Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.99
with membership

School & Library Binding
$28.17

Paperback
$8.67

$8.67 with 38 percent savings

List Price: $14.00

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Thursday, October 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tomorrow, October 12. Order within 22 hrs 41 mins.

In Stock

$$8.67 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

FREE 30-day refund/replacement

Payment

Secure transaction

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

$7.00

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

Free shipping directly from Amazon Prime with hassle-free returns Free shipping directly from Amazon Prime with hassle-free returns See less

FREE delivery November 3 - 10 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or fastest delivery November 3 - 7

$$8.67 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Sold by Parley Books and Fulfilled by Amazon.

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (271) from $1.36

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the authors

Grendel Paperback – May 14, 1989

by John Gardner (Author)

2,051 ratings

See all formats and editions

Savings Get 3 for the price of 2 Shop items

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$8.67","priceAmount":8.67,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"67","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"cAFy4TgCR%2FqqtHoRNxyT26qCEYqRzLiKeNiCt81DwJj%2BFCeN9qmyzju4qn8XHmj9uRRUykNpaXwtdaUm4RfampjIB0Ezdijr1r15K9eL1s32U9sr6F%2BvY6uDMTY2QbF527NUhtKjo5M%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$7.00","priceAmount":7.00,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"00","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"cAFy4TgCR%2FqqtHoRNxyT26qCEYqRzLiKCofnRcPw4ahzCagiw%2Fyw%2FAVtjvpfV5Gcq41fujiHcVLZqPaYx%2FQiF19ktH5%2F0O9cf1ck4t4FMrhdkq25jbr9JtbRco9AWynEsVzYNehjeZsr3LhO7DsR8mS9fWVqhCPTmEicrGV5SbO9mEzY33ZhDg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

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."

Report an issue with this product or seller

Print length

192 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Vintage
Publication date

May 14, 1989
Dimensions

5.2 x 0.5 x 7.93 inches
ISBN-10

0679723110
ISBN-13

978-0679723110

See all details

"Layla" by Colleen Hoover for $7.19
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more

This item: Grendel

$8.67

Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (Bilingual Edition)

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (Bilingual Edition)

$11.43

Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

$5.58

Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price: $00

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Added to Cart

Choose items to buy together.

Hamlet (Dover Thrift Editions: Plays)
William Shakespeare

Paperback
#1 Best Seller
$4.38
Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16
FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon
Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (Bilingual Edition)
Seamus Heaney

Paperback
$11.43
Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16
FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon
The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Penguin Classics)
R. K. Narayan

Paperback
$8.95
Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16
FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon
Beowulf: A New Translation
Maria Dahvana Headley

Paperback
$9.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16
FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon
The Monk (Penguin Classics)
Matthew Lewis

Paperback
$8.67
Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16
FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Penguin Classics)
Anonymous

Paperback
$12.00
Get it as soon as Thursday, Oct 16
FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by Amazon

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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.

From the Inside Flap

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
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 14, 1989
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0679723110
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679723110
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.93 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #11,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #123 in Folklore (Books)
- #399 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #947 in Literary Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews:
2,051 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

John Gardner
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
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.
See more on the author's page
Josef Strasser
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
See more on the author's page
Nina Shen Rastogi
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
See more on the author's page
Anton Pannekoek
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
See more on the author's page

Related products with free delivery on eligible orders

Sponsored | Try Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping

Page 1 of 1Start over

Customer reviews

2,051 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find this book a worthwhile read that delves into various philosophies and worldviews, with a narrative form that explores human nature. The writing style is poetic, with figurative language throughout, and customers appreciate its interesting ideas about heroism and its humor. Moreover, the book is recommended for English classes, with one customer noting it serves as a wonderful companion to Beowulf. However, the language receives mixed reviews, with some finding it easy to understand while others say it's hard to follow at times.

Select to learn more

Readability Intellectual content Story quality Writing style Pacing Reading level Humor Language

53 customers mention "Readability"43 positive10 negative

Customers find the book interesting and worth their time, with one mentioning it's a must-read for Beowulf and Marillion fans.

"...Great read especially if you are reading Beowulf as well" Read more

"Terrific and interesting book. Having read Beowulf in high school, I figuered it only fair to read the story from the other side...." Read more

"I received the book in fine shape, and quickly. It is an interesting read, but a fairly short book. I also read others by this author. All good." Read more

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

23 customers mention "Intellectual content"21 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the intellectual content of the book, which delves into various philosophies and worldviews, with one customer noting how it explores human nature.

"...It is a philosophical novel like no other." Read more

"...Intelligence, emotional integrity, great genius and a huge pair of balls. What else would you want in a writer?..." Read more

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

"...not a typical action-heavy fantasy novel, but it is one of the most intellectual and thought provoking fantasy novels out there...." Read more

23 customers mention "Story quality"20 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the story quality of the book, with one customer noting it offers a unique perspective on the classic Beowulf tale, while another mentions it presents the narrative from the monster's point of view.

"Good story. Hard to follow at times, but well worth the read." Read more

"I appreciated the cleverness and loved the retelling aspect. I would have LOVED this as a lit student...." Read more

"...Still, a fun take on the original story that "humanizes" Grendel." Read more

"...I would recommend anyone looking for an intriguing story full of symbolism." Read more

21 customers mention "Writing style"18 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting its poetic use of figurative language, with one customer highlighting its masterful telling in the audio version.

