On My Way to Jorvik

Author(s): John Sunderland

Location(s): York, Yorkshire

Genre(s): Autobiography/Memoirs

Era(s): 1950s - 1990s

A Yorkshire schoolboy. A passion for history. A dream that changed the way millions of people experience the past.

“Why can’t museums be more like films?” wondered eleven-year-old John Sunderland. Growing up in West Yorkshire, John Sunderland struggled at school but found inspiration in art, history and the magic of cinema. His lifelong curiosity led him from creating television characters and making films to an extraordinary challenge: bringing the Viking city of York vividly to life for the public.

Told with warmth, wit and remarkable honesty, On My Way to Jorvik takes readers behind the scenes of the creation of the original Jorvik Viking Centre, revealing the personalities, setbacks, humour and moments of inspiration behind one of Britain’s most celebrated museum experiences.

More than the story of an innovative museum designer, this memoir is a journey through Yorkshire’s landscapes, history and culture, celebrating the power of imagination, perseverance and the places that shape who we become.

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