Gee, published by the society for the promotion of christian knowledge spck in 1900. His father died when he was young and three of alfred s brothers. Daniel anlezark this book presents alfred in his historical context, seen through assers life, the anglo saxon chronicle, and other texts. A history of the british monarchysaxon rulersalfred the great. Based on uptodate information on ninthcentury history, geography, philosophy, literature, and. May 15, 2017 1999 marked the elevenhundredth anniversary of the death of alfred the great, and to mark this event, two international conferences were held to reevaluate and contextualise alfred s achievements and the developments of his reign. It guides students through musical styles and the development of music through the ages. The king and his england phoenix books by eleanor shipley duckett only 1 left in stock order soon. The political thought of king alfred the great by david pratt. These books covered history, geography, philosophy and gregory the greats pastoral care a handbook for bishops, and copies of these books were sent to all the bishops of the kingdom.
Instruction in the spirit of mercy, in florilegium, 1994. At their fathers behest and by mutual agreement, alfreds elder brothers succeeded to the kingship in turn, rather than endanger the kingdom by passing it to underage children at a time when the country was threatened by worsening viking raids from denmark. Asser is most famous for his the life of king alfred, written in 893, which is one of the first biographies of a ruler in english history. Alfred the great papers from the eleventhcentenary conferences. Alfred the great is a rare historical figure from the early middle ages, in that he retains a popular image. Ealhswith or ealswitha died 5 december 902 was the wife of king alfred the great. Justin pollards enthralling, authoritative account befits alfred a soldier, a scholar and statesman like no other in english history. It is also the source of most of contemporary historians knowledge of alfred s life and rule. For more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the englishspeaking world.
Alfred the great is a wonderful book about the late ninth century king who saved wessex the last standing anglosaxon kingdom in britain from viking rule. In this biography, professor smyth explores the life of a remarkable man. King alfred the great by l du garde peach, illustrated by john kenney, vintage ladybird adventure from history book, series 561, c1967 penelopecatvintage 5 out of. It is most needful for men to know he is recorded as stating and to bring it to pass, if we have peace, that all the youth now in englandmay be devoted to learning. As king of wessex, he strove to emulate those kings of the past who, in his own words, had succeeded both in warfare and in wisdom. Angels we have heard on high away in a manger carol of the bells deck the halls the first noel god rest ye merry gentlemen hark. The subtitle assers life of king alfred and other contemporary sources is a great description of this book. The context is wonderfully presented, making it a joy to read throughout. Synopsis alfred is the only english king ever to be called great. His greatness stemmed from his success as a general, and. Since the year 2000 i have been keeping track of what i read, just to see what i gravitate towards etc, and it is about 40 books a year, or so. He is one of only two english monarchs to be given the epithet the great. He is the bestknown anglo saxon king in british history thanks to his biographer asser died c.
By 886 ce alfred had captured london and was the most powerful ruler in england. The ninth century in all its course was the century of alfred the great. Alfred is the only english king ever to be called great. His historical anthology of legal texts explains that the nature of christian law is a system of justice in which mercy subsists. The book is full of clear information and although it is most definitely an academic and detailed study of alfred and his times, it is written in an easy to read and engaging style, which has stimulated.
Life of alfred the great audio book by asser, bishop of sherborne, translated by j. Alfred the great was king of wessex from 871 to 899. Justin pollards enthralling, authoritative account befits alfred a. Wessex before the time of alfred the world of alfred s boyhood, 84965 alfred and his brother, king ethelred, 86571 king alfred and the great war against the danes, 87186 king alfred and his rule in wessex king alfred and his scholars and teachers king alfred. We will explore alfred s life, the anglo saxon and viking background, and the wars alfred won to establish his.
Alfred the great by jacob abbott, first published in 1876. Alfred successfully defended his kingdom against the viking attempt at conquest, and by his death had become the dominant ruler in england. Life of alfred the great by asser, bishop of sherborne. This image increasingly suffers from the dead white male syndrome, exacerbated by alfred s association with british imperialism and colonialism, so this book provides an accessible reassessment of the famous ruler of wessex, informed by current scholarship, both on the king. Compilation of the anglosaxon chronicle began during his reign, circa 890. In the days of alfred the great, by eva march tappan 18541930, an american author. In an era darkened by the terror of viking invasions, englands fi. This comprehensive collection includes assers life of alfred, extracts from the anglosaxon chronicle, and alfreds own writings, laws, and will. Jun 29, 2006 this is book six of cornwells excellent fictional series set in the time of alfred the great.
Alfred, also spelled aelfred, byname alfred the great, born 849died 899, king of wessex 871899, a saxon kingdom in southwestern england. The viking wars of alfred the great by paul hill nook book. A life of king alfred of england originally composed in latin, possibly sometime around 888 a. The reign of king alfred the great 87199 is among the most stirring periods of english history. Alfred the great makers of history alfred the great, alfred the great. In 878 ce he defeated the main viking army at the battle of edington. P j helm alfred s life as monarch was to be a struggle against the great danish forces that sought the permanent foreign occupation of half of england. The only variation is that the second commandment is omitted from its rightful place. Bishop asser tells the story of how, as a child, alfred won a book of saxon poems, offered as a prize by his mother to the first of her children able to memorize it. Horspool writes well and the book is easy to follow. This comprehensive collection includes assers life of alfred, ext. Selected works audio book by alfred the great by audio books.
