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Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources
This comprehensive collection includes Asser’s Life of Alfred, extracts from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and Alfred’s own writings, laws, and will.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 893
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About the author
Asser
6 books4 followersAsser (died c. 909) was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's and join the circle of learned men whom Alfred was recruiting for his court. After spending a year at Caerwent because of illness, Asser accepted.
In 893 Asser wrote a biography of Alfred, called the Life of King Alfred. The manuscript survived to modern times in only one copy, which was part of the Cotton library. That copy was destroyed in a fire in 1731, but transcriptions that had been made earlier, together with material from Asser's work which was included by other early writers, have enabled the work to be reconstructed. The biography is the main source of information about Alfred's life and provides far more information about Alfred than is known about any other early English ruler. Asser assisted Alfred in his translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, and possibly with other works.
In 893 Asser wrote a biography of Alfred, called the Life of King Alfred. The manuscript survived to modern times in only one copy, which was part of the Cotton library. That copy was destroyed in a fire in 1731, but transcriptions that had been made earlier, together with material from Asser's work which was included by other early writers, have enabled the work to be reconstructed. The biography is the main source of information about Alfred's life and provides far more information about Alfred than is known about any other early English ruler. Asser assisted Alfred in his translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, and possibly with other works.
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July 21, 2019This is a great book to get hold of if you are interested in the Anglo-Saxons or early medieval history. It's packed full of source material - enough to get the curious going, not just Asser's life of Alfred which fascinatingly stops well before Alfred's death (did Asser just die unbeknown to us before he could finish the work?), extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and a Latin translation thereof, as well as some wills and laws.
Alternatively if you only know Alfred from secondary material then turn to this slim volume and see what historians have to work with.
Alfred as we know him is the gift of Asser to posterity. The fact of the existence of the Life is all we have, did Alfred commission it - and if so to what end? If he did then that might explain the abruptness of the ending and the sense in places that it was a draft. On the other hand if not what might have inspired Asser - a Welshman not a Wessexman - to write it? Was this kingdom building through imitation - as Charlemagne had his Einhard so Alfred must have his Asser?
In anycase what we have a crafted media presentation for which we can only be grateful, for the want of anymore, his son King Edward the Elder and daughter Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians remain in the shadows, obscurer figures far.
Alternatively if you only know Alfred from secondary material then turn to this slim volume and see what historians have to work with.
Alfred as we know him is the gift of Asser to posterity. The fact of the existence of the Life is all we have, did Alfred commission it - and if so to what end? If he did then that might explain the abruptness of the ending and the sense in places that it was a draft. On the other hand if not what might have inspired Asser - a Welshman not a Wessexman - to write it? Was this kingdom building through imitation - as Charlemagne had his Einhard so Alfred must have his Asser?
In anycase what we have a crafted media presentation for which we can only be grateful, for the want of anymore, his son King Edward the Elder and daughter Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians remain in the shadows, obscurer figures far.
June 26, 2019
I’ve recently read a couple of fiction books (as well as binge-watched “The Last Kingdom” on Netflix), so I reasoned it was time to find out the actual story concerning the English king that people kept writing about. I am happy that my search caused me to find this book.
The subtitle “Asser’s Life of King Alfred and other contemporary sources” is a great description of this book. Along with Asser’s biography of King Alfred (and an incredibly extensive amount of footnotes) there are also translations of religious and philosophical books. All of them – for different reasons – serve to add another layer of information about King Alfred, and the author shares a wealth of knowledge with the readers.
While interesting, it is not what I would call a historical page-turner. Don’t count on reading this in one or two sittings. Do count on an interesting picture of a historical figure who lived over 1000 years ago (written history by a contemporary from that long ago was enough to convince me to read the book). Very professional presentation. Five stars.
The subtitle “Asser’s Life of King Alfred and other contemporary sources” is a great description of this book. Along with Asser’s biography of King Alfred (and an incredibly extensive amount of footnotes) there are also translations of religious and philosophical books. All of them – for different reasons – serve to add another layer of information about King Alfred, and the author shares a wealth of knowledge with the readers.
While interesting, it is not what I would call a historical page-turner. Don’t count on reading this in one or two sittings. Do count on an interesting picture of a historical figure who lived over 1000 years ago (written history by a contemporary from that long ago was enough to convince me to read the book). Very professional presentation. Five stars.
November 17, 2020
England’s Philosopher King
14 November 2020
What stood out with this book was that the story was somewhat familiar. Okay, I’ve read it previously, but what I mean is that it felt as if the story of King Alfred was somewhat similar to another king, but I couldn’t quite place my hand upon who it was. Sure, there were probably a number of philosopher-kings out there, but the odd thing is that many of the kings that we know of, particularly the kings of England, aren’t really known for being philosophers. The other thing was that Alfred was also a warrior, and spent the first part of his reign driving out the Viking invaders.
And then it clicked, he reminded me a lot of the Biblical King David. Like him, Alfred wasn’t necessarily guaranteed the position, and in fact had to wait a while before he became king, namely because he waited for his brothers to die off first. In fact one brother who wasn’t supposed to be King, remained King, and Alfred just let him, and didn’t do anything to make his displeasure known. In fact, from what I gathered, he actually got on quite well with him (which sort of differs from the story of King David, who spent the first part of his reign hiding from King Saul, who was going out of his way to kill him).
The other thing was that not only did they spend a lot of their reign fighting, but they also spent a lot of their reign composing literature. In fact a bulk of the Psalms are attributed to King David (and I wouldn’t be surprised if you could contribute some of the histories to him as well, though Biblical Scholars don’t seem to want to do that – I, however, have a gut feeling that David may be responsible for the books of Samuel, and possibly even Judges, though there isn’t really any evidence saying that this is the case – in fact tradition has Samuel as being the author of Judges, and the prophets Nathan and Gad being the authors of the books of Samuel).
So, what did King Alfred write? Well, it was more translations as opposed to actually writing any real literature, other than the typical decrees and contracts that you would expect to come from a King. Like, he translated Boethius, the Psalms, and even Augustine. Many of these works seemed to have more to do with setting out the responsibilities of a God-fearing king, but there is also an essence of wanting to make some of these works accessible to the average literate person.
