King Alfred united Anglo-Saxon England against a Viking invasion, led the English into battle against the Danish hordes, created a renaissance of literature and the arts, reformed the legal system, and set the stage for a revival of Christian worship. But that's not what made him great. Benjamin Merkle unravels the tale of how a great man came to power during one of the most difficult periods in English history, how he led his nation through them, and how he laid the groundwork for England's coming triumphs on the global stage.
I have taught about Vikings raids every four
years - but I had never gotten beyond the information provided in our text books.
I was sickened by descriptions of Viking
brutality and torture. I'll probably not
be able to watch "How to Train Your Dragon" again. King Alfred shines in the midst of this
setting. I was amazed as I read of his truly Christian response towards enemies. I found inspiration in Benjamin's
description of Alfred's battle
technique. The picture of warriors, lined up side by side, shields interlocked
and moving forward stays with me. When
one would get wounded, another would step into his place. As long as all held
their place the shieldwall was virtually impenetrable.
Centuries
before John Wycliffe, Alfred was
translating the Bible into the Anglo Saxon language. Alfred laid the ground work for a united
England.
"...he was a fierce warrior, a devout Christian
ever thirsting for wisdom, deeply committed to justice, a lover of mercy,
and a king who gave himself for his
people. He was practically a myth and a much-needed reality. He was the king of
the White Horse- Alfred the Great."
I recommend this book if you are a lover of history,
if you are looking for a "hero" for young boys, and/or if you are a teacher. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
