(Ha, you thought I was going to talk about the movie.)
No, much better–W.W. Norton has just published a new, illustrated edition of Beowulf! You think you’ve heard about swords, and heroes, and fire-breathing dragons, and friendship, and glory, and treasure, just ’cause you’ve read those Potter books? C’mere, boys, let me tell you a tale…
A Primal Story
- Beowulf: An Illustrated Edition
- John D. Niles Seamus Heaney
- W. W. Norton 2007-11-05
Can courage, loyalty, generosity & strength make a haven against all life’s monsters? And can that haven last? Heaney gives us the words, and Niles shows us the world that was.
hReview by CircleReader , 2007/11/17
- Grendel
- John Gardner
- Vintage 1989-05-14
- Average Amazon Review

A riveting and hilarious revisiting of the old epic
Grendel a unique character
G-r-r-endel
Grendel
Poor, not so misunderstood monster
“I have not committed the ultimate act of nihilism: I have not killed the queen.”
hReview by CircleReader , 2007/11/17
A picture may be worth a thousand words…
- Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (Bilingual Edition)
- Seamus Heaney
- W. W. Norton & Company 2001-02
- Average Review

Beowulf – The Ultimate Hero
The definitive translation
Masterful revitalization of an ancient text
Deep insight into the soul of the Dark Ages.
…but this is the version for the word-obsessed. Beautiful typography, beautiful layout, the Old English tongue there to touch on the living page, and a modern master poet as your host. Exquisite.
hReview by CircleReader , 2007/11/18
Beowulf: Hearing is Believing
- Beowulf: The Complete Story: A Drama (an audio book)
- Norman Gilliland and Dick Ringler
- University of Wisconsin Press 2006-08-31
- Average Review

Why Beowulf is great literature
This tale was not, after all, intended to be read, but to be sung and dramatized to a living audience. We saw part of this performed at the 2006 Wisconsin Book Festival, and it was completely amazing – solemn, exciting, beautiful, and grotesque all at once. Genius!
hReview by CircleReader , 2007/11/17
Now all you need is a harp and some raw chicken for sound effects…
- Beowulf: A New Translation for Oral Delivery
- Dick Ringler
- Hackett Pub Co Inc 2007-09-07
…and you can perform this epic for your friends and family.
hReview by CircleReader , 2007/11/17