Book Review of Alfred the Great War Kingship and Culture in Anglo-saxon England

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· 61 ratings · nine reviews

Start your review of Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Civilisation in Anglo-Saxon England

Nifty scholarly study of the life, works, and writings of Alfred the nifty. Abels' expertise and *deep* study shows on every page. Information technology contains helpful appraisals of the primary sources and is accordingly respectful towards merely non lionizing of Alfred the Great.

February 12, 2020 Peter Fox rated it it was amazing

This is a scholarly book, written past an good in the field and crikey does it show. If this book was in a moving picture with Ray Winstone, information technology would be The Daddy. It is very well researched and has footnotes galore. Footnotes I adore. Information technology is in that location that you tin encounter the lore. Y'all don't have to proceed flicking back and forth to the back to come across endnotes and suspension upwardly the flow of your reading. It'southward quite a dense book to read, with a lot of information independent within each paragraph. However, Abels has a nice tur This is a scholarly volume, written by an expert in the field and crikey does it show. If this volume was in a film with Ray Winstone, it would be The Daddy. It is very well researched and has footnotes galore. Footnotes I adore. It is in that location that you can meet the lore. Yous don't have to keep flicking dorsum and along to the dorsum to see endnotes and break up the flow of your reading. It's quite a dense volume to read, with a lot of information contained inside each paragraph. All the same, Abels has a overnice turn of phrase and you don't feel as if yous are wading through treacle, more than like sailing across it and enjoying the experience equally you practise so. I was overjoyed to come across him describing a more unlikely conclusion by a young man historian as 'particularly unpersuasive', which is academic speak for maxim that his friend is off his rocker.

Alfred the Great is written mostly chronologically, which is champion, because one can see how earlier events affect the later ones. The exception to this are the later chapters dealing with Alfred's intellectual achievements plus his ideology and the governance of the realm. The quondam I found hard work, mostly because I find ideology a flake dry out and Abel'southward thoroughness here, no doubt a dream to some, is a nightmare to others – ie me. The governance of the realm, though, I couldn't get plenty of.

There are any number of fascinating points made and these aren't floated equally notions, but like whatsoever expert Countdown contestant, Abel's shows his workings. He makes a convincing statement virtually the whole confirmation/induction business organization, goes into the shenanigans apropos the various wills and baton passing of the kingship. He even pours cold water over the 'Blood Hawkeye'by pointing out a lack of whatever contemporary evidence, for which the world may be a less colourful place, although undoubtedly one safer in which to criticise Swedish chefs in. The confusion of battles during the wars against the Danes are well explained and easy to follow, as is the sense that Alfred was lucky in a lot of ways. Not but in battle, simply in getting the peak chore in the first place and and so in being able to appoint new men, who owed their position solely to him when the old generation of magnates vanished early in his reign.

The appendix concerning the debate over the authorship of Asser's life of Alfred, is worth a read all on its own. The merely inaccuracy that jumped out to me was Aethelraed being mistranslated every bit 'Noble Wolf' which is more of a clerical fault than anything else. This is a great book and well worth a read.

Three things you'll take abroad from this:

1, the role of luck in history
two, the tenuous link of Alfred's family to the Cerdicings, through Ingeld, brother of Ine
3, how businesslike Alfred was in things

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Richard P. Abels work on Alfred the Bully was absolutely fantastic, and I learned a fantastic amount near Alfred in this biography. At first I was humble with this reading every bit the writings on early england I discover to be a piddling challenging but in terms of names and movements but this book was extremely well written and informative while likewise beingness very accessible.

Everyone knows the story of Alfred who burned the cakes which is a famous story of his, nigh in England who take a grasp on th

Richard P. Abels work on Alfred the Smashing was absolutely fantastic, and I learned a fantastic corporeality about Alfred in this biography. At first I was apprehensive with this reading as the writings on early england I find to be a little challenging just in terms of names and movements but this book was extremely well written and informative while also being very accessible.

Anybody knows the story of Alfred who burned the cakes which is a famous story of his, most in England who have a grasp on their history know information technology and not to diminish information technology merely I don't see the fixation on it - but thats but me. Alfred was also given the title of Neat by his chronicler Asser who had come up to his court when Alfred was trying to encourage the literacy and teaching. It was nice to meet that while many in history have been known equally "the great" typically for their ability every bit a commander and warlord, Alfred actually lost the majority of his battles just he managed to win the battle that would end up mattering the nearly at Edington after he had been forced to flee to the swamps of Somerset afterwards having lost at Wilton.

Information technology was also interesting to see how Alfred has been portrayed as the founder of the English navy and its standing ground forces. It was said that among the naval battles that were recorded in early on english history of the iv that accept been recorded he was involved straight in three of them. Information technology was also interesting to come across how he reformed the war machine and fortresses as the needs of defense against the Danes were a pressing thing.

All in all I would recommend to anyone interested in Alfred, Richard does a proficient chore of playing both analytical detective while likewise providing a sweeping narrative, I learned a tremendous amount that I wont get into it all hither but was surprised how much I enjoyed information technology and couldnt put it downwardly.

