Political Thought King Alfred Great 4e David Pratt Hardcover 9780521803502

The Political Thought of King Alfred the GreatAuthor(s): David Pratt\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom\nImprint: Cambridge University Press\nISBN-13: 9780521803502, 978-0521803502\nSynopsis\nThis book is a comprehensive study of political thought at the court of King Alfred the Great [tel]. It explains the extraordinary burst of royal learned activity focused on inventive translations from Latin into Old English attributed to Alfred's own authorship. A full exploration of context establishes these texts as part of a single discourse which placed Alfred himself at the heart of all rightful power and authority. A major theme is the relevance of Frankish and other European experiences, as sources of expertise and shared concerns, and for important contrasts with Alfredian thought and behaviour. Part I assesses Alfred's rule against West Saxon structures, showing the centrality of the royal household in the operation of power. Part II offers an inti.