Nancy Marie Brown

Nancy Marie Brown is an American author and scholar who specialises in the medieval Norse world, bringing Viking-age culture, science, and history to life for modern readers. Her books combine rigorous research with accessible, engaging storytelling. Ivory Vikings explores the mystery of the Lewis Chessmen — the famous twelfth-century chess pieces found on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland — and argues that they were carved by a woman, Margret the Adroit, in Iceland. Brown weaves together art history, archaeology, Norse saga, and cultural detective work in a compelling narrative. The audiobook and book versions offer listeners and readers a beautifully researched, engrossing work of cultural history. Brown's writing appeals to anyone fascinated by the Viking age, medieval art, chess, and the hidden stories of women in history.