This particular book contains a collection of his writings, but it also contains Asser’s Life of King Alfred (though that work is sort of incomplete), as well as a selection from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which specifically details with the period of Alfred’s reign. The rest of the book contains selections of his translations, namely from Latin to Old English, which is pretty much incomprehensible to most of us modern English speakers (to the point that they even have university courses dedicated to learning old English, which is tricky at best considering the writing style that they use as well, though to be honest with you, actually reading proper Ancient Greek and Latin texts can be pretty tricky as well – ahh, the joys of the printing press).
Alfred certainly does seem to be quite an interesting character, especially since there is this story about how he miraculously learnt Latin, and was then able to use this knowledge to translate many of the Latin texts that remained hidden away in the monasteries. It is also interesting that he was translating the Bible into the vernacular long before the whole Reformation shook apart the Western Church, and it certainly didn’t seem to be an issue with the Papacy at the time.
The other interesting thing is how we learn about the Vikings travelling up the European Rivers, and raiding many of the inland cities, including Paris. In fact, a number of them ended up settling in the interior of many of the lands, though they were eventually driven out (unless they ended up settling there and merging with the population). They were certainly pretty good sailors, and it is also interesting to see how many of the European cities aren’t actually built on the coast, but rather inland, along the rivers. I suspect that the lack of actual port cities (though there are some), probably had something to do with needing extra protection against Viking attacks, since pretty much all of their attacks came out from the ocean. Then again, that’s only a theory, and since most of the rivers that these cities are built on are quite navigable, then I guess that’s probably a moot point.
14 November 2020
What stood out with this book was that the story was somewhat familiar. Okay, I’ve read it previously, but what I mean is that it felt as if the story of King Alfred was somewhat similar to another king, but I couldn’t quite place my hand upon who it was. Sure, there were probably a number of philosopher-kings out there, but the odd thing is that many of the kings that we know of, particularly the kings of England, aren’t really known for being philosophers. The other thing was that Alfred was also a warrior, and spent the first part of his reign driving out the Viking invaders.
And then it clicked, he reminded me a lot of the Biblical King David. Like him, Alfred wasn’t necessarily guaranteed the position, and in fact had to wait a while before he became king, namely because he waited for his brothers to die off first. In fact one brother who wasn’t supposed to be King, remained King, and Alfred just let him, and didn’t do anything to make his displeasure known. In fact, from what I gathered, he actually got on quite well with him (which sort of differs from the story of King David, who spent the first part of his reign hiding from King Saul, who was going out of his way to kill him).
The other thing was that not only did they spend a lot of their reign fighting, but they also spent a lot of their reign composing literature. In fact a bulk of the Psalms are attributed to King David (and I wouldn’t be surprised if you could contribute some of the histories to him as well, though Biblical Scholars don’t seem to want to do that – I, however, have a gut feeling that David may be responsible for the books of Samuel, and possibly even Judges, though there isn’t really any evidence saying that this is the case – in fact tradition has Samuel as being the author of Judges, and the prophets Nathan and Gad being the authors of the books of Samuel).
So, what did King Alfred write? Well, it was more translations as opposed to actually writing any real literature, other than the typical decrees and contracts that you would expect to come from a King. Like, he translated Boethius, the Psalms, and even Augustine. Many of these works seemed to have more to do with setting out the responsibilities of a God-fearing king, but there is also an essence of wanting to make some of these works accessible to the average literate person.
This particular book contains a collection of his writings, but it also contains Asser’s Life of King Alfred (though that work is sort of incomplete), as well as a selection from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which specifically details with the period of Alfred’s reign. The rest of the book contains selections of his translations, namely from Latin to Old English, which is pretty much incomprehensible to most of us modern English speakers (to the point that they even have university courses dedicated to learning old English, which is tricky at best considering the writing style that they use as well, though to be honest with you, actually reading proper Ancient Greek and Latin texts can be pretty tricky as well – ahh, the joys of the printing press).
Alfred certainly does seem to be quite an interesting character, especially since there is this story about how he miraculously learnt Latin, and was then able to use this knowledge to translate many of the Latin texts that remained hidden away in the monasteries. It is also interesting that he was translating the Bible into the vernacular long before the whole Reformation shook apart the Western Church, and it certainly didn’t seem to be an issue with the Papacy at the time.
The other interesting thing is how we learn about the Vikings travelling up the European Rivers, and raiding many of the inland cities, including Paris. In fact, a number of them ended up settling in the interior of many of the lands, though they were eventually driven out (unless they ended up settling there and merging with the population). They were certainly pretty good sailors, and it is also interesting to see how many of the European cities aren’t actually built on the coast, but rather inland, along the rivers. I suspect that the lack of actual port cities (though there are some), probably had something to do with needing extra protection against Viking attacks, since pretty much all of their attacks came out from the ocean. Then again, that’s only a theory, and since most of the rivers that these cities are built on are quite navigable, then I guess that’s probably a moot point.
May 8, 2014
Very informative book for anyone interested in King Alfred or the situation in late 9th century 'England'. The book includes a lengthy introduction, a section of it examines the sources, another gives a summary of Alfred's life and his reign. Asser's Life of King Alfred follows, also includes a brief look into Asser himself.
Also in the book are extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (from 888 to 900 AD), and extracts from the writings of King Alfred himself, these include his translations of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care, Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy, Augustine's Soliloquies and his will.
Other things included are miscellaneous extracts from the laws of King Alfred, his treaty with the viking Guthrum, a charter granted to an ealdorman and a letter from a continental archbishop. All of this with a weighty amount of notes.
Also in the book are extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (from 888 to 900 AD), and extracts from the writings of King Alfred himself, these include his translations of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care, Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy, Augustine's Soliloquies and his will.
Other things included are miscellaneous extracts from the laws of King Alfred, his treaty with the viking Guthrum, a charter granted to an ealdorman and a letter from a continental archbishop. All of this with a weighty amount of notes.