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This is an splendid account, the nigh comprehensive of the Alfred books I have. It is more than a biography, covering the nature of kingship just while academic information technology remains very readable. Alfred is placed firmly in his time as both warrior and scholar, and both social (burh organisation) and legal reformist, but this is no sycophantic rendering - he, like Asser'southward biography of him, is scrutinised advisedly - as with his usurpation of the kingship and the treatment of his nephews. This is an excellent business relationship, the most comprehensive of the Alfred books I take. Information technology is more a biography, covering the nature of kingship but while academic it remains very readable. Alfred is placed firmly in his time every bit both warrior and scholar, and both social (burh system) and legal reformist, simply this is no sycophantic rendering - he, like Asser'due south biography of him, is scrutinised carefully - equally with his usurpation of the kingship and the treatment of his nephews. ...more

May eleven, 2020 Gayla Bassham rated information technology really liked it

I read this volume immediately after I finished Ben Merkle's The White Horse King, and how refreshing it was. Footnotes! Objectivity! Disquisitional analysis instead of blind credence of every give-and-take in a hagiography!

I don't agree with every word in this volume--primarily considering I am even more skeptical of Asser's Life of Alfred than is Abels--but it is a model of how to write a biography of someone for whom nosotros don't accept that much information. Highly recommended as an alternative to the Merkle book.

I read this book immediately afterwards I finished Ben Merkle's The White Equus caballus King, and how refreshing it was. Footnotes! Objectivity! Disquisitional analysis instead of blind acceptance of every word in a hagiography!

I don't agree with every word in this volume--primarily considering I am even more skeptical of Asser's Life of Alfred than is Abels--but it is a model of how to write a biography of someone for whom we don't have that much information. Highly recommended as an alternative to the Merkle book.

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May 20, 2008 Eric rated it it was amazing

I've along admired Rex Alfred the Nifty, who ruled the English kingdom of Wessex from 871 until his decease in 899. He was a peachy man, a great king, a slap-up warrior, a scholar, and lover of learning.

Thankfully, Richard Abels, a Professor of History at the U.South. Naval Academy, has produced a fine, comprehensive, and insightful account of Alfred, the only English language king to be called Nifty.

Abels examines the entire historical record to paint a counterbalanced portrait of Alfred. The king was a archetype warrio

I've along admired King Alfred the Great, who ruled the English kingdom of Wessex from 871 until his death in 899. He was a great human, a bang-up king, a bang-up warrior, a scholar, and lover of learning.

Thankfully, Richard Abels, a Professor of History at the U.Due south. Naval Academy, has produced a fine, comprehensive, and insightful account of Alfred, the only English king to be chosen Great.

Abels examines the entire historical record to pigment a balanced portrait of Alfred. The king was a classic warrior-scholar, familiar with ancient Latin texts and battlefield strategies. He considered his kingship, and the monarchy in full general, as divinely inspired and blest past God himself. In render for this awesome privilege and responsibleness, the king had a duty to pursue and rule with wisdom. Alfred treated his subjects fairly, and by all accounts was generally admired by the populace.

He faced several challenges - Viking raids, rebellious-minded nephews, lack of education throughout the kingdom - and at to the lowest degree attempted to solve them all. He defeated the Vikings and prevented them from conquering all of Britain. He and a team of scholars translated Latin texts into English, and then onetime English language, which looks like a foreign linguistic communication to usa. He built a arrangement of defensive sites, known as burhs, which proved their worth in the Viking raids in the 890s.

Abels writes well, critically examines each source, and tells u.s. if one is suspect. Where the record is unclear or non-existent, he offers educated and plausible explanations.

This is, by far, the best book most Alfred and his times I accept read.

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October 10, 2013 Andrew Marr rated it it was amazing

Here is a very readable biography of Alfred the Great, i of few monarchs called "Bully" who seems to take deserved the epithet. In spite of the gap of over a millennium, Alfred'due south multi-faceted personality comes alive. By avoiding the hero-worship that Alfred has been subjected to, Abels makes a convincing case for presented Alfred every bit a king who achieved much. Although Alfred did non himself win the crucial battles against the Danes in the last years of his reign, the work he had washed to or Here is a very readable biography of Alfred the Bully, one of few monarchs called "Nifty" who seems to have deserved the epithet. In spite of the gap of over a millennium, Alfred's multi-faceted personality comes alive. By avoiding the hero-worship that Alfred has been subjected to, Abels makes a convincing case for presented Alfred as a king who accomplished much. Although Alfred did not himself win the crucial battles against the Danes in the concluding years of his reign, the work he had done to organize the army made it possible to hold of the invaders and he laid the foundations that his son & grandson could build on in solidifying the kingdom. Alfred'southward intellectual and spiritual interests are perhaps unusual for a king but they were role of his greatness. ...more than

Mar 12, 2014 Edoardo Albert rated it really liked it

An excellent, scholarly biography of the ruler who was, probably, the greatest king in English history. While the biography by Justin Pollard is meliorate written, sweeping the reader forth like a novel, it suffers from the author building huge, towering deductions on unsubstantial foundations. Abels' biography is more sober; listen you, saying that, Alfred'south life, even in what we deeply know near it, was thrilling plenty to enliven even the stodgiest prose, and Abels is ameliorate than that: workmanl An first-class, scholarly biography of the ruler who was, probably, the greatest king in English history. While the biography by Justin Pollard is meliorate written, sweeping the reader along similar a novel, information technology suffers from the author building huge, towering deductions on unsubstantial foundations. Abels' biography is more sober; mind y'all, proverb that, Alfred'south life, even in what we deeply know about information technology, was thrilling plenty to enliven even the stodgiest prose, and Abels is ameliorate than that: workmanlike would be a good clarification. So, of the two biographies, Pollard'south is flashier and faster, Abels' more solid and reliable. ...more than