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Cover of Alfgar the Dane or the Second Chronicle of Aescendune: A Tale of the Days of Edmund Ironside

Alfgar the Dane or the Second Chronicle of Aescendune: A Tale of the Days of Edmund Ironside

Written by A. D. (Augustine David) Crake

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Great Britain

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About this book

"Alfgar the Dane or the Second Chronicle of Aescendune" by A. D. Crake is a historical novel likely written in the late 19th century. Set during the early 11th century, it explores the turbulent times of Danish invasions in England, focusing on themes of identity, faith, and betrayal. The story revolves around Alfgar, the son of a Danish warrior, as he grapples with his heritage while living amongst the English after the tragic events of St. Brice's Day, when many Danes were slaughtered. The opening of the novel is structured around the diary entries of Father Cuthbert, the prior of a monastery, who provides historical context as he recounts the dark clouds of conflict hanging over England due to the Danish incursions and the instability of King Ethelred's reign. Through Cuthbert’s observations, we meet Alfgar and learn of his inner turmoil regarding his Danish lineage and the tragic fate of his mother. The former conflicts of loyalty are exacerbated by the sheriff's secretive plots leading to violence, setting a tone of impending doom. Throughout this introduction, Crake provides a rich backdrop of 11th-century England, establishing the moral dilemmas faced by characters caught between their ancestral loyalty and their current realities.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Alfgar the Dane or the Second Chronicle of Aescendune: A Tale of the Days of Edmund Ironside, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • turbulent
  • historical
  • somber

A. D. Crake's "Alfgar the Dane" is a historical novel set in early 11th-century England, a period fraught with Danish invasions and political instability under King Ethelred. The narrative centers on Alfgar, a young man of Danish lineage who finds himself grappling with his identity and heritage after the traumatic events of St. Brice's Day, living amidst the English. The story unfolds through the diary entries of Father Cuthbert, a monastery prior, who provides crucial historical context and introduces Alfgar's internal turmoil and the looming threat of conflict. As a secretive sheriff plots violence, Alfgar's past conflicts of loyalty are reignited, setting a tone of impending doom and moral dilemma. The novel intricately weaves personal struggles with the broader historical backdrop, exploring themes of identity, faith, loyalty, and betrayal against a turbulent medieval landscape.

“"The shadow of the Dane falls long and dark across our land, and every Saxon heart knows the chill of its coming."”

Key themes

Identity and Heritage
This is the central theme, explored primarily through Alfgar's internal conflict. He is of Danish lineage but lives among the English, a situation made precarious by the St. Brice's Day massacre. The novel delves into the psychological toll of being caught between two cultures, the struggle to reconcile one's ancestry with one's present reality, and the quest to define where one truly belongs.
Loyalty and Betrayal
The theme of loyalty is explored on multiple levels: personal loyalty to friends and family, tribal loyalty to one's heritage, and political loyalty to a king or kingdom. Betrayal, often driven by fear, ambition, or prejudice, acts as a powerful catalyst for conflict, highlighting the fragility of trust in turbulent times.
Conflict and War
The backdrop of the novel is the constant conflict between the English and the invading Danes. This theme delves into the devastating impact of war on individuals and society, the political machinations that drive conflict, and the cycles of violence and vengeance that perpetuate it. It portrays the brutality of medieval warfare and its far-reaching consequences.

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