March 28, 2017
The "Life" provides a tantalising glimpse into the rule of the most famous of English (or rather, Wessex) kings. In this remarkable survival of a tumultuous time in history, Asser veers between biography, contemporary events and geographical descriptions. It was never intended to be read by the English but by other nations and Welsh monk Asser is keen to propagandise the monarch's piety and generosity (perhaps to advertise him as a potential ally, trading partner or future overlord). The text is frustratingly short and ends abruptly as an unfinished work. Alfred was indeed learned (translating several Latin works) and these are included in the supplementary texts which pleasingly augment his story with extracts of annals, grants, laws and letters. An essential read for anyone with an interest in early English history.
November 29, 2015
"Remember what punishments befell us in this world when we ourselves did not cherish learning nor transmit it to other men." - King Alfred the Great
I read this mostly for Asser's Life of King Alfred, which if probably true of most people who read it; however, all the extra material wasn't some sort of burden. It is highly informative. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is added to throw in the details of what happened when Asser's Life suddenly ends, despite the fact that he lived longer than his subject. Following that are some works by the king himself: prefaces to translations, the translations themselves, his law code, et cetera. These all have their own interesting aspects when looking into the mind of the king. Also included are some miscellaneous other sources for the study of the reign of Alfred. I didn't read the latter part of this as thoroughly as I did the first part, but I have a good reason.
On it's own, it's an exhaustive study, complete with a lengthy introduction and even more lengthy notes. I used it as a jumping off point and as a companion read for further study of King Alfred. I ordered two biographies of the most famous of Anglo-Saxon kings along with this, and now that I've read the main sources (Asser and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) for his life and looked over the other sources for his personality and the interactions between his contemporaries, I'm ready to beginning a more in-depth study. I highly recommend this book as a starting point.
As a pleasure read--well, aside from myself, I don't know many people who would pick up a book like this to read for pleasure. But if you're into that sort of thing, Asser's Life is comparable to Einhard's Life of Charlemagne--when he's not directly pulling from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle--and if he mixed it with some of the hagiography from the period. (In fact, I've noticed quite a few similarities between Alfred and Charlemagne, including how Asser seems to have styled himself as Alfred's Alcuin.) He has some failings though; or, rather, he has many of the failings of most writers from this era--namely, he feels extremely biased and restrained. But, like many works from the Medieval era, we get some beautiful glimpses into a most interesting period, even if it is in between rapid-fire fact shooting.
Oh, I almost forgot--there are two appendices at the end: one dealing with the story of Alfred and the cakes and the other dealing with the Alfred Jewel (shown on the cover the book). Both are interesting, but the former was more so for me. I've always known Alfred as a fighter of Vikings and a lover of literature and learning, but this story of him as an inattentive baker was something I'd heard about but had actually never heard. It was nice to finally get the full legend and to understand its origins. Unfortunately, the details on the Alfred Jewel only whetted my appetite.
I read this mostly for Asser's Life of King Alfred, which if probably true of most people who read it; however, all the extra material wasn't some sort of burden. It is highly informative. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is added to throw in the details of what happened when Asser's Life suddenly ends, despite the fact that he lived longer than his subject. Following that are some works by the king himself: prefaces to translations, the translations themselves, his law code, et cetera. These all have their own interesting aspects when looking into the mind of the king. Also included are some miscellaneous other sources for the study of the reign of Alfred. I didn't read the latter part of this as thoroughly as I did the first part, but I have a good reason.
On it's own, it's an exhaustive study, complete with a lengthy introduction and even more lengthy notes. I used it as a jumping off point and as a companion read for further study of King Alfred. I ordered two biographies of the most famous of Anglo-Saxon kings along with this, and now that I've read the main sources (Asser and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) for his life and looked over the other sources for his personality and the interactions between his contemporaries, I'm ready to beginning a more in-depth study. I highly recommend this book as a starting point.
As a pleasure read--well, aside from myself, I don't know many people who would pick up a book like this to read for pleasure. But if you're into that sort of thing, Asser's Life is comparable to Einhard's Life of Charlemagne--when he's not directly pulling from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle--and if he mixed it with some of the hagiography from the period. (In fact, I've noticed quite a few similarities between Alfred and Charlemagne, including how Asser seems to have styled himself as Alfred's Alcuin.) He has some failings though; or, rather, he has many of the failings of most writers from this era--namely, he feels extremely biased and restrained. But, like many works from the Medieval era, we get some beautiful glimpses into a most interesting period, even if it is in between rapid-fire fact shooting.
Oh, I almost forgot--there are two appendices at the end: one dealing with the story of Alfred and the cakes and the other dealing with the Alfred Jewel (shown on the cover the book). Both are interesting, but the former was more so for me. I've always known Alfred as a fighter of Vikings and a lover of literature and learning, but this story of him as an inattentive baker was something I'd heard about but had actually never heard. It was nice to finally get the full legend and to understand its origins. Unfortunately, the details on the Alfred Jewel only whetted my appetite.
January 18, 2022
Having read little over half of Bernard Cornwell's recommended series 'The Saxon Stories' aka 'The Last Kingdom' because of the TV-series, the books encouraged me to dive into the history (incl. mythology, politics, and more) of the Vikings. I've read a good handful of such books, still have a good handful on my TBR-pile, as you can see on one of my shelves.
Asser's 'Life of King Alfred' is not only recommended by Bernard Cornwell himself, but also a very valuable and important historical work. Penguin's edition contains not only 'Life of King Alfred', but also other, historical and primary sources connected to Alfred the Great, king of Wessex and later England. The last related work I read and which pushed me to pick up 'Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources' sooner rather than later, was 'Aelfred's Britain: War And Peace In The Viking Age' by the archaeologist Max Adams. See my review here.
Not that there haven't been other books written about Alfred; on the contrary, even. Also, one mustn't stop at one book about Alfred or the Anglo-Saxons in general. Reading about Alfred the Great also means one must expand that to reading about the Anglo-Saxons AND the Vikings (mythology, general history, the sagas, culture, ...), to see the bigger picture, to see how England became England, though still divided between the various kingdoms, and how the situation was on the continent, with France, the Franks, Flanders, the Normans, the Burgundians, and so on. Not to mention what preceded: The Celts, the Romans, ...
