Have you ever experienced a journey on which you were not aware of taking? Have you ever experienced fear that makes your lips white? Have you ever experienced monsters that in your mind, there was no existence? Eaters of The Dead is a tale of such situations. A tale of life and death, of pride and honour, and of the love for victory.
Eaters of the Dead was written by a brilliant man of the name Michael Crichton. He was born in Chicago, 1942. He graduated from Harvard University with a Medical Degree. He today is a best-selling author, and co-writer and producer of the popular TV show "ER". A man of such talents is very well respected, as in my opinion; Eaters of The Dead was very wonderfully written. A question asked, is, was this man biased when writing this book about Arabs and northmen? I believe not. Throughout the book he indicated about the northmen drinking and having fun with slave girls. Yet he also indicated the northmen not understanding the Arab culture and the Muslim religion. I believe he was not biased because he wrote this book from Ibn- Fadlan's point of view. An Arab point of view. It demonstrated how and Arab viewed these Northmen, and it showed how the northmen viewed the Arab THROUGH the Arab's point of view. I don't believe this is of a biasing conclusion. The northmen did laugh however at many of Ibn-Fadlan's remarks and statements. On page 129, Herger replies, " " In fear, even Arabs speak the truth," he said, and then rode forward to tell my words to Buliwyf, who also laughed." This is just one of the examples showing how the northmen thought of Ibn-Fadlan's sayings were funny and up for a good joke. Ibn-Fadlan also had his moments of disrespect for the northmen. On page 115, " To this I said he was a stupid Northman who knew nothing of the wideness of the world." This is why I conclude the insults and comments from both Arabs and Northmen were well balanced out.
