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The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great

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I'd been looking for a richly detailed, general-audience biography of Alfred the Great for many years now -- I read a lot of historical and fantasy fiction, and every year or so I'd read something that drew on Alfred's legend and then find myself on the 'net for an hour or so, reading about the burned cakes or his army in exile at the swamps of Athelney; and then I'd wish I had a good in-depth biography close to hand -- something that would give me a detailed image of Alfred's life and times, not just the dry facts I could glean from a google search.

This is the book I'd been looking for. There's a rich wealth of detail about Alfred's life, associates, friends, enemies, and family, and the author has very clearly done extensive combing of the available historical record. More importantly, though, the author makes a deliberate effort to bring Alfred's surrounding culture to life as well, and we're given not just Alfred's history, but also a great deal of information on how the events and actions of Alfred's life might or would have been viewed by his contemporaries in the Anglo-Saxon world.

The only flaw in this book is that the author doesn't spend as much time as I would've liked on the pros and cons of points of historical controversy. For example, while acknowledging that some controversy exists on the point, Merkle establishes the White Horse Hill in Uffington as the site of the Battle of Ashdown (Alfred's first great victory against the Danes) -- a position that's a fair bit more contentious than it seems as presented by Merkle. This same pattern is present throughout, and it's part of why this book is better suited for general audiences than for scholars. Still, though, Merkle does acknowledge the controversies even when he takes a firm position of his own, and he names sources so that readers who want more in-depth knowledge can seek out those alternate viewpoints on their own.

This is a work of general-audience history, and general-audience history is always a bit of a gamble: I never know, when I pick up something by a new author, whether I'm going to learn any more than I would from a Wikipedia search, or whether (and this is always my hope) I'm going to get a genuinely detailed and evocative picture of the individuals' life and times. This particular gamble pays off; if you're not a scholar of the era, but still interested in this era of history, it's worth reading.

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great by Benjamin Merkle is an excellent biography of the lesser known historical figure of King Alfred. While I remember briefly studying about the Danish, Northmen, and Vikings, I don't remember learning much about Alfred, who as it turns out, played a very integral role in shaping the future of British history. While Alfred was not actually a king of the whole of England (the nation would unite under his grandson), he was the king of Wessex and is to this day the only English king to be known as "the Great."

Though Merkle does discuss Alfred's childhood briefly, the bulk of the book focuses on Alfred's near constant fight to defend his kingdom from the plundering of the Vikings. The Northmen had been pillaging the poorly defended English towns for decades, but the activity rose to a height during Alfred's childhood and into his reign as king of Wessex. Eventually, the vast majority of his resources and attention was focused on determining a feasible way for the citizens of Wessex to effectively defend their homes. He developed a professional standing army, a rather new concept to the people of his kingdom; he took advantage of the Roman roads which still remained so that troops could more quickly travel to the site of a battle; he ordered villages to build defenses around the city limits. Perhaps most importantly was that when the time for battle came, Alfred fought with his people. In a day when we can most easily send our troops to fight battles far away without so much as a second thought, the idea of the king leading his faithful men into battle strikes a chord with me and speaks to the days of chivalry and true nobility. It was through Alfred's efforts and determined leadership that the island nation was eventually able to rid themselves of the invaders from the north in all finality.

Once this feat was accomplished, Alfred turned his attentions to other important needs within his kingdom; his focus became education reform. Though the people spoke in the vernacular of the Anglo-Saxon language, most written work was Latin, and the people, including the nobility, of Alfred's time were unable to read and write in either language. He deemed literacy a requirement for the noblemen to hold their titles and property and mandated education for all free men. Eventually, he translated several works from Latin into the vernacular so that the whole of the nation would be able to read the works- and not just those who had studied enough to understand the Latin language.

It is obvious the author knew his subject material extremely well; I was very impressed with how much information was packed into the short book. Even though I felt the writing was a bit slow at times, I learned several fascinating facts not only about Alfred the Great, but about the Vikings and Romans as well. Perhaps my favorite little tidbit of knowledge came when the author explained the origin of the word berserk. But I won't tell you- you'll just have to read the book to find out.

