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Grendel Paperback – May 14, 1989

by John Gardner (Author)

1,993 ratings

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This classic and much lauded retelling of Beowulf follows the monster Grendel as he learns about humans and fights the war at the center of the Anglo Saxon classic epic.

"An extraordinary achievement."—New York Times

The first and most terrifying monster in English literature, from the great early epic Beowulf, tells his own side of the story in this frequently banned book. This is the novel William Gass called "one of the finest of our contemporary fictions."

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Grendel is a beautiful and heartbreaking modern retelling of the Beowulf epic from the point of view of the monster, Grendel, the villain of the 8th-century Anglo-Saxon epic. This book benefits from both of Gardner's careers: in addition to his work as a novelist, Gardner was a noted professor of medieval literature and a scholar of ancient languages.

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The first and most terrifying monster in English literature, from the great early epic BEOWULF, tells his side of the story.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage (May 14, 1989)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0679723110
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679723110
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 860L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.93 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #26,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #42 in Epic Poetry (Books)
- #819 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #2,127 in Literary Fiction (Books)

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1,993 ratings

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Anton Pannekoek
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John Gardner
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John Gardner (1933–1982) was born in Batavia, New York. His critically acclaimed books include the novels Grendel, The Sunlight Dialogues, and October Light, for which he received the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as several works of nonfiction and criticism such as On Becoming a Novelist. He was also a professor of medieval literature and a pioneering creative writing teacher whose students included Raymond Carver and Charles Johnson.
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Josef Strasser
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Customers find the book philosophical and insightful, with one review noting how it delves into various philosophies and worldviews. Moreover, the story receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting its unique perspective on the Beowulf legend, and customers appreciate the character development, particularly the interesting ideas about heroism. The writing style and wit receive mixed reactions - while some find it unmatched in prose and depth, others consider it too wordy, and while some find it funny, others find it boring. The book's length is also mixed, with several customers describing it as short, and customers find it beautiful and easy to read.

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Insight Story quality Character development Beauty Readability Writing quality Wit Length

36 customers mention "Insight"36 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, describing it as a philosophical novel that delves into various philosophies and worldviews.

"This brief book is a brutally powerful conjuring of the monster Grendel from "Beowulf." The story is narrated in first person by John Gardner..." Read more

"...This novel delves into various philosophies and worldviews, and as this being the adventures of a gigantic monstrosity who breaks the backs of bears..." Read more

"...It’s nice and interesting to get the monsters perspective rather than just the “hero”...." Read more

"...She wasn’t looking forward to it but Is happy that it is interesting." Read more

28 customers mention "Story quality"25 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, praising its narrative form, with one customer noting its unique perspective on the Beowulf legend and another highlighting its full and rich characterizations.

"...Yes, the characterizations are enormously full and rich; the arc of the story compelling; the interweaving with "Beowulf" enriching---and..." Read more

"...It's a bit disturbing, yet completely entertaining...." Read more

"...The content is profound, radical, and potentially world-changing; the form is whimsical, seductive, and absolutely delicious...." Read more

"...It has the kind of depth and peculiarly rich perspective that characterizes great, lasting literature. I never cared much for that old epic Beowulf...." Read more

10 customers mention "Character development"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with several noting the interesting ideas about heroism and one highlighting the fantastic critique of human behavior.

"...in first person by John Gardner's reimagined Grendel, who is both horrifying and sympathetic: a savage, ruthless, lonely creature...." Read more

"...nature of good and evil, interwoven with humour and the observations of a true antihero, whilst he rationalises internally, deals with his mute..." Read more

"...The character of the Dragon is interesting, if overwrought...." Read more

"...The book also serves as a fantastic critique of humans and their behavior, as Grendel doesn't seem so much like the monster when you've finished..." Read more

6 customers mention "Beauty"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one describing it as sparkling.

"...There's something about this novel that I think is beautiful, in a creepy sort of way...." Read more

"...It’s nice and interesting to get the monsters perspective rather than just the “hero”...." Read more

"...radical, and potentially world-changing; the form is whimsical, seductive, and absolutely delicious...." Read more

"Grendel is such a contradiction, but a beautiful one, and his take on life is so wonderfully depressing...." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and fast-paced.

"Fast read. Interesting ideas about heroism." Read more

"Fast, Good Price, Great Quality. Simply got what I asked for. Grendel is a great read, especially after reading Beowulf...." Read more

"Wonderful version! Easy read." Read more

"Arrived quickly and in perfect condition." Read more

48 customers mention "Writing quality"33 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some praising its unmatched prose and depth while others find it too wordy.

