Michael Wood: King Alfred and the Anglo-Saxons

[aeolium]

No-one's asked the question, but I'll answer it pre-emptively. Ash is pronounced as a short A (exactly as in Alfred or ash), rather than the slightly broader, flatter A of hlafleast (hunger, famine). The name (æsc) is simply ash (tree) in modern English.

I must say I like those old Anglo-Saxon names. It's a pity we don't see more of them (apart from the commoner ones like Alfred, Edward etc). I think they were more popular in the late-Victorian/Edwardian period when books like Hereward the Wake revived interest in the period (and I recall a few AS names like Elfrida in E Nesbit books I read long ago).

[Sir Velo]

Highly entertaining and informative.

A few quibbles: firstly, the Chronicles are not free from bias. They could be seen as the equivalent of a modern day "authorised biography", and are undoubtedly propaganda, presenting Alfred in a highly favourable light as the "scholar monarch". It would have been nice if Michael Wood had acknowledged this, but then he does have an agenda.

Secondly, the disease which seems to afflict all documentaries, namely: the compulsion to have the presenter whizzing around to every location mentioned in the narrative juxtaposed with highly anachronistic shots of trains and traders etc., as well as some obtrusive graphics of computer generated maps. Seeing a modern day, drab Reading city centre hardly conjures up the atmosphere of Anglo-Saxon England to me. Having said that, the filming in the Somerset levels and Salisbury Plain was immensely atmospheric.

[Pabmusic]

I must say I like those old Anglo-Saxon names. It's a pity we don't see more of them (apart from the commoner ones like Alfred, Edward etc). I think they were more popular in the late-Victorian/Edwardian period when books like Hereward the Wake revived interest in the period (and I recall a few AS names like Elfrida in E Nesbit books I read long ago).

Yes I agree. I enjoyed as a (fairly) young boy discovering that the 'gar' of Elgar (elf spear or possibly noble spear) was also to be found in garlic (spear-shaped leek) - now, don't you think that's interesting? I will happily admit that not everyone would - story of my life - but I think it's very neat.

[Nick Armstrong]

the 'gar' of Elgar (elf spear or possibly noble spear) was also to be found in garlic (spear-shaped leek) - now, don't you think that's interesting?

I do !!

Re the programme itself, half-watched as yet, I found it absorbing - and amazing to find my former place of residence, Godalming, turning up in Alfred the Great's will !

[gurnemanz]

Very good programme with impressive language skills from Mr Wood. It had never struck me before that Æthel or Ethel was a cognate of the German "Adel" (noblity) found in names like Adelheid (Adelaide, Adele). Just Googled to find that Adolf is a shortened form of Adelwolf. Hitler, of course, enjoyed his nickname "Wolf". Another German cognate is the adjective "edel" (noble, precious) as in Edelweiß.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A few quibbles: firstly, the Chronicles are not free from bias. They could be seen as the equivalent of a modern day "authorised biography", and are undoubtedly propaganda, presenting Alfred in a highly favourable light as the "scholar monarch". It would have been nice if Michael Wood had acknowledged this, but then he does have an agenda.

Interesting point, SirV. On which, does anybody know why the Chronicles omit any reference to the Synod of Whitby - or, for that matter, why "Alfred's" translation of Bede's Ecclesiastic History of England also omits Bede's account of the Synod? (The only bit of Bede, IIRC, to be missed out of the translation.)

Secondly, the disease which seems to afflict all documentaries, namely: the compulsion to have the presenter whizzing around to every location mentioned in the narrative juxtaposed with highly anachronistic shots of trains and traders etc., as well as some obtrusive graphics of computer generated maps. Seeing a modern day, drab Reading city centre hardly conjures up the atmosphere of Anglo-Saxon England to me.

Perhaps; but at least THERE AREN'T ANY RYDDU MARIMBAS; for which relief, much thanks.

[aeolium]

A few quibbles: firstly, the Chronicles are not free from bias. They could be seen as the equivalent of a modern day "authorised biography", and are undoubtedly propaganda, presenting Alfred in a highly favourable light as the "scholar monarch". It would have been nice if Michael Wood had acknowledged this, but then he does have an agenda.

Actually, I think MW did mention the partiality of the chronicler late on in yesterday's programme when the death of Æthelflæde and the deposition of Ælfwine were being discussed (the Parker chronicle being pro-Edward) but that may also have fitted in with MW's agenda, as he appeared to favour the ladies

Secondly, the disease which seems to afflict all documentaries, namely: the compulsion to have the presenter whizzing around to every location mentioned in the narrative juxtaposed with highly anachronistic shots of trains and traders etc., as well as some obtrusive graphics of computer generated maps. Seeing a modern day, drab Reading city centre hardly conjures up the atmosphere of Anglo-Saxon England to me. Having said that, the filming in the Somerset levels and Salisbury Plain was immensely atmospheric.

Yes, though I didn't think it was overdone, and sometimes the city shots were used to illustrate a relevant point, e.g. when he was standing in the centre of Gloucester pointing down the different roads that were used as the basis for the development of the medieval city. Seeing the locations of some key battles was also very useful, I thought.

[gurnemanz]

Secondly, the disease which seems to afflict all documentaries, namely: the compulsion to have the presenter whizzing around to every location mentioned in the narrative juxtaposed with highly anachronistic shots of trains and traders etc., as well as some obtrusive graphics of computer generated maps. Seeing a modern day, drab Reading city centre hardly conjures up the atmosphere of Anglo-Saxon England to me. Having said that, the filming in the Somerset levels and Salisbury Plain was immensely atmospheric.

I can see what you mean but given the choice between shots of how the places look now and dodgy reconstructions using actors with good teeth dressed up as Anglo-Saxons I would definitely prefer the modern shots. I've never been to Tamworth and it was of some interest to see what it looks like. It must be quite hard to find enough relevant visuals to provide a background to what is essentially an hour-long lecture.

[cheesehoven]

I agree this is an excellent series although in the last episode I could have done with a bit more on Edward the Elder, who has been an obscure historical figure to me and no less obscure after this programme.