The Mythic and the Modern: Exploring the Viking Age in Popular Culture
The 2024 Annual Barbara A. Hanawalt Public Lecture will feature author and OSU alumna Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart and The Weaver and the Witch Queen.
From Marvel’s Thor to the History Channel’s hit television series, the Vikings have experienced a significant upsurge in popularity in the last decade or so. But how do modern depictions of the Vikings complement and conflict with one another, and how might early medieval Scandinavians have seen themselves in comparison? Join OSU alumna and national bestselling author Genevieve Gornichec to explore how historical sources have been used to depict the Viking Age and Norse mythology in recent years, and how she approached this in her own novels, The Witch’s Heart and The Weaver and the Witch Queen.
Genevieve Gornichec earned a BA in history and minored in Scandinavian Studies at The Ohio State University, where her study of Norse myths and Icelandic sagas became her writing inspiration. Her debut novel, The Witch’s Heart, was released in 2021 and has been translated into over a dozen languages. Her sophomore novel, The Weaver and the Witch Queen, was released in 2023. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
This event is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow, with books available for purchase.
Parking: the Ohio Union South garage is located at 1759 N High Street. The Ohio Union North garage is right next to it.
The Humanities Institute and its related centers host a wide range of events, from intense discussions of works in progress to cutting-edge presentations from world-known scholars, artists, activists and everything in between.
We value in-person engagement at our events as we strive to amplify the energy in the room. But we also recognize the fact that not all our guests will be able to visit our space. Zoom access will be available to this event upon request. If you wish to have such access or have any other accommodation request, please send your request to MacKenzie DiMarco: dimarco.33@osu.edu.