Alfred had a tough time as king, not just of Wessex but also of the other territories he ruled over. The invading and occupying Vikings caused him many headaches and sleepless nights. So much even that his health deteriorated. And yet, despite the problems, Alfred was a devote and religious ruler, put a lot of faith in God, the church, the bishops, ... and the arts. Reading, writing, ... were key activities for him personally and to teach to his people. He read several Latin works, had them also read to him, and even translated (whenever he could) some of them into English, so that copies of his translations could be provided to various minsters, bishops and alike, if not the people.
Asser, a Welsh bishop, was hired to become Alfred's personal assistant, teacher, chronicler, and more, though Asser couldn't commit full-time to the job. Still, his biography of Alfred offers a very interesting view of England's king, at least from his perspective. It's not a complete work, however. Asser's style is also a bit dry, yet reads quite fluently.
This Penguin edition contains a long, but interesting introduction about Alfred, about his youth, the family he grew up in, and obviously his period as king, as difficult as it was. A vital read to begin with. Followed by Asser's (incomplete) biography, an extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the period 888-900. These entries are succeeded by (parts of) a few of Alfred's works or what was left of them:
* preface of Werferth's translation of Gregory's 'Dialogues'
* translation of Gregory's 'Pastoral Care'
* translation of Boethius's 'Consolation of Philosophy' (this looks interesting, I might read this book one day)
* translation of Augustine's 'Soliloquies'
* translation of the Psalter (pretty stern/harsh text, I must say)
Last but not least, a few miscellaneous sources (extracts or full texts) for the reign of King Alfred:
* the laws of King Alfred
* the treaty between Alfred and Guthrum
* the will of King Alred
* Alfred's charter for Ealderman Æthelhelm
* the letter of Fulco, archbishop of Reims, to King Alfred
* Bishop Wulfsige's preface to the translation of Gregory's 'Dialogues'
* Æthelward's account of the closing years of Alfred's reign
* Two acrostic poems on King Alfred
* The 'Burghal Hidage'
Two appendices complete the book:
* Alfred and the Cakes
* The Alfred Jewel (see also the the depiction on the cover)
Oh yes, there are also extensive notes on almost, if not every, part of the book. And while they contains useful information, I agree with someone else here (can't find that review at the moment), and it's also a pet peeve of mine in general: if you want to keep track and don't mind flipping the pages back and forth, go ahead. Otherwise, simply skip the notes, read the texts in questions and maybe consult the notes when needed. Or consult the notes, then go the that particular word/phrase.
Yes, Penguin probably decided, for the sake of clarity and ease, to put all notes together in one block, so as to not have pages where the notes take up more space than the respective documents themselves. In that sense, I understand the decision. But it's not practical, in general. You could also wonder why some of these notes were not simply added to the regular text? Especially then the large introduction section.
Did I mention there are maps and genealogical tables? Mandatory elements in a work of history/ical value, of course. Next to the extensive list of consulted/related books.
To cut it short: Biographies aren't my cup of tea, yet a book like this one, especially when I've read historical fiction set in that era, makes it all the more worthwhile. From what I've read, Alfred may not have been an easy man, but he was devoted to the cause, determined to unite the various kingdoms (Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria, East Anglia, ...) and wanted people to live in peace with each other, to learn to read and write, to develop such talents, and have a nation of well-learned, intelligent people. Though he wasn't really a fan of the Vikings, as they caused him too much trouble with all their plundering, conquering, fighting, despite having established their own communities under their own rules, the Danelaw.
'Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources', a recommended piece of history to accompany your historical fiction reads about the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, and/or your other non-fiction reads about the Middle Ages.
Asser's 'Life of King Alfred' is not only recommended by Bernard Cornwell himself, but also a very valuable and important historical work. Penguin's edition contains not only 'Life of King Alfred', but also other, historical and primary sources connected to Alfred the Great, king of Wessex and later England. The last related work I read and which pushed me to pick up 'Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources' sooner rather than later, was 'Aelfred's Britain: War And Peace In The Viking Age' by the archaeologist Max Adams. See my review here.
Not that there haven't been other books written about Alfred; on the contrary, even. Also, one mustn't stop at one book about Alfred or the Anglo-Saxons in general. Reading about Alfred the Great also means one must expand that to reading about the Anglo-Saxons AND the Vikings (mythology, general history, the sagas, culture, ...), to see the bigger picture, to see how England became England, though still divided between the various kingdoms, and how the situation was on the continent, with France, the Franks, Flanders, the Normans, the Burgundians, and so on. Not to mention what preceded: The Celts, the Romans, ...
Alfred had a tough time as king, not just of Wessex but also of the other territories he ruled over. The invading and occupying Vikings caused him many headaches and sleepless nights. So much even that his health deteriorated. And yet, despite the problems, Alfred was a devote and religious ruler, put a lot of faith in God, the church, the bishops, ... and the arts. Reading, writing, ... were key activities for him personally and to teach to his people. He read several Latin works, had them also read to him, and even translated (whenever he could) some of them into English, so that copies of his translations could be provided to various minsters, bishops and alike, if not the people.
Asser, a Welsh bishop, was hired to become Alfred's personal assistant, teacher, chronicler, and more, though Asser couldn't commit full-time to the job. Still, his biography of Alfred offers a very interesting view of England's king, at least from his perspective. It's not a complete work, however. Asser's style is also a bit dry, yet reads quite fluently.
