Customer Reviews

Beowulf The Warrior

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This handy edition of Beowulf has the virtue of being easily approachable by an average reader, whereas some of the other translations I've seen have almost been like reading the original Anglo-Saxon itself. The translation reads easily yet retains the flavor and rhythms of the ancient epic.

Though it's still a little advanced for my kids (under age 6), it will definitely be bedtime fare in the not-too-distant future. For those unfamiliar with the story, it tells the tale of Beowulf and his battles against awful Grendel, the hideous mother of Grendel, and the terrible fire-breathing dragon. This edition includes a number of illustrations which will certainly help draw younger readers into the story.

If you enjoyed Beowulf and want to know more about the Anglo-Saxon language, you might try A Book For The Beginner In Anglo-saxon: Comprising A Short Grammar and Some Selections from the Gospels. If you just like epic poems, there's also The Laviniad: An Epic Poem which is an epic in the Trojan War cycle written by a modern author and the classic The Ballad of the White Horse by G. K. Chesterton.

My children (6 and 7 years old) thoroughly enjoyed listening to how the mighty and brave Beowulf defeated the evil Grendel and his Mother. The book is written very well and lends itself to a great deal of imagery. I was very glad this classic could be written in a manner that small children could understand and enjoy this great story.

I was lucky enough to find a hardcover, library-bound, 1961 version of this book at a booksale, so my review is for the story itself, rather than the book being sold. This retelling of the story is easily read aloud and brings with it the beauty of the original language of the poem. Other children's versions tell the story, but in a way that loses much of the magic, in my opinion. The illustrations are gorgeous! Some may be scary to young listeners, though. Do take advantage of the "Look Inside" feature to preview some of them. I am happy to see this classic reprinted and available to purchase.

Beowulf (Signet Classics) My youngest son has been wildly enamoured of Beowulf for the past 40 years. I finally found a translation that made sense. It was one of his Christmas presents.