Jan 25, 20 life of alfred the great audio book by asser, bishop of sherborne, translated by j. The herald angels sing it came upon the midnight clear joy to the world merry christmas. Alfred is perhaps best of all remembered for his famous law code. He led the battle against the viking invaders of england, and presided over the revival of religion and learning among his people. Her mother was eadburh, a member of the mercian royal family, and according to the historian cyril hart she was a descendant of king coenwulf of mercia. To the feiends of honest and capable government in america preface the issue of stevensons long and eagerly expected edition of assers life of king alfred has provided an opportunity to supply the ever increasing number of the great kings admirers with a more satisfactory rendering into english of this, perhaps the most. He is the only english monarch to be accorded the epithet the great. The doom book, domboc, code of alfred or legal code of.
Alfred founded a court school to educate the nobles and encouraged the great scholars of his day to take up residence in england. The book, alfred the great, contains an introduction that explains the details of alfred s life. King alfred united anglosaxon england against a viking invasion, led the english into battle against the danish hordes, created a renaissance of literature and the arts, reformed the legal system. I found the first few chapter of, the white horse king.
It was not a title given by political supporters, not the sycophantic gift of an official biographer, nor a selfstyled title. Alfred camera simple home security at your fingertips. Alfred the great is said to be the founder of what would become the english monarchy. Centuries before john wycliffe, alfred was translating the bible into the anglo saxon language. Alfred was patron of the anglosaxon chronicle which was copied and supplemented up to 1154, a patriotic history of the english from the wessex viewpoint designed to inspire its readers and celebrate alfred. Daniel anlezark presents alfred in his historical context, seen through assers life, the anglo saxon chronicle, and other texts associated with the king. An advancedlevel book that contains 20 sophisticated dan coates arrangements. Alfred thus located his law code in a biblical lineage. Very good book, addresses all the myths surrounding alfred and whether we can accept them as truth or fable. This book presents alfred in his historical context, seen through assers life, the anglo saxon chronicle, and other texts. Check out the following list of books to take and exciting, informative, and easy to understand stroll through history alexander the great, alfred the great, charles i, charles ii, cleopatra, cyrus the great, darius the great, ghengis khan.
In this audiobook, you will catch a glimpse into the life and struggles of alfred the great. Regardless of if they are true, one thing stands, alfred was a great king. He prevented england from falling to the danes and promoted learning and literacy. See all books authored by alfred the great, including king alfred s version of the consolations of boethius. It engages with current discussions about the authenticity of attributions. Michael treschow, on alfreds prologue to his doom book in the prologue to alfreds law code. Yet his historic vision for his people, personal courage, spiritual devotion, and treatment of his enemies, offer profound wisdom for political leaders of any age including our own.
Alfred the great papers from the eleventhcentenary. Mar 21, 2016 king alfreds book of dooms judgments alfreds book of dooms judgments 2009 american law was established upon english common law. Would recommend to anyone who wants to gain a foothold in alfredian history. Page 376 i have carefully and regularly perused these holy scriptures, and am of opinion, that the volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more. Along with assers biography of king alfred and an incredibly extensive amount of footnotes there are also translations of religious and philosophical books. Alfred the great download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Done into modern english, and anglosaxon chronicle, and more on. This book provides a reassessment of the famous ruler of wessex, informed by current scholarship, both on the king as a man in history, and the king as a subsequent legendary construct. He is the bestknown anglosaxon king in british history thanks to his biographer asser died c. Everyone knows something about alfred the great, but digging deeper has been so rewarding and this book has widened my interest and appreciation of this famous figure. The life of alfred the great, by benjamin merkle, to be rather dry. This book is a comprehensive study of political thought at the court of king alfred the great 87199. The audiobook covers his exploits, his weaknesses, and all the things that made him great. A bronze statue of alfred the great stands at the eastern end of the broadway, close to the site of winchesters medieval east gate.
And in thesame year the good pope marinus died, who freed the angle races school, at theprayer of alfred, king of the west saxons. Assers life of king alfred, written in 893, is a revealing account of one of the greatest of medieval kings. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A true anglosaxon hero and role model that history buffs and genealogical researchers will thrill over. The research is thorough and clearly underpins the book, but it is worn so lightly that the reader is never made to feel lectured in a tiresome way. King alfreds book of dooms judgments from the trenches. Alfred the great was an anglosaxon king who inherited the throne of wessex in southwestern england in 871 ce. A great consolidation of all the information available about alfred the great. Like all historic figures from centuries past, his actual history has been blurred in a mixture of fact, fiction, myth, and legend.
It engages with current discussions about the authenticity of attributions to alfred of works such as the old english boethius and soliloquies, and explores how alfred came to be considered the great king of legend. Soldier, statesman, and scholar, alfred the great was a fascinating and highly successful king, pushing back the vikings to command what is now thought of as the heart of england as ruler of wessex from 871899. Soldier, statesman and scholar, alfred the great is celebrated as one of britains most successful and heroic kings. Alfred the great books list of books by author alfred. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every. Alfred therefore gained control of areas of west mercia and kent which had been beyond the boundaries of wessex. This is a well written and interesting account of that far off time and the man who ruled the last anglosaxon kingdom to resist the danish invaders. King alfreds code, or alfreds dooms as it was called, begins with an almost literal transcript of the decalogue. According to the celebrated former british statesman and historian sir winston churchill,2 the roots of king alfred s book of laws or dooms alias his deemings came forth from the as then already longestablished laws of kent, mercia and wessex. He reigned between ad925 and ad939 and was the very first king of all england. Alfred the great by jacob abbott meet your next favorite book. It explains the extraordinary burst of royal learned activity focused on inventive translations from latin into old english attributed to alfreds own authorship. This book provides a reassessment of the famous ruler of wessex, informed by current scholarship, both on the king as a man in history, and the king as a. And in the same year the army ineast anglia brake peace with king alfred.
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