Alfred the Great is an extremely important historical figure that has somewhat been forgotten in modern times.

I have to admit to starting this book with very little knowledge of Alfred or the history of that time period. This book made the history of that period come alive and stirred up an interest in me to learn more about Alfred the Great. It was very well written with the right mixture of narrative and historical facts and was concisely written to reach the average person. However, as you can see from other reviews, academics are also finding this book of value. If you have an interest in history, this book is worth your time and money and will likely open up more interest in this period.

For those who were like me and wonder why we should care about Alfred--he is largely responsible for defeating the invading vikings, uniting the various kingdoms of Britain, initiating a literary renaissance, reviving Christian faith, and reforming the legal system.

This biography was very well written, and flows as a novel, rather than a dry history book. You can really relive the battles, with the descriptions of the shieldwalls, the noise, chaos, and coordinated pushing. The sea battles were very interesting too. But most of all, Alfred's courage, cunning, wisdom, and leadership of building up a defensive system that can withstand Viking attacks, with quick response, as well as consideration for the families of the soldiers to be defended at home. His life while on the run, mirrors that of King David's, and Alfred, being a devout Christian and Bible reader, as well as Bible translator must surely have prayed many of the prayers that David prayed while running from Saul. His grace and mercy to the defeated Vikings, while making him seemingly weak, brought some eternal rewards.

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great
By Benjamin R. Merkle
Edition: Paperback
Price: $[...]

THE EPIC OF ALFRED THE GREAT
IF ALFRED WAS half of what author, Benjamin Merkle, says he was, and I have no reason to doubt him, then Alfred in reality, was, one of the greatest leaders in history. He ranks with Imhotep, The American Founding Fathers, Abe Lincoln, and FDR in a "League of Their Own." The copy I received from the publisher's through Amazon for review, was a paperback version of about 250 pages.

Before I review the book let me ask and answer the most burning question; having read the book would I buy it knowing what I know now. The answer is a solid YES!

I must say that I so enjoyed it that later the night I read it, I dug for my DVD copy of Excalibur and watched that to boot, so engrossed was I in the environment of Olde England, before it was England. At the time the book covers roughly from the reign of King AEthelwulf of Wessex 839 to about 937 when Alfred's great Grandson AEthelstan defeats the Dane's at the battle of Brunanburh as England was united during his reign thus AEthelsta became the first true King of England. At that time there were, throughout most of what are now Europe countries, City States. NorthUmbria-containing Strathclyfe, Bamburgh, Norwegian, Kingdom of York, Land of The Five Boroughs (Danes), and East Anglia and over the rough border Gwyedd, Powys, Gwent, Dyfed, Bay Cheiniog, Glywysing, English Merciand-the Kingdom of The Anglo Saxons Wessex.
In 410 the Anglos, Saxons and Jutes Migrated to the Isle of Britain. Beginning in 793 when the Vikings-(Danes) raided Lindesfarne and continued their assault each year continuously ay least through 937.

The Vikings would seek out easy pickings, monasteries, churches, small towns and small states, wreak bloody and violent havoc, in which rape, torture and making a sport of the most horrid slashing, gut ripping while a person was still alive (Literally) chopping, hacking and more raping. Their goal was stealing things of value, food, equipment, weapons, jewels anything of value and, often ransom, called DanesGeld. "Give all your valuables and we will stop raping, plundering and killing... etc." Then they would collect their prizes and often the Vikings would, renew the raping, plundering and killing... etc. just for the fun of it. They persistently attack the Cities, borough's, churches and hate the idea of open ware or fighting an even battle, but do not shrink from such encounter when presented.

