{"product_id":"alfred-the-great-jacob-abbott-9781503087156","title":"Alfred the Great","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe story of England's greatest king of all time is a tale of war, peace, bravery, learning, and strength of character-and, in the end, the victory of enlightenment over darkness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTold by master storyteller Jacob Abbott, the tale begins with a discussion on racial origins-and an eye-opening, if brief, sweep of European racial history-before moving on to discuss the origins of the original Britons, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Danes, all of whom played important roles in British history over a millennium ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs always, Abbott is careful to distinguish confirmed fact from mythology, and is at pains to point out what is certain and what is not-bearing in mind that Alfred ruled a mere 800 years after Julius Caesar. From that basis, the story of Alfred is told from his early years onward, his crowning as king, the early battles-and defeats-and his ultimately successful defense against the Viking attempt at conquest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book also delves into Alfred's numerous social policies which were pioneering at the time. His promotion of education, the building of roads and towns, and many other achievements-including the invention of the lantern-greatly accelerated the civilizational development of England.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe only monarch of the British Isles to be given the name \"Great,\" Alfred's contribution to history towers above those of his contemporaries. It is not for naught that his name has eclipsed all other kings and queens of England for over one thousand years...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Alfred spent his life in laying broad and deep the foundations on which the enormous superstructure of the British empire has since been reared. If the tales respecting his character and deeds which have come down to us are at all worthy of belief, he was an honest, conscientious, disinterested, and far-seeing statesman. If the system of hereditary succession would always furnish such sovereigns for mankind, the principle of loyalty would have held its place much longer in the world than it is now likely to do, and great nations, now republican, would have been saved a vast deal of trouble and toil expended in the election of their rulers.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContents\u003c\/p\u003eChapter I: The Britons\u003cbr\u003eChapter II: The Anglo-Saxons\u003cbr\u003eChapter III: The Danes\u003cbr\u003eChapter IV: Alfred's Early Years\u003cbr\u003eChapter V: State of England\u003cbr\u003eChapter VI: Alfred's Accession to the Throne\u003cbr\u003eChapter VII: Reverses\u003cbr\u003eChapter VIII: The Seclusion\u003cbr\u003eChapter IX: Reassembling of the Army\u003cbr\u003eChapter X: The Victory over the Danes\u003cbr\u003eChapter XI: Character of Alfred's Reign\u003cbr\u003eChapter XII: The Close of Life\u003cbr\u003eChapter XIII: The Sequel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jacob Abbott\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1503087158\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781503087156\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Createspace Independent Publishing Platform\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/03\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 134\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.42lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.29d","brand":"Jacob Abbott","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48436792492287,"sku":"9781503087156","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_9abc1cf8-f302-48da-a06d-00b912ee277a.jpg?v=1777157814","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/alfred-the-great-jacob-abbott-9781503087156","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}