"Beowulf" as translated by Thomas C. Kennedy, is a new and fascinating translation of a centuries old tale. It is a journey back to when dragons and monsters were the topics of great storytellers. The epic poem, "Beowulf" is housed in the British Museum in what is judged to be a tenth century manuscript. It is an Anglo-Saxon tale about a young warrior who slays a monster and then has to slay the monster's vengeful mother. Many winters later the warrior, having grown old, is killed while saving his own tribe from the wrath of a fire-breathing dragon. The poem comes out of a preliterate oral tradition, weaving together ancient folklore with details of medieval history. In this translation Kennedy sets the stage with his preface, explaining the history of the poem and the different meanings that can be derived from some of the terms. He then proceeds to weave a web with his words, drawing the reader into Beowulf's great battles.
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Editorial Reviews
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
About the Author
Thomas C. Kennedy studied the Anglo-Saxon text of "Beowulf" with E. van K. Dobbie at Columbia University and has taught English Literature at Washburn University since 1972.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thank you for the translation!,
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This review is from: Beowulf (Paperback)
Not only does Thomas C. Kennedy capture the story of Beowulf with page-turning suspense and great storytelling, the words carry a continuous meter without giving in to boredom (like some translations have executed). His preface gives an interesting account of the Anglo-Saxon language, history, metaphors, linguistics, and comparisons to contemporary Fantasy, all within seven pages of interesting reading. Also, notes at the back determine certain word origins, the words best kept in a good translation. And the mead hall is given a proper name "beer hall". Let's face it, reading needs to be fun, as well as entertaining, and this translation is excellent.
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