The Persuasive Agency of Objects and Practices in Alfred the Great's Reform Program
Published on 31. August 2024
242 pages
978-1-80270-227-9 (ISBN)
Description
Alfred the Great's early English kingdom was the only one to resist Viking conquest. His reform program strengthened the kingdom and enabled it to hold fast against the Vikings. But texts are largely silent on the process of reform. There has been a tendency to assume that these reforms would obviously be beneficial, but Alfred's elites were not to know that in advance. What motivated them to do as their king bid them? This book analyzes how objects and behaviours shaped aristocratic response to the reform program, using assemblage theory and social practice theory. The Alfred Jewel (as shown on the cover) exercised a powerful persuasive agency in Alfredian reform. Broadening the frame of inquiry beyond textual evidence, giving objects and behaviours their due, permits a richer and more nuanced understanding.
More details
Series
Edition
Digital original
Language
English
Place of publication
York
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student
Edition type
Digital original
Illustrations
3 farbige Abbildungen
3 Illustrations, color
ISBN-13
978-1-80270-227-9 (9781802702279)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 06/2050
Arc Humanities Press
€152.50
Not yet published
Person
Pitt Georgina :
Georgina Pitt is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. Her research focuses on the early medieval period, across the disciplines of history, literary studies, and archaeology. She has published on Alfredian reform, Sutton Hoo, and the medieval experience of war.
Georgina Pitt is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. Her research focuses on the early medieval period, across the disciplines of history, literary studies, and archaeology. She has published on Alfredian reform, Sutton Hoo, and the medieval experience of war.
Content
List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Author's Note Abbreviations Prelude. The Enigmatic Alfred Jewel Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Military Innovation: Performing Alfredian Ideology Chapter 3. Alfredian Ideology Chapter 4. Alfredian Learning and Its Implications for Alfredian Reform Chapter 5. Text-Bodies: A Crucial Actant Chapter 6. Social Practices: Routinized Ways of Doing Things Chapter 7. The Enigmatic Alfred Jewel: A Powerful Player in Alfredian Reform Coda. Looking Forward: Alfred's Successors Bibliography Index
