The Song of Beowulf, Rendered into English Prose

by Robert Kay Gordon

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Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Classics, Fiction

138 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 2015

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Old English epic poem about a warrior named Beowulf who slays monsters in his youth and old age.
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I read this story for an Early Brit Lit class. I ended up listening to an audiobook because I was struggling to keep my focus on the words on the page. I've analyzed it to death, especially in the religious context of the story.

I'll do a proper analysis of the Beowulf another day.
It was okay. It wasn't my favorite old English poem that I've read so far for my Early Brit class.

[erl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enduring story, full of monsters and battles. This version is written in prose. Translating poetry is next to impossible. The translator must choose between staying true to the rhyme scheme or staying true to the literal meaning of the words. Still, I would love to have a feel for what the rhyme structure of the original is. Gordon touches a little on this structure in his forward, but not enough for my taste. In the end, Beowulf has all the glory and danger that have fascinated humans for centuries.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beowulf is perhaps better heard than read (this is likely how the story was first shared). It's a little repetitive at times but really picks up with the entry of the dragon.

There's murders, vengeance, problematic Christian righteousness and tonnes of toxic masculinity. I liked it.

Favourite quote: "He lived honourably, never did he slay his hearth companions in his drunkenness". The bar was low.

It's short, it's an important text, worth your consideration.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackstone Audio; Robertson Dean, narrator.

[Ryk Stanton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a growing appreciation for this book, but i doubt I’ll ever truly appreciate it as I should.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heroic saga's really don't give much space for understanding the side of the foes. All the Christianity leaking into the story is also somewhat troubling, but that happened hundreds of years ago.

[Donald Owens II · Rating 4 out of 5]

A prose translation will never get 5 stars from me, but this was beautifully done; better than other prose versions I've seen.

[Lisa Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the Dover Thrift edition.