceland, secrets that had been forgotten centuries ago. We brought together teams of experts from North America, Iceland, and Europe in a multi-faceted research project that culminated with our making iron in Iceland for the first time in centuries, using all Icelandic materials and Viking-age tools and techniques.
Men of Terror: A Comprehensive Analysis of Viking Combat details a 20+ year research program into Viking Combat and Viking society, published by Westholme Publishing.
Icelanders in the Viking Age: The People of the Sagas is a companion and introduction to the Sagas of Icelanders and is now available, published by McFarland & Company.
Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques, a book that summarizes his research results has been reprinted in a paperback edition published by Westholme Publishing.
Dr. Short presents on Viking-age topics at universities, schools, museums, and other cultural institutions.
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now available: Men of Terror: A Comprehensive Analysis of Viking Combat, a new book that details Hurstwic's 20+ year research into Viking combat. |
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Personal appearances |
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Biographical sketch |
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Web articles on the Hurstwic site |
