Recently ive been interested in ancient epics and came across a plot summery of beowulf. Brilliantly retold from original anglosaxon sources. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Beowulf is the story of a heroic warrior who ultimately must battle evil twice, once in the form of a famous monster named grendel, as well as grendels mother, then later in the form of a greedy. For those unfamiliar with beowulf, it is a late first millennium anglosaxon epic about the hero beowulfs fights with three monsters. Beowulf kevin crossleyholland oxford university press set in the legendary scandinavian past, beowulf comes to the aid of the danish king hrothgar by killing the terrifying monster grendel and its vengeful mother. Among his most recent books for children are folktales of the british isles and axeage, wolfage. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars. Beowulf swims down through the lake for many hours, finally coming upon grendels mother. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Page 3 the greathearted king took from his neck the ring of gold. He is known for poetry, novels, story collections, and translations, including three editions of the anglosaxon classic beowulf in 1968 1973, and 1999. Beowulf makes a great speech about bravery, citing that god will look after him in his deed, and leaps into the lake wearing armor and carrying a great sword.
Kevin crossleyholland is a british author, poet, and editor wellknown to both young and old readers. His many books include the bestselling tao te ching, the gospel according to jesus, bhagavad gita, the book of job, meetings with the archangel. Grendel, grendels mother, and, fifty years later at the end of his life, a dragon. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. Despite all of these extraordinary qualities that beowulf contains, i must confess beowulf reads more like a history book of chronological events than the amazing thriller it has the potential to be. Author and poet kevin crossley holland, who has translated the poem into modern english, says it is likely to have been written in about 650. The translation is accompanied in this edition by genealogical charts, historical summaries, and a glossary of proper names.
There is no horrible inconsistency here such as the critics strive and cry about. Charles keeping has illustrated over 100 childrens books, including several of his own, and has twice won the british library associations kate greenaway medal. Buy beowulf, and other old english poems revised and enlarged 2nd ed by hieatt, constance isbn. Beowulf insists on fighting the dragon alone even though the kings death will leave geatland vulnerable to attack from old enemies. Beowulf is a traditional heroic epic poem in old english alliterative verse. Beowulf by crossleyholland, kevin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Books for schools about usborne books for schools how it works benefits for schools usborne school book fairs fundraising for books world book day how we can help author events school of the term contact usborne for schools teachers resources notes and lesson plans to support usborne books sell usborne books about usborne books at home. Beowulfs trusted sword, naegling, is no match for the monster. Truly stunning drawings from a luminary in the world of illustration. Unknown beowulf is a long narrative poem composed in old english some time in between the 8th and 11th century ad. His use of a bard at the beginning, who provides the background and historical context and entices the heros involvement, shows how he keeps his young readership in mind. Beowulf used books, rare books and new books find all books by beowulf, and compare prices find signed collectible books by beowulf, english.
The translation, by kevin crossley holland, is clear and authoritative. Kevin crossley holland flexes his muscles yet again and delivers an exciting, excellent version of beowulf. A lifetime later, beowulf courageously prepares for another great battle when a fiery dragon threatens his own kingdom. Thou art the latest left of all our kin, the waegmundings.
The paperback edition is now reissued with a new cover. Beowulf by crossley holland, kevin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. These and other documents sketching some of the cultural forces behind the poems final creation will help readers see beowulf as an exploration of the politics of kingship and the psychology of heroism, and as an. Crossley holland s writing career began when he became a poetry, fiction, and childrens book editor for macmillan publishers. Tells the popular tale that has lasted for eleven centuries. Miller is joined by patricia bart to discuss beowulf. Folktales of britain and ireland, and a brand new retelling for children of the norse myths. A lovely, diverse collection of anglosaxon writings translated by kevin crossleyholland, including beowulf, a collection of heroic poems, elegies, church writings, laws, portions of the anglosaxon chronicle, poems of exploration, some riddles from the exeter book and other oddsandends. The complete book, free the tale of beowulf sometime king of the folk of the weder geats translated by william morris and a. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
New york times bestseller and winner of the whitbread award composed toward the end of the first millennium, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero who saves the danes from the seemingly invincible monster grendel and, later, from grendels mother. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Author and poet kevin crossleyholland, who has translated the poem into modern english, says it is likely to have been written in about 650. This englishonly edition preceded the bilingual edition. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book.