This Penguin edition contains a long, but interesting introduction about Alfred, about his youth, the family he grew up in, and obviously his period as king, as difficult as it was. A vital read to begin with. Followed by Asser's (incomplete) biography, an extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the period 888-900. These entries are succeeded by (parts of) a few of Alfred's works or what was left of them:
* preface of Werferth's translation of Gregory's 'Dialogues'
* translation of Gregory's 'Pastoral Care'
* translation of Boethius's 'Consolation of Philosophy' (this looks interesting, I might read this book one day)
* translation of Augustine's 'Soliloquies'
* translation of the Psalter (pretty stern/harsh text, I must say)
Last but not least, a few miscellaneous sources (extracts or full texts) for the reign of King Alfred:
* the laws of King Alfred
* the treaty between Alfred and Guthrum
* the will of King Alred
* Alfred's charter for Ealderman Æthelhelm
* the letter of Fulco, archbishop of Reims, to King Alfred
* Bishop Wulfsige's preface to the translation of Gregory's 'Dialogues'
* Æthelward's account of the closing years of Alfred's reign
* Two acrostic poems on King Alfred
* The 'Burghal Hidage'
Two appendices complete the book:
* Alfred and the Cakes
* The Alfred Jewel (see also the the depiction on the cover)
Oh yes, there are also extensive notes on almost, if not every, part of the book. And while they contains useful information, I agree with someone else here (can't find that review at the moment), and it's also a pet peeve of mine in general: if you want to keep track and don't mind flipping the pages back and forth, go ahead. Otherwise, simply skip the notes, read the texts in questions and maybe consult the notes when needed. Or consult the notes, then go the that particular word/phrase.
Yes, Penguin probably decided, for the sake of clarity and ease, to put all notes together in one block, so as to not have pages where the notes take up more space than the respective documents themselves. In that sense, I understand the decision. But it's not practical, in general. You could also wonder why some of these notes were not simply added to the regular text? Especially then the large introduction section.
Did I mention there are maps and genealogical tables? Mandatory elements in a work of history/ical value, of course. Next to the extensive list of consulted/related books.
To cut it short: Biographies aren't my cup of tea, yet a book like this one, especially when I've read historical fiction set in that era, makes it all the more worthwhile. From what I've read, Alfred may not have been an easy man, but he was devoted to the cause, determined to unite the various kingdoms (Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria, East Anglia, ...) and wanted people to live in peace with each other, to learn to read and write, to develop such talents, and have a nation of well-learned, intelligent people. Though he wasn't really a fan of the Vikings, as they caused him too much trouble with all their plundering, conquering, fighting, despite having established their own communities under their own rules, the Danelaw.
'Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources', a recommended piece of history to accompany your historical fiction reads about the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, and/or your other non-fiction reads about the Middle Ages.
January 26, 2026
Pretty incredible how many sources survived from Alfred the Great’s time. Very well compiled by Keynes and Lapidge. Studying the Anglo Saxons was a challenge but the Alfred essay was the first one I enjoyed writing.
January 28, 2025
There’s a special irony in reading medieval literature on a screen; it’s like experiencing a symphony through tinny headphones. Yet, even the soullessness of a PDF couldn’t diminish the beauty of Assir’s “Life of Alfred”, a masterclass in hagiography. This work strikes a remarkable balance between historical depth and spiritual reverence, presenting Alfred not merely as a king but as the very embodiment of Christian virtue: just, wise, and unshakably pious. It’s a portrait that reminds us of what it means to lead with faith in the midst of chaos.
Assir’s prose has a rhythm that feels almost liturgical, mirroring the devout character of Alfred himself. The work doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of 9th-century Wessex, but it also elevates Alfred as an almost Christlike figure—a flawed yet faithful ruler striving for a kingdom of justice and peace. Forget Arthur and his mythical stone; I’m longing for the return of Alfred, whose vision of leadership feels deeply relevant for our time. His dedication to education, law, and the integration of faith into every sphere of life speaks to the heart of what it means to redeem all things under God’s authority.
Historically, this text is invaluable. Alfred the Great, the uniter of the English under a single crown, drew inspiration from works like this. Assir’s “Life of Alfred” stands as a testament not only to Alfred’s legacy but also to the enduring impact of Christian leadership on history. Furthermore, we read this in class as a primary source for Alfred. At first I was a little consider about how primary this source really was. However, this is a primary source in the sense of how Medieval English Christians would have viewed Alfred. And perhaps as a view into how the newly birthed kingdom of England wanted their origin to be perceived.
The work was beautiful in every sense of the word, but I must mention my disdain for having read it digitally. However, I have a quiz on this work due tomorrow, and Amazon has yet to deliver. This is a book that demands to be held, savored, and read again and again. I eagerly await my print copy so I can give it the proper treatment it deserves.
Until Christ returns, may the legacy of Alfred inspire us to advance the cause of Christendom with courage and faith. Long the day since the Nord, the Dane, and the Norman, bent their knee to Christ. And though our enemies now where different names, we shouldn’t be surprised when we bump into them in the night. Alfred’s example reminds us to press on, looking to a kingdom far greater than his—the eternal reign of Christ, who rules not just with the sword but with the Gospel of grace.
April 14, 2020
I've only read the Life of Alfred and bits and pieces of the rest of the book, but I believe the Life of Alfred is the soul of this book and the reason why people will even deign to pick it up.
Asser is not as entertaining of a writer as some of his Greco-Roman predecessors. He has none of the intellectual passion of Herodotus, the tactical genius of Caesar, the snarky undermining of Tacitus, or the soldier's experience in Ammianus Marcellinus. Asser falls more along the lines of the mediocre historians of the premodern world, sitting alongside the likes of Sallust, Appian, Cassius Dio, etc.
But that's okay. Asser didn't set out to revolutionize the field of history-writing. All that he wanted to do was to write a nice biography for the King he so dearly loved, and he accomplished that—and did a damn fine job.
If anyone is interested in the life of Alfred the Great, I would heartily recommend you pick up Asser's text. I will warn you, it is dry at times, but it also paints a glorious picture of this King that captured the hearts of so many in his day.
Asser is not as entertaining of a writer as some of his Greco-Roman predecessors. He has none of the intellectual passion of Herodotus, the tactical genius of Caesar, the snarky undermining of Tacitus, or the soldier's experience in Ammianus Marcellinus. Asser falls more along the lines of the mediocre historians of the premodern world, sitting alongside the likes of Sallust, Appian, Cassius Dio, etc.
