The Days of King Alfred is another name for The Dragon and the Raven. The story takes place in the late 9th century, under Alfred the Great's leadership. As King Alfred and the fictional figure Ealdorman Edmund battle Danish Viking invaders, the story recounts their exploits. The author of this tale describes the bloody fight for dominance in England between the Saxons and Danes and paints a vivid picture of the suffering and destruction to which the nation was reduced by the ravages of the sea wolves. The protagonist, a young Saxon thane, participates in all of King Alfred's battles. He flees his home, goes to sea and fights the Danes in their own environment. He is present during the protracted and desperate siege of Paris when the Danes are being pursued up the Seine. The Dragon and the Raven by G. A. Henty introduced readers to the sights, sounds, and activities of 9th-century England. This historical fiction work offers an exciting introduction to King Alfred the Great's life and times and is sure to grab the imagination of young readers for decades to come. It weaves the real story of King Alfred with the fictional narrative of Edmund, a young Saxon thane
G.A. Henty was a prolific English novelist born on 8 December 1832 near Cambridge. In his childhood facing the health issues, he was almost confined to bed so, he developed a good hobby of reading books. For his education he joined Westminster School London and Cambridge University. He had good interest in sports also. In 1853, Crimea war broke out, by the time he decided to join the British army and he went Crimea as war correspondent. After the Crimean War he resigned the army and began article writing for standard newspaper. As a special correspondent, he covered, Austro- Italian war, British Punitive Expedition Abyssinia, the Prussian War, Turco- Serbian War and Opening of the Suez Canal. Throughout his life he supports British Empire. He wrote his first children's book, Out On The Pampas in 1868. With children's book, he wrote fiction, non-fiction novel and short stories but he is best historical adventurous story writer. He was died in 1902. His notable works include-The March of Magdala, The Bravest of the Brave, In the Reign of Terror, The Dragon and The Raven, For the Temple, Under Drake's Flag and In Freedoms Cause, At Agincourt etc.