"Wonderfully written, full of detail but not a heavy read. This was a required reading for my daughter's English course and I'm so glad...." Read more

"This book is incredible. Grendel is a sly, poetic, introspective "monster" who embodies the monster that is in all of us...." Read more

"...It's a bit of a Frankenstein story. It's well written but I had a hard time really enjoying it to its fullest because it came on a bit too heavy and..." 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

20 customers mention "Pacing"18 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, finding it thought-provoking with interesting ideas about heroism, and one customer notes how it adds to the richness of the legend.

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

"I think I found this version more entertaining than I thought. It's inciteful, witty, and unmatched in prose and depth...." Read more

"Best book ever. Rich in philosophy, irony and exquisite writing." Read more

"...I have read this again as an adult and it is just as wonderful and relevant. I highly recommend this book!" Read more

15 customers mention "Reading level"14 positive1 negative

Customers find the book suitable for school and English classes, with one mentioning it serves as a wonderful companion to Beowulf, while another appreciates reading it from Grendel's perspective.

"Good Book for school." Read more

"Great book with interesting things to learn from it" Read more

"...The story is told from Grendel's point of view. A great book of questions. The answers are found in the C.S. Lewis' classic, Pilgrim's Regress." Read more

"An excellent book, great for English classes. Buy this book, you'll see Beowulf in a whole new perspective right now." Read more

12 customers mention "Humor"10 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the humor in the book, noting how it is interwoven throughout the narrative.

"A wonderful piece of satire. Each time I read it, I find something a bit different in it that catches my eye...." Read more

"Grendel is a book that I could not put down. It made me laugh out loud, sympathize with a monster, understand an epic tale through a more..." Read more

"...It's inciteful, witty, and unmatched in prose and depth. For anyone who wants another perspective on Beowulf lore." Read more

"I love all the scenes with Unferth. This book made me laugh out loud multiple times. I absolutely recommend reading this right after reading Beowulf." Read more

13 customers mention "Language"6 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the language of the book, with some finding it easy to understand on its own and noting that the translation held their interest, while others mention it's hard to follow at times.

"Good story. Hard to follow at times, but well worth the read." Read more

"Wonderful version! Easy read." Read more

"...it had many good thoughts and themes behind the text, it is somewhat hard to follow so pay attention" Read more

"Enjoyed this novel, though very sad. Easier to follow than Beowolf is. Chapter 6 of this book is one of my favorite chapters of any book ever" Read more

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

Joslyn Long
Very good, very sad
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Enjoyed this novel, though very sad. Easier to follow than Beowolf is. Chapter 6 of this book is one of my favorite chapters of any book ever

Read more

Helpful

Report
OH
Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I love all the scenes with Unferth. This book made me laugh out loud multiple times. I absolutely recommend reading this right after reading Beowulf.

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Srikanth
Always best
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Must read

Read more

Helpful

Report
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
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
"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.)

Read more

21 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Scott Collins
A Darkly Humorous Tale From the Villain's Perspective.
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2014
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
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.

Read more

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Lashanti Jones
Clunky/Complicated Writing style, interesting read!
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I enjoyed this read as much as I did the first time I read it. The language can be a bit clunky and complicated at times and other times it’s relatively simple. There is definitely some underlining dark humor and the narration is kind of witty. It’s nice and interesting to get the monsters perspective rather than just the “hero”. Hero reads get boring at times so this was a nice change of pace.

Read more

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Marianne
Version Allemande
Reviewed in France on September 8, 2012
Verified Purchase

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...

Read more
Report
Translate review to English
Peter J Strachan
Beowulf Provides a Foundation
Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2022
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
for a gripping story designed to entertain and make one think of the great metaphysical questions. A superb book. Gratitude due to the author.

Read more
Report
MatzeB
Das Buch!
Reviewed in Germany on August 22, 2014
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
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!

Read more
Report
Translate review to English
Stewart M
Earth rim walker seeks his meals......
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2014
Verified Purchase
At first glance, a book that casts the monster from Beowulf, Grendel, as the central character may look like just another "revisionist" tale, or even one of the current crop of modern day / classic mash-ups.

But this book is far more than that.

Here Grendel is cast as a thinking monster, reacting to the myths spun by a harper - The Shaper - about him and the nature of the world.

The duality of fate and free will is what drives Grendel to do the things he does - violent things, terrible things, things The Shaper expects him to do. And while this happens, Heorot (the main target of Grendel's rage) slays and slaughters his way to power. Here, again the duality of violence comes to the fore.

Now, if this sounds all a little too serious, the tone of the book is often (deliberately) punctured by Grendel's turn of phrase, where he cynically comments on the world of men.

This is a splendid book, looking as it does at the power of myth and persuasion, and how these can impact on our view of the world.

Highly recommended.

Read more
Report
CMCBF
POOR GRENDEL HAD AN ACCIDENT... SO MAY YOU ALL.
Reviewed in Brazil on October 27, 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
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.

Read more
Report

See more reviews

Get to Know Us

Make Money with Us

Amazon Payment Products

Let Us Help You

© 1996-2025, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates