Customer Reviews
A great overview - By: Bint, 04 Feb 2008 
This is an excellent overview of Alfred's life & the historical written records that can be drawn upon in that era. Many different opinions & arguments are put forward & mentioned, & the bibliography is an excellent aid to those starting to study the period upto undergraduate level.
I enjoyed the work, but found the narrative style a little hindering to considering the serious academic points raised. I would have prefered less linear narrative, more in depth discussion in the first half. But I think that this is precisely what will appeal to the newer entrant to the field.
Informative but limited - By: , 24 Dec 2002 I found Abels book interesting & useful in the course of writing essays & note taking but the book fallls down on its interpretation of Alfred's military successes against the Vikings. The interpretation of strategy is weak & the author's arguments are strongly contradictory. There were too many occasions where Abels strayed from the point & involved weak secondary arguments to try & back up his primary ones.
informative and clear - By: , 24 Feb 2001 
As an 'A' level meideval history student, i was glad to have found this biography on Alfred. Abels analysis is clear, intellectual & informative. This book can satisfy the historian as well as entertain, interest & inform the general reader about the life & times of Alfred. On the downside, I felt that there was too much room given to non essential/important aspects of Alfred's life such as the lengthy attempt at diagnosis of the illness with which he was struck on his wedding night etc. Others may, however, disagree. On the whole, tough, this is the best biography on Alfred I have used, & I would recomend it to alll.
