Book description
Asser's Life of King Alfred, written in 893, is a revealing account of
one of the greatest of medieval kings. Composed by a monk of St David's
in Wales who became Bishop of Sherborne in Alfred's service and worked
with him in his efforts to revive religion and learning in his kingdom,
this life is among the earliest surviving royal biographies. It is an
admiring account of King Alfred's life, written in absorbing detail -
chronicling his battles against Viking invaders and his struggle to
increase the strength and knowledge of his people, and to unite his
people at a time of conflict, uncertainty and war.
Little is known of Asser beyond this work.
Simon Keynes is Reader in Anglo-Saxon History at Cambridge
University. He is the author of The Diplomas of King Aethelred 'the
Unready' and of numerous articles on Anglo-Saxon history. Michael
Lapidge is Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge University
and a Fellow of Clare College. He has translated the Latin writings of
Aldhelm and is the author of numerous books on Latin literature.
