Alfred the Great? or not Great?

Given that I get most of my limited  history knowledge from the television or the Internet, I have no idea what the answer to this is.

Simon Schama’s TV History seemed to regard Alfred (better called by the more typographically attractive AElfred combination) as definitely great. The first King of England (minus the bits the Danes had) crowned in London.

However, most other TV history programmes suggest that Alfred was not Great at all. Just a Wessex king who managed to give away half of England.

Does anyone know what else Alfred is supposed to have done (except prove himself inferior to Mr Kipling?)  Did he start the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle being written?

I will investigate and try to get some answers. If I succeed I will post an article on the Saxons part of  our British history site http://www.etrusia.co.uk