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.

Prizes

Short-listed for Young Quills Historical Fiction Awards 2025 (UK)

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 *
a fascinating glimpse into the world of the time, told in Kevin Crossley-Holland’s trademark lyrical, limpid prose. And the illustrations are simply sublime […] Terrific design and production from the publisher too. One not to be missed. * Books for Keeps *
incredible tale […] the perfect read for any budding historians or adventurers. * WRD Magazine *
Exciting, thought-provoking. . . I would recommend this book to other pupils because it is a great way to learn more about the Vikings while enjoying a good adventure. There was nothing I didn’t like about the book, I enjoyed all of it! * Student Reviewer, Historical Association *
A fun tale with historic detail. . . It was a unique way to teach about King Alfred’s by incorporating a story within a story. * Student Reviewer, Historical Association *

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. Chris Riddell is one of the country's finest children's book illustrators, and was Children's Laureate from 2015–17. He has won the Kate Greenaway Medal three times – for Pirate Diary, Gulliver's Travels and The Sleeper and the Spindle. He is a political cartoonist for the Observer and has collaborated with Paul Stewart on the extremely popular Edge Chronicles and Muddle Earth series. In recent years he has had success writing and illustrating his own books, including the Ottoline stories and Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse, which won a Costa Book Award – and he illustrated J.K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard.