Alfred the Great?
This is interesting. I admit much of what I know about Alfred comes from Uthred, the hero of Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon series, and Uthred is not exactly an Alfred fan. But the guy had to be rather impressive to get a “The Great” tacked onto his name, the only English king to be so honored. Of course we know that Llywelyn ab Iorwerth was deservedly known as Llywelyn Fawr—the Great. He’d have made a wonderful King of England, although he’d probably have seen that as a demotion of sorts, plus exile!
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/quest-...
PS My friend Kasia reminded me that Eleanor of Brittany died on this date in 1241. I am embarrassed that I forgot this, for it must often have seemed to Eleanor as if she’d been forgotten by the world. I will try to write more about her once the Deadline Dragon takes a hike.
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/quest-...
PS My friend Kasia reminded me that Eleanor of Brittany died on this date in 1241. I am embarrassed that I forgot this, for it must often have seemed to Eleanor as if she’d been forgotten by the world. I will try to write more about her once the Deadline Dragon takes a hike.
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Aug 10, 2013 11:32AM
Sharon, here in the UK there is a brand new tv series about Alfred and his legacy for England. Michael Wood is presenting it. It's on the BBC iPlayer and it's available until 27th August - only one episode has aired so far but there will be two more - anyhow, I don't know your exact dates when you'll be here in the UK, but maybe you just might be able to catch it before it expires?
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I admit much of what I know about Alfred comes from Uthred, the hero of Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon series, and Uthred is not exactly an Alfred fan.I loved the one Bernard Cornwell I read, Sharpe's Tiger, and the Anglo Saxon era fascinates precisely because it's so relatively obscure. I admit the one reason I haven't picked up Cornwell's Anglo Saxon books is because I heard it gave a negative view of Alfred--and he's my favorite British monarch (along with the first Elizabeth.) So important did he find learning, Alfred struggled to learn to read himself--and then wound up even translating himself books into English! Well, Anglo Saxon.
I love the Saxon series, Lisa, but it is true that Uthred is no fan of Alfred's, even though he does have a grudging respect for the king.
Isis wrote: "Sharon, here in the UK there is a brand new tv series about Alfred and his legacy for England. Michael Wood is presenting it. It's on the BBC iPlayer and it's available until 27th August - only one..."There's a "Searching for Alfred the Great" show on Youtube also. It's a couple of years old, so I don't know if it's the same one.
No, this is a brand new series. It's called "King Alfred and the Anglo Saxons".
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