Alfred, an unlikely bet to become King, does in fact through circumstances we have seen before many times when fate seems to take a hand in world affairs. He becomes king because his four older brothers died before he did. After a frustrating beginning, wherein the Vikings continually beat the Anglo Saxons (heretofore A/S's) at every battle and were even bought off once by Alfred, but no more. By a stroke of chance Alfred's forces were battling the Vikings to a standstill when his relief arrived late because of an ambush of a town, which had no protection. Arriving late allowed Alfred's relief to flank the enemy and defeat them. Now for me, a person who love war strategy games, the accidental tactic would become a strategic weapon of great import, but it never happens until\ near the end of Alfred's reign. The frustration is that in the beginning, the Anglo Saxons once having panicked the hardy Danes, never give pursuit and so the Danes regroup and live to fight onward. The A/S's do not pursue the Danes because their soldiers were farmers and had to get home for the harvest. Obviously this would demand a standing army and fortressing all boroughs, linking them and setting blocks so the Vikings cannot continue to use the rivers for attack in their longboats. Moreover, Alfred, unlike the last several presidents we have had wanted prosperity for all of his subjects so he founded schools for both nobility and commoners and initiated a large publishing industry to print books and tried to make his people well round, well read and well endowed with peace and learning. He had books published and translated into the Anglo-Saxon languages from Latin and imported world renowned scholars to teach his nobility to read and write, feeling that competence not political corruption is the way to create a healthy and creative nation, unlike our last several fools in the presidency of the USA.

He also established a new Court and laws, much more than Medieval, which were more fair to those who were not of noble blood.

I do not want to spoil the ending so I will go no further with the description. But I will say that there seems to be some repetition to about 30% point of the book, and then all hell breaks loose in rapid fire.
Alfred becomes a hero, educator, and wonderfully humble and creative king, the only King, ever in England with the title of Alfred The Great. He was indeed a great man of incredibly strong will, fearlessness, genius for organization, Strategy and tactics. The descriptions of battle after battle after battle, after battle, in which Alfred goes from underdog to Overdo and gains the great respect of even the then violent and super conniving Vikings.

The book opens with explanations, moves a little slowly at first, starts to speed up, slows again and then bursts into a galloping, then racing ending with a crescendo of power unleashed, which seems to never slow down until the story is over. If you are an anglophile or love historical non-fiction, try;

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great
by Benjamin R. Merkle
Edition: Paperback
Price: $[...]

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I agreed to review this historical biography, The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great, but after struggling to get started for several weeks, I am really glad I pushed on and read it through. Only a master story-teller could manage to effectively weave centuries of facts and fables into a book that read more like a novel than a biography. Author Benjamin Merkle tells the story of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex during the 9th century; and he does so in an easy-to-read, engaging manner, sharing the story of a poet-warrior-king set on protecting his land and his people from the ravaging Vikings.

I was especially impressed with Merkle's ability to successfully argue for Alfred's standing as one of Britain's greatest kings. While I don't recall ever studying Alfred the Great before reading this book, I have come away with a greater knowledge and appreciation about what appears to be a very integral period of history, not only for Europe, but I believe for the world. Alfred's display of character in the heat of betrayal, wisdom in the chaos of battle, and vision in moving his people forward not only helped to provide peace from the savage plundering of the Danes, but stands as an example of what a leader, even in the 21st century, should look like.

If you like historical biographies, I would highly recommend this book. Check it out at Amazon.com or Christianbook.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Well-written and entertaining, The White Horse King: the life of Alfred the Great by Benjamin Merkle, makes the historical account of Alfred the Great read like a tale of fiction (a real life cross between King Arthur and Robin Hood). There are some minor repetitions and theological references along the way that slow the pace a little, but for the most part, this book is fun and progresses rapidly. The battles with the Danes are especially well done in a realistic, fast-paced manner that's refreshing. I appreciated the author's ability to depict a fair level of historical detail without becoming boring. And also his willingness to think outside the box, challenging current historical convention (page 168, "...contrary to the miserly estimation of the scholarly world.") not merely regurgitating age old theories because it's the norm. Kudos Merkle! This is a wonderfully written story and a fun read. I highly recommend it to anyone and especially to teachers of history or literature. Books like this would keep students interested, challenged, and entertained, and should be a part of curriculum everywhere. Five Stars.

