Jacob Abbott (1803–1879)

This is the most under-researched and off-topic history book I’ve read to date. Would’ve rated it one star but opted for two when considering the author was a nineteenth-century American writing about English history when he doubtless lacked much info that's available on Alfred nowadays.

But why attempt writing a biography of someone if research is so restricted? Even the book’s title is erroneous, as Alfred was not King of England, he was King of Wessex. Alfred laid the foundations of show more a united England, but it was his grandson Æthelstan who became my country’s first monarch.

Other errors include a reference to the four kingdoms of England during the 800s. The author gets three right but names the fourth as Essex when it was in fact East Anglia.

At one point Alfred is said to have died in 900. At another he’s said to have died in 900 or 901. In truth, Alfred died in 899. Clearly the author was unsure of the date, so why state it as fact one minute, only to say it was either this year or that in the next minute? Anyway, he's got it wrong.

My biggest criticism is the huge amount of time spent detailing times and events that are off-topic. Apart from the first two paragraphs, Chapters 1-3 have nothing to do with Alfred, while Chapters 4 & 5 barely touch on the subject matter either, as this quote from the end of Chapter 5 illustrates:

>But we must end these digressions, which we have indulged thus far in order to give the
reader some distinct conception of the ideas and habits of the times, and proceed, in the next chapter, to relate the events immediately connected with Alfred's accession to the throne. show less

Perhaps the best example of Tudor propaganda I've ever read. Vilifies not only Richard III but also Edward IV mercilessly. Certainly not a comment on what I think of the author, I'm a huge Jacob Abbott fan, more just a product of the information available to an American author in the 1800s and how masterful Tudors were as propogandists. Still a decent read for someone who is looking for a simple outline of the main events in the life of Richard III without getting bogged down. Written on a show more level that makes it a very easy read by comparison to other works in the genre. show less

This book is part of a series of historical treatments produced in the mid nineteenth century by Jacob Abbott, apparently an American author of, largely, children's literature. As a work of literature, it is beautifully written. As a work of history, it reflects the views and attitudes towards historical evidence of its time, and is now of very limited value. Chroniclers' stories of dubious veracity are recounted at length. There are very few dates, and very little serious examination of show more motive. Pages are given over to the innate superiority of the Anglo Saxon race among all other Caucasians, and of that race over all others; and the innate superiority of Christianity over the Danes' pagan beliefs; Alfred was the crowning apotheosis of the Anglo Saxon Christian race in this telling. His undoubted real greatness as the founder of the English nation in something approaching its modern form is thereby transformed into an almost Christ-like godliness, an approach that would invite automatic scepticism if applied by a modern biographer. The last and longest chapter leaps forward a century to tell the story of Godwin (whom he makes the son of a Warwickshire peasant), Emma and the sons of Canute, on the premise that nothing of interest to the non-specialist reader happened during this time (so much for Athelstan, who consolidated and extended Alfred's nation-building achievements). Despite all this, I enjoyed reading this for its literary merits, and as an example of the historiography of the time, but it is to be taken with a huge pinch of salt as a historical account. 2.5/5 show less

As far as biographies go, I must say this one's not the best. Abbott's style is annoying because he is constantly offering his opinions on how the Ptolemys, Cleopatra, Caesar, and Antony lived (in sin and complete godlessness, in case you were interested). I could do without the editorializing with an ancient biography especially. Cleopatra's world was entirely different from our own (and Abbott's) and although her behavior was at best shady, it doesn't seem fair for a biographer to judge show more her so harshly.

In terms of a biographical subject, of course, it doesn't get much better than Cleopatra. The scandalous events of her life have never ceased to amuse and shock people since her own time. If you are looking for a brief biography of Egypt's last Pharaoh that is available online (Gutenberg.org), this one is decent. Just be sure to only skim Abbott's meanderings on the landscape of Egypt and Cleopatra's (many) ancestors. show less