The book by T. N. Jackson allows the reader to get acquainted with the totality of information from Old Scandinavian sources about their stay in Rus' at the end of the 10th - first half of the 11th century. four Norwegian kings (kings). The life of the Norwegian kings in Rus' is described in the sagas extremely succinctly, with one or two general phrases. The lack of specific information is absolutely obvious, as is the tendency of the saga authors to exaggerate the role of the noble Scandinavian in Rus'. And yet, the fact of the presence of Scandinavian rulers in Rus', despite the silence of Russian sources, is beyond doubt. The basis for this statement is the verses of the skalds, which are sparse in content but carry reliable factual information.

The cover reproduces N. K. Roerich’s painting “Overseas Guests” (1901). Drawings by Scandinavian artists of the 19th century were used as illustrations. Halfdan Egedius, Christian Krogh, Gerhard Munthe, Eilive Peterssen, Erik Werenskjöld, Vilhelm Vetlesen.