"...The chapter headings art style is cross-hatch close-ups: interesting artistically, somewhat difficult to sort out visually...." Read more

"...The novel is written from the perspective of Grendel, the monster from the epic Beowulf who terrorizes the Danes and is eventually defeated by the..." Read more

"...is profound, radical, and potentially world-changing; the form is whimsical, seductive, and absolutely delicious...." Read more

"...Gardner's writing is evocative and spry--he doesn't get bogged down in description but the details he throws out perfectly capture the world around..." Read more

27 customers mention "Wit"18 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's wit, with some finding it funny while others describe it as boring and a waste of time.

"...The prose is often wonderful, earthy yet poetic, laced with wit...." Read more

"...Any Reader Alerts? The art was, for me, somewhat distracting. Grendel on the cover looks a bit like a meerkat with fangs...." Read more

"...and even horrifying at times, "Grendel" benefits from a witty narrator, the titular beast who we come to sympathize (if only a little) by..." Read more

"...I immediately enjoyed the book for its sarcasm and defeatist humor. Let's just say, Grendel is crazy...." Read more

7 customers mention "Length"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's length, with some finding it short, while one customer notes it's not boring or too long.

"...In addition to the inhuman Grendel, the book includes a shorter, very striking evocation of a dragon who sees both past and future...." Read more

"...It is an interesting read, but a fairly short book. I also read others by this author. All good." Read more

"...Fortunately, it was a short, quick read...." Read more

"...This book does explore human nature to a certain extent but is way too short(only 174 pages double spaced) to explore it in depth...." Read more

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Sianna
Nice read
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025
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Good book

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Owl
Howl, Poor Beast: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Men, Monsters and the Dragon Which Inspired Smaug
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2015
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"Seek out gold and guard it" advises the Dragon, in a stunning chapter that peels back Grendel's skin (metaphorically speaking but close enough for what happens). Grendel has become infatuated with the Speaker's songs of God, beauty, and heroism, yearning to find a place in such a world, wanting to believe it may be true. Yet experience---bitter, painful attacks when he comes in peace to Hrothgar's mead-hall, his knowledge of men's drunkenness, avarice and cruelty, his mother clasping him in bristly embraces with her only endearments ("Dool-dool")---tells him the Speaker's words ain't necessarily so.

An avatar of nihilism, the Dragon, who claims omniscience of past, present, and future, eloquently, lengthily and vividly tells Grendel that the Speaker's world is all illusion. Not only that, but the whole experiential world will be destroyed over and over again. No meaning therefore in anything but "Seek out gold--not MY gold---and guard it."

The writing in this central section of "Grendel" is brilliant, startling in imagery and in the shakingly convincing dialog. For example, "The color of his scales darkened and brightened as the dragon inhaled and exhaled slowly, drawing new air across his vast internal furnace." "Stand aside, boy," he orders. "I get a cough now and then and it is terrifying in front." As Grendel feels true fear, the Dragon bitterly remarks, "Now you know how THEY feel when they see YOU, eh? Scared enough to pee in their pants! He he!...You didn't, did you."

The book loosely follows the "Beowulf" text. Beowulf's landing, the interchange with Hrothgar's coast guard, his chilling icy interchanges in the mead hall----and the grip that Grendal has never before felt and his pain as his arm is torn, his anguished flight to the edge of the sea----these become more real than your own intake of breath.

Yes, the characterizations are enormously full and rich; the arc of the story compelling; the interweaving with "Beowulf" enriching---and the whole of this marvelous book much more than the sum of its parts as readers may reflect on their own conversations with the Dragon.

Any Reader Alerts? The art was, for me, somewhat distracting. Grendel on the cover looks a bit like a meerkat with fangs. The chapter headings art style is cross-hatch close-ups: interesting artistically, somewhat difficult to sort out visually. This perhaps reflects the complex arguments within "Grendel." Not a deal-breaker for me. Some readers might find this a fascinating part of the over-all tale.

(Tolkein was a "Beowulf" expert. Smaug in "The Hobbit" reflects the dragon in "Beowulf" and Wagner also recapitulates the Dragon's role and gold in the Rings.)

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Mary Soon Lee
Brutal, powerful, often moving, sometimes horrible.
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2017
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This brief book is a brutally powerful conjuring of the monster Grendel from "Beowulf." The story is narrated in first person by John Gardner's reimagined Grendel, who is both horrifying and sympathetic: a savage, ruthless, lonely creature. The prose is often wonderful, earthy yet poetic, laced with wit. In addition to the inhuman Grendel, the book includes a shorter, very striking evocation of a dragon who sees both past and future. I also particularly liked the thread about the minstrel and the impact of his craft both on Grendel and on the humans.

I liked most of the book very well, including the opening chapters, and the later appearance of Beowulf. However at times, such as the opening pages of chapter 7, I found the tone of Grendel's perspective jarring and discordant. At other times, such as the closing pages of chapter 7 (I had trouble with chapter 7!), I found Grendel's perspective so repellent I wanted to stop reading. Although the nastiness seemed consistent with the story, it was thoroughly unpleasant.