But that's okay. Asser didn't set out to revolutionize the field of history-writing. All that he wanted to do was to write a nice biography for the King he so dearly loved, and he accomplished that—and did a damn fine job.
If anyone is interested in the life of Alfred the Great, I would heartily recommend you pick up Asser's text. I will warn you, it is dry at times, but it also paints a glorious picture of this King that captured the hearts of so many in his day.
December 31, 2022
9 out of 10 rounded down to 4 stars. I think was a very interesting biography of Alfred the Great. You are left with little doubt that Alfred was truly born again. He is certainly one of England's greatest monarchs, and the only one with the exception of William of Orange in the late 1600's whose conversion we can put any confidence in. The part where he promised to give not only half his possessions, but half his time to God was thought provoking. I've often thought, about that type of thing, tithing or one fifthing not only your money but also your time.
August 8, 2021
The introduction is insightful for those new to studying England during the reign of King Alfred, but is otherwise incredibly dry to those previously familiar with its history.
Asser's biography of Alfred is the star of the show here, written eloquently and delivering insight to 9th century historiography, culture, and history among other subjects.
The full text also presents English annals, Alfred's own translations of culturally relevant texts to his reign (which most likely featured in the noble curricula), and some other contemporary sources. It's a useful series of primary documents but does little in the way of better understanding Alfred's reign than previously for me.
Asser's biography of Alfred is the star of the show here, written eloquently and delivering insight to 9th century historiography, culture, and history among other subjects.
The full text also presents English annals, Alfred's own translations of culturally relevant texts to his reign (which most likely featured in the noble curricula), and some other contemporary sources. It's a useful series of primary documents but does little in the way of better understanding Alfred's reign than previously for me.
June 12, 2021
A readable and important glimpse into the life of a major early leader in the history of England, but as is often the case with writings this old, it doesn't really live up to our sense of "history".
This is much closer to a hagiography of Alfred than a biography. Asser is more of a "hype man" for Alfred than a dispassionate recounter of his actions, motivations, character, and so on ... even though he would have had pretty good insight into all of those.
Still, it's historically important, provides some insight, and is a good read.
This is much closer to a hagiography of Alfred than a biography. Asser is more of a "hype man" for Alfred than a dispassionate recounter of his actions, motivations, character, and so on ... even though he would have had pretty good insight into all of those.
Still, it's historically important, provides some insight, and is a good read.
Currently reading
July 18, 2017Lost the book
October 12, 2025
Overall a nice sourcebook, good notes.
Highlights in here include: laws “On accidental death caused by a falling tree” and “On procedure when someone is wounded by a spear carried over a man's shoulder”
Highlights in here include: laws “On accidental death caused by a falling tree” and “On procedure when someone is wounded by a spear carried over a man's shoulder”
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June 6, 2024Born to translate a couple of paragraphs from latin and then write his own thing, copy passages in his commonplace book and listen to podcasts, forced to rule a kingdom, set disputes between ealdormen, fight the vikings and his haemorrhoids
July 10, 2015
This is a helpful collection of primary source documents concerning King Alfred (849-899) and his reign, in particular, the Life of King Alfred by Asser (who was a companion of Alfred's). King Alfred seems to have combined the biblical kings David and Solomon into one life. Like David, he was a Christian warrior who knew times of defeat and wandering as well as victory. Like David, he made the Psalms his companion and he even translated the first fifty Psalms into Anglo-Saxon for his people. Like Solomon, he loved wisdom and sought it out more than riches. He sought to be a good steward of the heritage of wisdom from the Bible and church fathers. This book includes parts of some of the books he translated into Anglo-Saxon where he added some of his own thoughts into the book. Like Solomon, he put his kingdom into a position of strength and stability where justice would reign.
Asser, describing the pivotal time in Alfred's military campaigns: "[878 A.D.] At the same time King Alfred, with his small band of nobles and also with certain soldiers and thegns, was leading a restless life in great distress amid the woody and marshy places of Somerset...In the same year, after Easter, King Alfred, with a few men, made a fortress at a place called Athelney, and from it with the thegns of Somerset he struck out relentlessly and tirelessly against the Vikings. Presently, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode to Egbert's Stone...and there all the inhabitants of Somerset and Wiltshire and all the inhabitants of Hampshire – those who had not sailed overseas for fear of the Vikings – joined up with him...he moved his forces and came to a place called Edington, and fighting fiercely with a compact shield-wall against the enemies against the entire Viking army, he persevered resolutely for a long time; at length he gained the victory though God's will." (p. 83-84)
Alfred, in his translation of Gregory's book, Pastoral Care, remarks, "When I reflected on all this, I recollected how – before everything was ransacked and burned – the churches throughout England stood filled with treasures and books. Similarly, there was a great multitude of those serving God. and they derived very little benefit from those books, because they could understand nothing of them, since they were not written in their own language. It is as if they had said: 'Our ancestors, who formerly maintained these places, loved wisdom, and through it they obtained wealth and passed it on to us. Here one can still see their track, but we cannot follow it.' Therefore we have now lost the wealth as well as the wisdom, because we did not wise to set our minds to the track." (p. 125)
Asser, describing the pivotal time in Alfred's military campaigns: "[878 A.D.] At the same time King Alfred, with his small band of nobles and also with certain soldiers and thegns, was leading a restless life in great distress amid the woody and marshy places of Somerset...In the same year, after Easter, King Alfred, with a few men, made a fortress at a place called Athelney, and from it with the thegns of Somerset he struck out relentlessly and tirelessly against the Vikings. Presently, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode to Egbert's Stone...and there all the inhabitants of Somerset and Wiltshire and all the inhabitants of Hampshire – those who had not sailed overseas for fear of the Vikings – joined up with him...he moved his forces and came to a place called Edington, and fighting fiercely with a compact shield-wall against the enemies against the entire Viking army, he persevered resolutely for a long time; at length he gained the victory though God's will." (p. 83-84)
Alfred, in his translation of Gregory's book, Pastoral Care, remarks, "When I reflected on all this, I recollected how – before everything was ransacked and burned – the churches throughout England stood filled with treasures and books. Similarly, there was a great multitude of those serving God. and they derived very little benefit from those books, because they could understand nothing of them, since they were not written in their own language. It is as if they had said: 'Our ancestors, who formerly maintained these places, loved wisdom, and through it they obtained wealth and passed it on to us. Here one can still see their track, but we cannot follow it.' Therefore we have now lost the wealth as well as the wisdom, because we did not wise to set our minds to the track." (p. 125)
February 7, 2017
Marvellous, albeit a little slow to get going. A fair way into the book (chapter 21 , out of a total of 106), Asser remarks “I think I should return to that which particularly inspired me to this work..” i.e. to talk about King Alfred!
