King Alfred and the Ice Coffin
Carnegie Medalist Kevin Crossley-Holland and Kate Greenaway Medalist Chris Riddell (Arthur, the Always King) pair up again to tell a tale of the ninth-century King Alfred the Great. Best known for making peace with invading Vikings and for ruling as the first king of the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred was also a scholar (learning Latin as an adult) and a promoter of literacy and education.
In this lyrical prose poem, Alfred welcomes a sailor named Wulfstan to his court. Wulfstan entertains the king and his courtiers with an account of his travels, including a violent storm at sea, a warm welcome from the inhabitants of the land where they washed up, an exciting horse race, and the funeral of a leader whose body was encased in a coffin made of ice, preserving the corpse during a month-long wake. Alfred is delighted to learn of the customs of other societies. He tells Wulfstan he will include this tale in the history of the area he is writing, and rewards him with a pouch of coins.
Riddell’s illustrations run the emotional gamut: They beautifully capture the drama of the storm and the horse race as well as the serenity of the king’s studies and storytelling around the ice coffin. This engaging tale of a military leader who was also interested in history, language, sociology, and education should help dispel the myth that the early Middle Ages were “dark” and barbarous. An author’s note provides context and tells the reader which parts of the story were add-ons to the historical account. Highly recommended for readers of all ages, particularly those 10 and up.