Merkle has written a biography of Alfred the Great that reads like a fantastic fictional novel. I like that Merkle has written it in this way as I think it encourages those that aren't history fans to rethink their opinions on historical books. I did not know much about King Alfred before I started this book and it gave me a great, detailed view of his life and all that he accomplished. It was nice to read about Alfred as King and Alfred as a person, in order to get a well-rounded view of his life. It is a short, quick read and you do not need to be an historical scholar or history buff to enjoy it.

Ben Merkle is a serious scholar, but his book "The White Horse King" is no stuffy, academic look at Alfred the Great. Instead, Merkle presents solid historical fact in a most accessible, unintimidating way. The result is a book history lovers can enjoy without having to reach for a magnifying glass (no tiny footnotes to decipher), and one that students as young as middle school could read with success. I'm especially impressed by the way Merkle defines and explains archaic terms in a way least likely to offend the most people. I knew a lot of what he points out in the break-out quote-type boxes, but I did not find myself getting annoyed. I'd be willing to be those who need terms like "wassail" defined would not feel patronized by his explanations.
That said, there's a more important point to the book than simply examining an interesting guy from long ago. Alfred the Great, Merkle argues, was responsible for bringing England to a place of possibility, where everything that has been admired about the British national character finds its source. It's popular these days to put down the age of British Empire and to natter on about the racist and imperialist strains of thought that polluted what was good about England. Those complaints have their place, but only if there is acknowledgment of the tremendous debt the world owes to Western Civilization, incarnated, if you will, in England.
Alfred the Great didn't just save his country in times of war, he laid the foundation for correct moral law, rigorous scholarship, love of literature and the arts, national development and not least, Christianity. Merkle says it pretty clearly in his introduction: "Alfred was great because Alfred was a great king."
He does a great job of backing up his claim and introducing us to a king worth knowing.

Few people know how often history turns on a single event or rested in the will of a single man. Moderns take for granted the liberties they enjoy or bear the chains that burden them without recognizing the fragility of these states. Humanity is frequently unaware that we are but one battle, uprising, or vote from tyranny or freedom. The historian searches the annals of our existences and can warn us against repeating previous folly or, give us hope that even overwhelming odds can be defeated.

Such is the case with Benjamin Merkle's fine new book The White Horse King. The story of Alfred the Great (the only Anglo Saxon king to earn that sobriquet) stands separated from the dusty, dry accounts that litter the history library. The pages turn themselves as Alfred's life is detailed with equal accounts of his courage in battle, the sharp tactical mind he brought the arrangement of his kingdom, and the piety that drove it all. The intensity of standing side by side within the shield wall as Ashen spears probe for exposed targets comes off of Merkle's pages and increases your pulse while you read quickly to see if the threat of defeat becomes a reality. The brief, quiet interludes between skirmishes are spent by Alfred healing but also, seeking the will of God.

The king's impact on English history may not be well known in our modern age, as more recent Britains such as Churchill come to mind quicker. To understand the import of Alfred's stand and repulsion of the pagan invaders who were within a breath of conquering and settling England is to recognize the monumental change that this defeat would have had on all of history. Cultural and military history would have tacked much differently had the Vikings been allowed to conquer the Saxons, perhaps delaying even the Christian establishment and its effects for centuries.

The White Horse King reads like a Robert Louis Stevenson adventure mixed with the Nordic sagas of Poul Anderson. The thread of faith winds its way throughout the book but it never reads as proselytizing. Alfred was a man whose faith defined him, his decisions for himself and his people were driven by the Christian values that he held dear. Because the faith was internalized, Alfred does not appear as a man who lines up the Bible against the decision that he wants to make, looking for approval. Instead, the way of Christ has so influenced his heart that we marvel over the distance of time how naturally he applies the paradigm of the Kingdom to the challenges that were forced upon him.

This book was graciously provided by Thomas Nelson for review.