Awfully little book for a big man but them's the dark ages. Rip-off of Suetonius. Not infrequently historically wrong. My copy was damp and musty. Fitting really. ( )

This small volume,written in the 9th century by a member of Charlemagne's court, provides a glimpse of the leader's life. While it lacks the sophistication of modern biographies, its importance lies in revealing how his inner circle viewed him. I found the map of "Europe According to Einhard" fascinating. ( )

Einhard was part of Charlemagne's retinue, and wrote this brief account of the great king's career as an obligation to history. No earth shattering revelations, modern histories have far richer continent, but also have the benefit of historical perspective. I will say this is a lot more readable than Asser's sycophantic description of the life of Alfred the Great. ( )