Customer Reviews

King Alfred the Great

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A great and comprehensive biography of one of the most amazing figures of history. Although some may take a little time getting used to the Saxon names and genealogy anyone who enjoys biographies or history should love this book.

Although filled with detail Smyth breaths life into the days of Alfred. A religious man who was both a brilliant scholar a brilliant tactician and one tough soldier. Such was his brilliance he did such remarkable things as help to adapt the Viking boat to suit his own army's needs for a craft more suited to navigating the coast of Britain.

He almost single-handedly created what we know today as England and through his treaty with the Vikings he established an economic zone of a type shared by both the Saxons and the Vikings and in so doing played an important role in the creation of the English language.

After his peace with the Vikings he established a just system of laws and an aggressive plan to educate the populace of England.

The biography starts with the peculiar and unfortunate circumstances within his family that led to his succession. He found himself, trained as monk, in the midst of one of the great watershed moments of British history when England was being overrun by the Vikings. His campaigns as a defeated underdog reclaiming his kingdom makes for truly exciting reading. The book is filled with detail including shedding light on how the main biography historians in the past (Asser's "Life") had been drawing from was a forgery.

The story of the forgery of Asser's "Life" , what was the standard biography of Alfred the great up until recent times, is in itself a story within a story in this book.

Through the examination of works of Alfred himself we come to understand his great wisdom.

A fascinating read about a monumental figure of history.

Highly recommended.

Alfred Smith, a professor of medieval history at the University of Kent, provides us with a masterful biography of Alfred the Great. Smith's biography is a radical departure from the traditional view of Alfred as a neurotic invalid who remained piously illiterate until he was almost 40. Alfred's life is thoroughly examined to reveal a man of great physical stamina who had been a scholar all his life and who used his intellectual abilities, military prowess and administrative skills to change the course of English history prior to the Norman Conquest. This beautifully written biography examines Alfred's writings and charters, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, and Asser's biography of Alfred (which Smith believes was a medieval forgery). This biography should be added to the library of historians, students and lovers of medieval history!

This is ONLY for the most studied scholars and is in no way meant for any sort of casual reader, even a well-educated History major, like myself. I begged my wife for this book for Christmas and was reaquainted with "Be careful what you wish for..." This is a VERY serious, dull read. I cannot recommend this book, even though I love the subject. Stick with Duckett's Alfred the Great... http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Great-England-Phoenix-Books/dp/0226167798/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244169871&sr=1-4