Unferth, beowulfs sometime opponent in the flyting. Kevin crossleyholland retells the story for children in quickpaced, rhythmical prose accompanied by charles keepings striking illustrations. This work retells and illustrates beowulfs terrifying quest to destroy grendel, the foul fiend, a hideous seahag and a monstrous firedragon. The introduction, by a scholar at oxford, gives valuable space to putting this epic poem in its historical commentary, as well as explores the dimensions of beowulf s heroism in the tale. So becomes it a youth to quit him well with his fathers friends, by fee and gift, that to aid him, aged, in after days, come warriors willing, should war draw nigh, liegemen loyal. It has reached national epic status in england although its setting is scandinavia, not the british isles.
Kevin crossleyholland retells the story for children in strong, rhythmical prose, with striking illustrations by charles keeping. For a listing of books published by yesterdays classics, please visit yesterdays classics is the publishing arm of the baldwin project which presents the complete text of dozens of classic books for children at. In fact, it appears heaney took all measures possible during the translation to make this book as dreary and mundane as humanly feasible. Set in the halflegendary, half historical scandinavian past, it tells the story of the hero beowulf, who comes to. Buy beowulf new ed by crossley holland, kevin, keeping, charles isbn. Learn english 12 beowulf textbook with free interactive flashcards. Its creation dates to between the 8th and the 11th centuries, the only surviving manuscript dating to circa 1010. Mitchell was educated at amherst, the sorbonne, and yale, and deeducated through intensive zen practice. He was later editorial director for victor gollancz. The story of heroic beowulf and his battles with the monster grendel and also with grendels mother not to mention the dragon is rather awesome. Since its rediscovery in the early nineteenth century, it has become a recognised classic, translated scores if not hundreds of times. Beowulfs children by niven, larry, pournelle, jerry and barnes, steven and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
First trade edition of the acclaimed new translation of beowulf by seamus heaney, signed by him on the title page. Kevin crossley holland retells the story for children in quickpaced, rhythmical prose accompanied by charles keepings striking illustrations. Beowulf by translated by stephen mitchell is a contemporary translation of the classic poem. The poem has at last found its translator supremely well done charles causley on beowulf.
Led by the fugitive and accompanied by eleven of his warriors, beowulf seeks out the dragons barrow. Author kevin crossleyholland and illustrator charles keeping. Translation by michael alexander, first published on 1973 is very skillfully put together and admirable. Beowulf is the iconic work of literature in old english. It is one of the most important works of old english literature. The fight at finnsburh oxford worlds classics series by kevin crossley holland.
Beowulf kevin crossleyholland oxford university press. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. Kevin crossleyholland is a wellknown poet and prizewinning author for children. Wyrd hath swept away all my kinsmen, heroes in their might, to the appointed doom. List of books and articles about beowulf online research. In fifthcentury denmark, a murderous monster stalks the night, and only the great prince of the geats has the strength and courage to defeat him. In spite of the ruin that grendel and beowulf had made within the hall, the framework and roof held firm, and swift repairs made the interior habitable. The young kevin was so entranced by the medieval and ancient past that he even set up a museum in the garden shed.
At 3182 lines, it is far more substantial than any similar work in the language, representing about. The classic story of beowulf, hero and dragonslayer, appears here in a new translation accompanied by genealogical charts, historical summaries, and a glossary of proper names. Choose from 500 different sets of english 12 beowulf textbook flashcards on quizlet. Kevin crossleyholland flexes his muscles yet again and delivers an exciting, excellent version of beowulf.
Kid beowulf is similar to bone, asterix, and avatar. Beowulf is the longest and finest literary work to have come down to us from anglosaxon times, and one of the worlds greatest epic poems. Kirkus, and the bulletin of the center for childrens books, named on kirkus best books of. Beowulf travels with his men to the evil fiery lake where grendels mother lives. Beowulf, second edition by anonymous, paperback barnes. Ad by two scribes and preserved in the british library in the collection of sir robert cotton. What is the best translation of beowulf i posted this on another subreddit, but they told me htat it would be better suited to rliterature, and looking there lead me here. The young heros name was beowulf, and his story, first written in anglosaxon in the eighth century, has become one of the worlds most famous epics. The only surviving manuscript that contains the poem is preserved in the british library and it too was badly damaged by fire in 1731. Beowulf prelude of the founder of the danish house. His name was beowulf, and his story was written down in anglosaxon in the eighth century.