This biography of Alfred the Great, king of the West Saxons (871-899), combines a sensitive reading of the primary sources with a careful evaluation of the most recent scholarly research on the history and archaeology of ninth-century England. This book recovers the historical Alfred, pragmatic, generous, brutal, pious, scholarly within the context of his own age. This new edition includes illustrations of key material sources and extended sections on Alfred’s intellectual/literary program and on the posthumous reputation and memory of Alfred. An essential read for all students of early medieval England.