Alfred the Great

Alfred is the only English king ever to be called 'Great'. It was not a title given by political supporters, not the sycophantic gift of an official biographer, nor a self-styled title. It was the gift of history. Justin Pollard's enthralling, authoritative account befits Alfred - a soldier, a scholar and statesman like no other in English history.

His rule spanned troubled times. His shores were under constant threat from Viking marauders and he faced turmoil at home. Soon after he began his rule a conspiracy erupted and he was hounded out of his kingdom into solitary exile in forests and fens. But his ambition was not felled by adversity. Alone in this damp, dangerous, half-world of bogs and quicksand Alfred looked within and found the motivation to create a new type of nation.

Drawing on the latest historical, textual and archaeological research Justin Pollard radically reassesses the key moments in Alfred's life. He offers a new interpretation of what caused this most remarkable king to begin the formation of England and how it coloured the subsequent history of the Western World down to the present day.

“This is the story of England's birth, a great story and beautifully told - Bernard Cornwell A boisterous portrait of the only English king to earn the epithet 'Great' - Bettany Hughes, The Times A delicious historical treat - Stephen Fry Fascinating - Sunday Telegraph Compelling .. impressive in coveying the outlook of the ninth-century man - Daily Telegraph Lucid and gripping - Mail on Sunday Pollard writes with a historian's accuracy and sensitivity to context - Sunday Herald Pollard's admiration and enthusiasm for his subject helps to bring this distant figure to life - Tablet”

This is the story of England's birth, a great story and beautifully told - Bernard Cornwell

A boisterous portrait of the only English king to earn the epithet 'Great' - Bettany Hughes, The Times

A delicious historical treat - Stephen Fry

Fascinating - Sunday Telegraph

Compelling .. impressive in coveying the outlook of the ninth-century man - Daily Telegraph

Lucid and gripping - Mail on Sunday

Pollard writes with a historian's accuracy and sensitivity to context - Sunday Herald

Pollard's admiration and enthusiasm for his subject helps to bring this distant figure to life - Tablet

Justin Pollard read Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge. For the last ten years has worked as a historical writer and consultant in film and television. His credits include the feature films Elizabeth and The Four Feathers as well as over twenty-five documentary series such as Channel Four's popular archaeology programme Time Team. He is the author of Seven Ages of Britain for which he also produced a Channel Four series.

Alfred is the only English king ever to be called 'Great'. It was not a title given by political supporters, not the sycophantic gift of an official biographer, nor a self-styled title. It was the gift of history. Justin Pollard's enthralling, authoritative account befits Alfred - a soldier, a scholar and statesman like no other in English history. His rule spanned troubled times. His shores were under constant threat from Viking marauders and he faced turmoil at home. Soon after he began his rule a conspiracy erupted and he was hounded out of his kingdom into solitary exile in forests and fens. But his ambition was not felled by adversity. Alone in this damp, dangerous, half-world of bogs and quicksand Alfred looked within and found the motivation to create a new type of nation. Drawing on the latest historical, textual and archaeological research Justin Pollard radically reassesses the key moments in Alfred's life. He offers a new interpretation of what caused this most remarkable king to begin the formation of England and how it coloured the subsequent history of the Western World down to the present day.

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