Perspective

The perspective of Alfred the Great is multifaceted, containing primarily the perspectives of the editors, Asser, and King Alfred. The editors are clearly scholars of the highest order. Simon Keynes was a University Lecturer in the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Trinity College in Cambridge, whereas Michael Lapidge is also a University Lecturer in the same department. They have composed the book with the greatest historical care, evidenced in particular by their attention to detail in the book's notes. Their perspective is dispassionate, as they are attempting to report, in clearest fashion, everything that historians know about King Alfred's life and personality, along with his times. They review several disputes concerning his history and then report the scholarly consensus. There is no discernible axe to grind.

The second perspective presented is that of Asser, the monk who wrote Life of King Alfred. Asser clearly is a...