Alfred the Great, Asser's Life of King Alfred and other contemporary sources

the long version

"Asser's Life of King Alfred, written in 893, is a revealing account of one of the greatest medieval kings. Composed by a monk of St David's in Wales ... this life is among the earliest surviving royal biographies ... chronicling his battles against Viking invaders and his struggle to increase the strength and knowledge of this people, and to unite them at a time of conflict, uncertainty and war. This edition also includes other contemporary sources, including annals from the The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, King Alfred's laws, his will and extracts from his own writings"--Page 4 of cover.