Well, in 'Alfred the Great fiction', he's a bit of both. The core of his identity as Alfred the Great is rooted in history. He was a king who had a great impact on Anglo - Saxon England. But in the fictional works, there will be fictional parts. Maybe he's involved in a fictional battle against a made - up enemy, or has a relationship with a fictional character that never existed in real history, all to create an interesting fictional story around him.
Alfred the Great was a real historical king. But in 'Alfred the Great fiction', some aspects can be fictional. For example, his interactions with other fictional characters might be made up. The essence of his character, like his leadership and wisdom, is often drawn from historical accounts, but the storytellers may take creative liberties to fit the narrative of the fiction.
In most 'Alfred the Great fiction', Alfred the Great is often based on the historical figure. However, the fictional works may add some fictional elements like fictionalized dialogues, relationships, or adventures to make the story more engaging.
Another theme is the struggle against invaders. Alfred had to deal with Viking invasions in real life, and this is often a major part of the fictional stories too. It shows his courage and strategic thinking in defending his kingdom. Also, the theme of cultural preservation can be seen. Alfred was known for promoting education and culture, and fictions may explore how he did this in the face of threats.
His family members could be main characters too. For example, his wife or his children, as they would have been part of his life and might have influenced his decisions in some ways. Also, the Viking leaders he faced off against would be important characters, as they were the main antagonists in his story of defending the kingdom.
One great historical fiction about Alfred the Great is 'The Last Kingdom' series by Bernard Cornwell. It vividly portrays the life and times of Alfred, with detailed descriptions of the battles and the political situation.
I'm not sure specifically as there may be many novels related to Alfred the Great. It could be about his heroic deeds in defending his kingdom, his efforts in promoting education and culture, or his role in unifying the Anglo - Saxon people.
There are many novels that might be related to Alfred the Great, but without more details about this particular 'alfred the great novel', it's impossible to determine the author.
There is some debate about whether the 'King Alfred the Great and his cakes story' is entirely based on historical facts. While Alfred was a real king, this particular anecdote might be more of a legend or a folktale that grew around his name over time. It's possible that it was created to illustrate certain aspects of his character, like his preoccupation with the state of his kingdom even in the midst of ordinary tasks.
Often, they feature the battles he fought. Alfred was constantly defending his kingdom, and fictions will depict these intense military clashes.
There are likely famous novels inspired by him. One aspect that might be explored in these novels is his role as a unifier. Alfred the Great played a crucial role in bringing together different parts of the Anglo - Saxon kingdoms. A novel could tell the story of how he overcame regional differences and rivalries. It could also show his diplomatic skills, like how he made alliances with some tribes or kingdoms to strengthen his position against the Vikings. Moreover, the novel could depict the cultural changes that took place under his rule, such as the growth of art and architecture.
In the 'Alfred the Great' historical novel, we can expect to see a vivid portrayal of the era in which Alfred lived. It could describe the Anglo - Saxon society of that time, with its social structure, religious beliefs, and cultural practices. Alfred's own character would be explored, from his early life, his challenges in uniting the kingdoms, to his later achievements like the establishment of laws and the growth of learning. His role as a unifier and a reformer would be central to the story, and we might also get to see how his ideas and actions influenced the future of England.
I'm not sure of a specific novel titled exactly 'Alfred the Great' but there could be many works that feature him as a central character. Maybe there are novels in the historical genre that show his role in unifying the Anglo - Saxon kingdoms. These novels would likely describe his military strategies, like building forts and training his armies. They could also touch on his personal life, such as his family and his beliefs which influenced his rule.