
The Medieval Life of King Alfred the Great
A Translation and Commentary on the Text Attributed to Asser
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
The Medieval Life of King Alfred the Great
A Translation and Commentary on the Text Attributed to Asser
About this book
Very few King's earn the appellation 'Great'. Alfred is the only English King honoured with this name and is credited with various successes (the foundation of a navy, English education system and religious revival). His memory looms large in the English Imagination. The medieval 'Life' of King Alfred of Wessex purports to be written by Asser, a monk in the King's service. This account of one of England's best loved and most famous kings has been accepted as offering evidence on most aspects of life in early medieval England and beyond. It was used in Victorian times to create a 'Cult' of Alfred. Alfred Smyth offers a carefully annotated translation of the 'Life' together with a long commentary. He argues that the 'Life' is a forgery which has profound implications not only for our understanding of the early English and medieval past but also for the nature of biography and history. This close scholarly rendering of the text allows the reader access to the intricacies of medieval history.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Contents
- Abbreviation
- Acknowledgement
- Preface
- Introduction
- Translation of the Life of King Alfred
- Commentary
- 1 A Tour around the Manuscripts
- 2 The Author of the Life
- 3 The Author’s Latin Style
- 4 The Author’s Use of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
- 5 Why Was the Life of King Alfred Written at Ramsey in c. AD 1000?
- Notes
- Index