<i>The Political Thought of King Alfred the Great</i> (review)
Scott DeGregorio
Reviewed by: The Political Thought of King Alfred the Great Scott DeGregorio Great. By David Pratt. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Pp. xvi + 413. $123. has never lacked those interested in his story. Right from king’s own day, with Asser’s famous Latin biography, to which William Malmesbury and other later successors were happy add much (apocryphal?) detail, medieval writers remained captivated by this most famed Anglo-Saxon England’s kings, who saved land full-scale Viking conquest while simultaneously initiating reforms that would revive learning help lead it new heights generations followed. In more recent times, activities as warrior scholar continue inspire full menu scholarly genres, articles, essay collections, conference proceedings, monographs—so so Pratt begins book a pointed (and understandable) question, “Is there anything left say about Alfred?” (p. 1). Surely [End Page 387] must be, for Pratt’s exceeds 400 pages, making one lengthy studies on English date (outdone, my knowledge, only Smyth’s 1996 Great, runs over 800 pages). While acknowledging achievements past scholarship, introduction identifies three areas need continued study: role royal conception rule, Carolingian inheritance underlying conception, political structures ideas power informed Alfred’s kingship. particular, what is missing Alfredian studies, argues Pratt, an attempt integrate such foci into unified picture. Such task, he tersely summarizes aiming “to reintegrate learned kingship part practice” or, broadly, recover force status texts relation contemporary authority” 7). study divided two parts comprised five eight chapters respectively. first section, entitled “The West-Saxon Order,” aims establish range contexts reading primary documents discussed 2. Beginning rise Wessex early ninth century, examines economic resource base kingdom major factor its hegemony (ch. 2), before moving discuss theories lordship secular office, especially applied household, locus circulation authority 3). household was distinguished “the comprehensive privileges at effective disposal; respect order closely resembled forms patrimonial rule also familiar world” 42). focus then turns ecclesiastical activities, discussion clerical monastic their Continental parallels 4) paving way insightful devotional practices 5). Ecclesiastical provided key channels power, well exposes Frankish models pervasive influence Gregory West Saxon thinking; broaches question literacy uses explores preexisting paved explosion textual culture under Alfred. section concludes brief chapter 6) crystallization duress oppression, seen network burhs, mobilization manpower, commercial exchange, promulgation increasingly Christianized rhetoric rulership, evidenced description “ruler all Christian island Britain.” Part 2 moves inquiry environment writings forging discourse they are deeply involved. At stake here creation “new mental technology” 339) driven medium vernacular prose designed...
Journal of English and Germanic Philology