Asser's Life of King Alfred

by John Asser

"Asser's Life of King Alfred" by John Asser is a biography written in 893. A Welsh monk recruited to Alfred the Great's scholarly court, Asser composed the only substantial contemporary account of England's legendary king. This work reveals Alfred's character, achievements, and daily life in remarkable detail—information unavailable for any other early English ruler. Though the original manuscript perished in a 1731 fire, earlier transcriptions preserved this invaluable portrait. The biography's authenticity has sparked debate, but scholars now widely accept it as genuine.