It doesn’t really matter in some ways. How many of us are so very specialised and already knowledgeable, that a few chapters on Alfred’s family and context won’t be fascinating too, to set the scene? And fascinating Asser’s account is, as translated into modern English in the Penguin edition. The book has a remarkable immediacy and vividness, with the text occasionally spattered with comments like “as I said to Alfred” or “as Alfred once mentioned” – you cannot help but stop and think “blimey, this is over 1,000 years ago!”
It is such a distant world that a bit of context is essential. The introduction in the Penguin version is excellent in that regard, taking more pages than the Life of Alfred itself to set the scene. You really need to know where the kingdom of Mercia was for example, or what the relationship between the kingdom of Strathclyde and Northumbria might have been.
But the book will tell you. And beyond that, it makes it clear how devastatingly comprehensive the Viking invasion of Britain was. They got everywhere. It’s worth inserting a moment of pedantry here: at one point when describing a conflict, the book mentions the “British” or “Britons” on the one side, and the “English” on the other, opposing side. It’s a revelation to contemporary ears, accustomed as we are to arguments about whether we should say “English” or “British” to describe our nationality, to learn that they were originally separate tribes.
But above all of course, it gives an intriguing insight into the life of Alfred – with not one mention of the thing that makes him most famous today (the burning of the cakes, almost certainly an invention long after his death, to pep up the legend). No matter – what is there is vivid enough, and makes it clear that he really does deserve the sobriquet of ‘great’.
It doesn’t really matter in some ways. How many of us are so very specialised and already knowledgeable, that a few chapters on Alfred’s family and context won’t be fascinating too, to set the scene? And fascinating Asser’s account is, as translated into modern English in the Penguin edition. The book has a remarkable immediacy and vividness, with the text occasionally spattered with comments like “as I said to Alfred” or “as Alfred once mentioned” – you cannot help but stop and think “blimey, this is over 1,000 years ago!”
It is such a distant world that a bit of context is essential. The introduction in the Penguin version is excellent in that regard, taking more pages than the Life of Alfred itself to set the scene. You really need to know where the kingdom of Mercia was for example, or what the relationship between the kingdom of Strathclyde and Northumbria might have been.
But the book will tell you. And beyond that, it makes it clear how devastatingly comprehensive the Viking invasion of Britain was. They got everywhere. It’s worth inserting a moment of pedantry here: at one point when describing a conflict, the book mentions the “British” or “Britons” on the one side, and the “English” on the other, opposing side. It’s a revelation to contemporary ears, accustomed as we are to arguments about whether we should say “English” or “British” to describe our nationality, to learn that they were originally separate tribes.
But above all of course, it gives an intriguing insight into the life of Alfred – with not one mention of the thing that makes him most famous today (the burning of the cakes, almost certainly an invention long after his death, to pep up the legend). No matter – what is there is vivid enough, and makes it clear that he really does deserve the sobriquet of ‘great’.
March 1, 2014
The Dark Ages are dark not for reason of savagery (although they were), or for ignorance (there were remarkable instances of learning amid the fighting), but for obscurity: after the legions' withdrawal in AD 410, history... stops. For a century or so there is virtually nothing. The fifth century - the time of warfare between Britons, Angles and Saxons, the time of Arthur (if he existed) - is almost blank. The sixth and, more, the seventh centuries emerge a little into the light, with most of the illumination coming from Bede's extraordinary - truly extraordinary in the context - Ecclesiastical History of the English People. And that very history might have permanently brought English history back from the silence of archaeology, if not for the irruption of another group of raiders and invaders, very like the Angles and the Saxons: the Vikings. The fact that it does not is due in no small part to the works contained in this crucial book: the biography of Alfred the Great, by Asser, and extracts from some of the works the king himself commissioned and, in some cases, translated. For Alfred, almost uniquely among war chiefs, saw fighting as the lesser part of the task of kingship. What he set his mind and his kingdom to was nothing less than cultural renewal, a re-establishment of the learning that had swiftly become the hallmark of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, only to decline to almost nothing before the ferocity of the Viking attack. This wonderful edition contains Asser's contemporary biography of Alfred (the only such document we have from the period), and extremely valuable, and thorough, editorial notes on every text from noted scholars Michel Lapidge and Simon Keynes; the notes on the provenance and work that went into each text by generations of scholars are particularly valuable. An indispensable book for anyone interested in the Anglo-Saxon period.
