Alfred the Great

Biography & Memoir, Historical
Cover of the book Alfred the Great by Barbara Yorke, The History Press
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Author: Barbara Yorke ISBN: 9780750963695
Publisher: The History Press Publication: July 1, 2015
Imprint: The History Press Language: English
Author: Barbara Yorke
ISBN: 9780750963695
Publisher: The History Press
Publication: July 1, 2015
Imprint: The History Press
Language: English

Why is Alfred "the Great?" A simple answer is that he has been seen as a man who saved England, invented English identity and pioneered English as a written language. He is the first Englishman for whom a biography survives, so we know more about Alfred and his ideals than we do for most people who lived over 1,000 years ago. A slightly longer answer would say that things are a bit more complicated, and that one reason Alfred seems to be so "great" was that he made sure we were told that he was. To get the measure of Alfred we need to look at what he actually managed to achieve. Can we resurrect the "real" King Alfred? Even if we have to part company with some of the Victorian adulation, we are still left with a pretty impressive and surprising person.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Why is Alfred "the Great?" A simple answer is that he has been seen as a man who saved England, invented English identity and pioneered English as a written language. He is the first Englishman for whom a biography survives, so we know more about Alfred and his ideals than we do for most people who lived over 1,000 years ago. A slightly longer answer would say that things are a bit more complicated, and that one reason Alfred seems to be so "great" was that he made sure we were told that he was. To get the measure of Alfred we need to look at what he actually managed to achieve. Can we resurrect the "real" King Alfred? Even if we have to part company with some of the Victorian adulation, we are still left with a pretty impressive and surprising person.

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