King Alfred the Great (Hardcover)

by Alfred P. Smyth (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
With his military prowess, administrative skills, and promotion of learning, Alfred is perhaps the most revered of the Anglo-Saxon kings. Yet, much of our knowledge about him is based on fragmentary and unreliable chronicles from a turbulent age when fact and legend constantly mingled. Smyth, a medievalist at England's Kent University, provides a thorough, slow-moving, but often engrossing reexamination of Alfred's life and his significance in the larger context of northern Europe in the ninth century. Occasionally, the character of Alfred and the dynamism of his accomplishment are drowned out by the sheer volume of detail provided; still, Smyth generally succeeds in integrating the man with his times. General readers will probably find this work a bit overwhelming; however, medieval scholars and amateurs with a love of English history will find much here to delight them. Jay Freeman

From Kirkus Reviews
This substantial piece of scholarship challenges traditional academic wisdom surrounding the ninth century king of Wessex whose achievements changed the course of English history prior to the Norman Conquest. When Alfred came to power in the south of England at age 23, his grandfather, father, and four of his brothers had all been kings before him, and Anglo-Saxon society was facing its greatest challenge in the growing incursions of the Vikings and the seemingly invincible progress of the Great Army of Danes. Alfred not only turned the tide of war, so that his sons and grandsons could eventually unite the whole of England under one king, but he was also a scholar whose writings and translations constitute a treasury of Old English prose. Smyth (Medieval History/Univ. of Kent, England) tells how, on the basis of the anecdotal Life ascribed to the king's tutor, Asser, Alfred's reign became part of the English national myth during the Reformation under Elizabeth I and was further romanticized by the Victorians, who saw Alfred as the father of the British Empire. Smyth argues powerfully that Asser's work, which still occupies a central place in Alfredian historiography, was a medieval forgery, written in order to promote monastic reform and characterized by folk legends and literal interpretations of Alfred's rhetorical topoi. For a real picture of Alfred, urges Smyth, we need to turn to his own writings, to the charters of his reign, and to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The Alfred who emerges is a man of genuine piety, extraordinary intellectual and emotional resilience, as well as great physical stamina. Throughout, Smyth remains in serene command of both his complex sources and of the English language. Very much a history for historians, Smyth's work is essential reading for students of Alfredian and early medieval England. (36 b&w illustrations) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 808 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 14, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198229895
• ISBN-13: 978-0198229896
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,239,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb biography of Alfred the Great, August 12, 2001

By A Customer

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!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The amazing life and genius of Alfred the Great, May 30, 2005

By	Hallstatt Prince (MA. USA) - See all my reviews

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.

1.0 out of 5 stars REALLY dry - a dull read, June 4, 2009

By	K. E. Wilson (L.A. Co, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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