August 25, 2022
Asser’s Life of King Alfred follows Alfred’s career from his birth to his accession in 871, and describes in detail his reign and his wars, stopping abruptly in 887, 12 years before Alfred’s death. For historical events, it draws largely on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a chronological account of events in Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, a compilation of seven surviving interrelated manuscript records that is the primary source for the early history of England. The narrative was first assembled in the reign of King Alfred (871–899) from materials that included some epitome of universal history: the Venerable Bede’s Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, genealogies, regnal and episcopal lists, a few northern annals, and probably some sets of earlier West Saxon annals. The compiler also had access to a set of Frankish annals for the late 9th century. Soon after the year 890 several manuscripts were being circulated; one was available to Asser in 893, another, which appears to have gone no further than that year, to the late 10th-century chronicler Aethelweard, while one version, which eventually reached the north and which is best represented by the surviving E version, stopped in 892. Some of the manuscripts circulated at this time were continued in various religious houses, sometimes with annals that occur in more than one manuscript, sometimes with local material, confined to one version. The fullness and quality of the entries vary at different periods; the Chronicle is a rather barren document for the mid-10th century and for the reign of Canute, for example, but it is an excellent authority for the reign of Aethelred the Unready and from the reign of Edward the Confessor until the version that was kept up longest ends with annal 1154.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a chronological account of events in Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, a compilation of seven surviving interrelated manuscript records that is the primary source for the early history of England. The narrative was first assembled in the reign of King Alfred (871–899) from materials that included some epitome of universal history: the Venerable Bede’s Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, genealogies, regnal and episcopal lists, a few northern annals, and probably some sets of earlier West Saxon annals. The compiler also had access to a set of Frankish annals for the late 9th century. Soon after the year 890 several manuscripts were being circulated; one was available to Asser in 893, another, which appears to have gone no further than that year, to the late 10th-century chronicler Aethelweard, while one version, which eventually reached the north and which is best represented by the surviving E version, stopped in 892. Some of the manuscripts circulated at this time were continued in various religious houses, sometimes with annals that occur in more than one manuscript, sometimes with local material, confined to one version. The fullness and quality of the entries vary at different periods; the Chronicle is a rather barren document for the mid-10th century and for the reign of Canute, for example, but it is an excellent authority for the reign of Aethelred the Unready and from the reign of Edward the Confessor until the version that was kept up longest ends with annal 1154.
May 23, 2020
It's an excellent biography of Alfred the Great. He really was one of those people planted to give civilisation a booster shot.
When I got up to the section that describes the text that Alfred selected to translate and transcribe -- all philosophical works from certain figures from the 300s and 600s, all centring on pulling oneself together and being a better person -- I was struck by Alfred and the era's glaring, pulsating, throbbing blind spot: not one single woman is mentioned, nor did Alfred select a single word to transcribe that was written by a woman. Not even one token woman.
This is the biography of a person who helped lock in the exclusion of women that we have been subjected to for the past 1,200 years and counting. If read for what this biography is by-implication revealing, it is revealing the systematic muting and subjugation of the female race. (That's religion for you.)
When I got up to the section that describes the text that Alfred selected to translate and transcribe -- all philosophical works from certain figures from the 300s and 600s, all centring on pulling oneself together and being a better person -- I was struck by Alfred and the era's glaring, pulsating, throbbing blind spot: not one single woman is mentioned, nor did Alfred select a single word to transcribe that was written by a woman. Not even one token woman.
This is the biography of a person who helped lock in the exclusion of women that we have been subjected to for the past 1,200 years and counting. If read for what this biography is by-implication revealing, it is revealing the systematic muting and subjugation of the female race. (That's religion for you.)
March 6, 2022
Tricky to rate. Is it a good read? Not sure. Does it have fascinating bits? Yes. Overall I'm going in the middle of the range I could give this. Two as a casual read, four for interesting parts and as historical source.
December 9, 2016
I LOVED this book. It gave me such an appreciation of Alfred and respect for his literary undertakings. He suffered greatly throughout his life and his fortitude and candor were remarkable. A great little intro to this Anglo-Saxon king.
September 12, 2018
King Alfred was a great man. This book led me to admire him greatly. He is responsible for the beginning of so much rich culture that has come from England since the time of his rule. Not a particularly easy read, but definitely an interesting one!
February 19, 2021
Asser, a Welsh monk living the 9th century, wrote this concise biography of King Alfred. He portrays Alfred as a highly religious man, a wise ruler, a great military commander, and a guardian of civilization in a semi-barbaric age.
May 16, 2009
Very good primary source documents; this book creates a very clear picture of Alfred's achievements and the time he lived in. For fun reading, it's pretty boring.
May 13, 2020
Interesting as Asser, a monk from St. David's who helped educate King Alfred of Wessex, is writing to let the Welsh know that Alfred is OK. He only became "Great" some centuries later. And he was a really good guy as king's go. His interest in promoting education was great. Defeating the Vikings was great (well, at least a draw to keep them in the Danelaw). Translating from Latin into Anglo-Saxon was great. He required his earls, etc. to learn to read. Also great. He was also lucky as the youngest of five sons to survive all his brothers and become king. Then the Vikings defeating all the other Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, pretty much, allowed him to assert Wessex to dominance. Asser doesn't include the story of Alfred burning the cakes, but it's in the appendix.
February 20, 2021
Very interesting but I suppose the one fault is mine in that it is o replete with notes that to catch everyone at the time it occurs would have one flicking from from front to back at such a rate that ones fingers would look to be performing a damnably accurate impression of insanity and the mind reel as if actually being struck by that he'll born lightening that 'lightens' the mind so that it bears only the weight of early infancies thoughts.
And yet to read the notes after leaves one confused as to what directly each note is referring to.
Thus I have finished the main text and abandoned the notes and will move onto a proper biography of the man.
And yet to read the notes after leaves one confused as to what directly each note is referring to.
Thus I have finished the main text and abandoned the notes and will move onto a proper biography of the man.
May 30, 2019
On what basis do your rank a book that was written 1100 years ago?
The Life of Alfred by Asser is an interesting look at an early king of England who worked diligently for his people and worhiped God faithfully.
This edition includes the Life of Alfred, and many other short documents pertaining to the time, including translated snippets of works that Alfred translated from Latin to his language for those around him.
There are as many notes as original text in this book, which are useful for historical context.
The Life of Alfred by Asser is an interesting look at an early king of England who worked diligently for his people and worhiped God faithfully.
This edition includes the Life of Alfred, and many other short documents pertaining to the time, including translated snippets of works that Alfred translated from Latin to his language for those around him.
There are as many notes as original text in this book, which are useful for historical context.
November 17, 2024
Not really a narrative style history of Alfred’s times but more of nearly a diary of appointments, battles, accounts and legislation. Written by a participant of events who assumes the reader already knows the background, geography and characters so very little analysis or explanation is included as one would expect from a history written for an audience unfamiliar with the times. Probably a good source book for a student of Alfred’s world but not exactly entertaining or interesting for a 21st century reader hoping for an account of the bigger story.
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