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Step into the Anglo-Saxon world of King Alfred the Great in a lyrical retelling from a Carnegie Medal-winning author and Kate Greenaway Medal-winning former Children's Laureate.
Alfred the Great is one of the most iconic rulers in British history and the only one to be known as "Great". Not only did he mount a fierce resistance against Viking invaders, he was also a keen scholar and collector of stories. He welcomed travellers with a tale to his court, which brings in the intrepid sailor Wulfstan. Wulfstan dazzles Alfred's court with a story of shipwrecks, horse-racing and a ruler buried in ice.
Kevin Crossley-Holland has translated Wulfstan's thrilling tale from the Anglo-Saxon into a rhythmic prose poem with lavish artwork by Chris Riddell.
About the author
Kevin Crossley-Holland is a well-known poet and prize-winning author for children. His books include
Heartsong, with Jane Ray, a collection of Poems,
The Breaking Hour, both published in 2015,
The Riddlemaster, published in June 2016. His retelling of traditional tales for Walker are
Norse Myths,
Norse Tales,
Between Worlds and
King Alfred and the Ice Coffin.
The Seeing Stone won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, the Smarties Prize Bronze medal, and the Tir na n-Og Award. His
Arthur trilogy has won worldwide critical acclaim, sold well over one million copies, and been translated into twenty-five languages.
Report
This mighty medal winning duo have produced a truly magical book. Crossley-Holland's prose is both lyrical, descriptive and yet accessible. Once again he has shown his mastery in retelling tales from the original Anglo-Saxon. Riddell's characteristically detailed pencil sketches are to be pored over. English 4-11
