Beowulf: The Complete Story: A Drama (an audio book) [Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

Dick Ringler (Author), Norman Gilliland (Producer)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2006

This dramatization of a bold new version of the complete thousand-year-old text features actors from Wisconsin Public Radio, the American Players Theatre, and the Guthrie Theatre, supported by music and sound effects. The translation, by Professor Dick Ringler of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, evokes the original spoken delivery of the Old English masterpiece.

Cast in Order of Appearance
Narrator, Dick Ringler; Danish Coast Guard, Nathan Sorseth;
Beowulf, Stephen Pelinski; Sentry at Heorot, Jim DeVita;
Hrothgar, King of the Danes, Karl Schmidt; Unferth, Craig Johnson; Wealhtheow, Susan Sweeney; Hygelac, L.J. Janowski; Last Survivor, Jonathan Smoots; Wiglaf, Jason Bradley; Messenger, Jason O’Connell

Distributed for NEMO Productions, Madison, Wisconsin.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dick Ringler is professor emeritus of English and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is author of Bard of Iceland and coauthor, with Frederick Cassidy, of Bright's Old English Grammar and Reader. Norman Gilliland has hosted weekday classical music broadcasts since 1977. He is the creator of Grace Notes, which has become a daily feature on many public radio stations nationwide, and is author of the historical novel, Sand Mansions. He lives in Madison.

From AudioFile

Though the publisher calls this production a drama, it is, rather, a recital of the complete text by multiple readers, with sound effects and music. As such, it is one of the most accessible and listenable audio versions of this tenth-century epic, originally written in Old English. The poem sings of the title hero's youthful victory over Danish monsters and his last fatal battle with a dragon. The crisp translation is tensely narrated by Richard Ringer, the University of Wisconsin professor who wrote it, with the characters performed by uniformly capable actors. Producer Norman Gilliland, a WHA Madison program host, has judiciously selected and mixed the sound and music to contribute atmosphere and help drive the action forward. Y.R. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press; 1 edition (August 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971509328
• ISBN-13: 978-0971509320
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Books on CD > History > Europe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Beowulf is great literature, January 23, 2007

By 

E. Turner (Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beowulf: The Complete Story: A Drama (an audio book) (Audio CD)

I've read, studied, and quoted Beowulf, but I had never heard it done such a compelling fashion. The language is stirring, and the sound effects are realistic. When you hear this, you understand how this tale survived. The alliteration helped the successive narrators remember the tale and swept the audience along in the story. Great work!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now hear why this is a remarkable poem, January 13, 2010

By 

Mark Twain (US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beowulf: The Complete Story: A Drama (an audio book) (Audio CD)

The Ringler translation of Beowulf is excellent and this recording of his translation just adds to the whole Beowulf experience. I would urge you to get Ringler's translation as well as this recording and read it and Ringler's great introduction to the poem. This recording really brings the Beowulf story to life. The reading is dramatic with different voices for the narrator, Beowulf, Hrothgar, etc. Tasteful sound effects (eg, the sound of whale-road waves) enhance the listening experience. There is also gentle music that includes ancient horns, an Irish harp, drums and soulful voices - all beautifully applied. I think that by listening to this recording you will really "get it" as to why Beowulf is such a classic.

(Probably having a mug of ale would make the listening experience even better, though I wouldn't recommend doing that if you are listening while driving).