As with many first person narratives, the book provided no explanation of how, when, and to whom the story was being told. This weakened the impact of the end for me. Yet the voice of the first person narration is part of the strength of the majority of the book, part of what put me under its spell.

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44 people found this helpful

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Scott Collins
A Darkly Humorous Tale From the Villain's Perspective.
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2014
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It is said that every great hero needs a great villain to challenge him. In the original epic poem "Beowulf", the titular character faced off against the local monster by the name of Grendel early on. We all know how that battle turns out; Beowulf reigns victorious and Grendel loses his arm, along with his life. As far as we knew, Grendel was nothing but a vile beast, a murderer who devoured man and wild animal alike.

But in John Gardner's 1971 classic "Grendel", we witness before our eyes, page after page, a creature who is both sadistic and tortured. Grendel himself is a lonely, violent, but intellectual being who feeds off of Hrothgar and his people like a parasite. This novel delves into various philosophies and worldviews, and as this being the adventures of a gigantic monstrosity who breaks the backs of bears and chomps the heads of humans may suggest, there is a lot of violence. There is also quite a bit of swearing, which is jarring for someone familiar with the epic poem, but tame by the standards of post-modern fiction.

While it is most certainly dark and even horrifying at times, "Grendel" benefits from a witty narrator, the titular beast who we come to sympathize (if only a little) by the time he inevitably succumbs to Beowulf. There are quite a few moments of surprising humor, even when you're not sure if it's meant to be funny or not. It doesn't hurt that the book ends with quite possibly the most ominous final line in all of modern fiction.

"Grendel" a short read, less than 200 pages long, and you'll probably blaze through it in a day or two, but I'll be damned if it isn't a smart joy-ride that teens and adults alike can appreciate.

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5 people found this helpful

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Marianne
Version Allemande
Reviewed in France on September 8, 2012
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Attention! si vous ouvrez pour feuilleter, vous aurez accès à la version anglaise mais c'est pourtant la version allemande que vous êtes en train d'acheter...

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Peter J Strachan
Beowulf Provides a Foundation
Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2022
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for a gripping story designed to entertain and make one think of the great metaphysical questions. A superb book. Gratitude due to the author.

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Paul Clement
Surprising Perspective
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2024
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The story of Beowulf told from Grendel's perspective adds interesting aspects to the story. I enjoyed the descriptions and meditations and will need to re-read to fully appreciate the scope of the book. This doesn't detract from my enjoyment of my first go. Recommended.

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MatzeB
Das Buch!
Reviewed in Germany on August 22, 2014
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Ich halte nicht viel von der Beowulf-Saga und nach dem schrecklichen Animationsfilm mit Angelina Jolie war ich eher skeptisch...
Aber:
J.Gardner schreibt sehr gut und man hat von Anfang an das Gefühl man ist Grendel und sieht alles durch seine Augen.
Wer erst mit englischen Büchern beginnt wird, aber ein hoch auf den Lerneffekt, viele Worte nachsehen müssen. Aber das tut der sehr gut erzählten Story keinen Abbruch!

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CMCBF
POOR GRENDEL HAD AN ACCIDENT... SO MAY YOU ALL.
Reviewed in Brazil on October 27, 2015
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A curious version of Beowulf's tale told by his first - and most notorious - enemy. I would rate it five stars, but some passages in which Grendel speaks as a 20th Century existentialist philosopher just did not reach the "suspension of disbelief". Anyway, the descritiptions of permanent tensions in Hrothgar's court is superb. I highly recommend reading this book right after the excelent translation of Beowulf by Seamus Heaney.

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Grendel Paperback – May 14, 1989

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5.0 out of 5 stars Nice read

5.0 out of 5 stars Howl, Poor Beast: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Men, Monsters and the Dragon Which Inspired Smaug

4.0 out of 5 stars Brutal, powerful, often moving, sometimes horrible.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Darkly Humorous Tale From the Villain's Perspective.

Top reviews from other countries

1.0 out of 5 stars Version Allemande

5.0 out of 5 stars Beowulf Provides a Foundation

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprising Perspective

5.0 out of 5 stars Das Buch!

4.0 out of 5 stars POOR GRENDEL HAD AN ACCIDENT... SO MAY YOU ALL.

Nice read

Howl, Poor Beast: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Men, Monsters and the Dragon Which Inspired Smaug

Brutal, powerful, often moving, sometimes horrible.

A Darkly Humorous Tale From the Villain's Perspective.

Version Allemande

Beowulf Provides a Foundation

Surprising Perspective

Das Buch!

POOR GRENDEL HAD AN ACCIDENT... SO MAY YOU ALL.