The Life of King Alfred
Description
The Life of King Alfred is a book by Asser, first published in the late 9th century. Written by a Welsh monk who spent time at Alfred’s court, it offers one of the earliest biographical accounts of an English ruler. The work provides a vivid picture of a turbulent era marked by Viking invasions, political reform, and the consolidation of early English identity.
Combining historical narrative with personal detail, the book gives insight into Alfred’s character, education, and military leadership. It presents him not only as a warrior king but also as a champion of learning and religious renewal, shaping ideas of good governance that echoed through later English literature and historiography.
Long valued as a cornerstone of Anglo-Saxon studies, this biography remains an essential primary source for medieval history. It also stands out as an early example of political writing, crafted to strengthen Alfred’s legacy and assert the stability of the West Saxon kingdom. This edition is a 1906 translation by Albert S. Cook.
- Formats
- PDF, EPUB, AZW3
- Page Count (PDF)
- 38
Note: All of the books available here were first published generations ago. Care has been taken to produce clear, readable files, and each ebook is fully formatted with features such as a linked table of contents and clearly structured chapter headings. Where applicable, illustrations and footnotes have also been carefully presented for ease of reading. None of these ebooks are DRM-protected. As with any historical text, occasional imperfections may remain.
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