Composed towards the end of the first millennium, the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf is one of the great Northern epics and a classic of European literature. In his new translation, Seamus Heaney has produced a work which is both true, line by line, to the original poem, and an expression, in its language and music, of something fundamental to his own creative gift.
The poem is about encountering the monstrous, defeating it, and then having to live on, physically and psychically exposed, in that exhausted aftermath. It is not hard to draw parallels between this story and the history of the twentieth century, nor can Heaney's Beowulf fail to be read partly in the light of his Northern Irish upbringing. But it also transcends such considerations, telling us psychological and spiritual truths that are permanent and liberating.
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"It's narrative elements may belong to a previous age but as a work of art it lives in the present," writes Heaney of this tale of monstrous, murderous Grendel, heroic, kingly Beowulf, blood-feuds, dragon-slaying and spiritual grace. The very plain-spokenness of Heaney's translation makes it admirably easy to read and understand, whilst rendering an often true translation at a galloping narrative pace. Heaney's Beowulf opens up one of the most famous founding epics of European literature to a modern world of new readers. --James Barry
[Heaney] has made a masterpiece out of a masterpiece. --Andrew Motion
Accomplishes what before now had seemed impossible: a faithful rendering that is simultaneously an original and gripping poem in its own right.
How did he do it? How did Seamus Heaney fashion verses, singularly handsome verses that not only capture the somber grandeur and mythic vigor of the Anglo-Saxon original, but also reflect the rhythm and timbre of the English we speak today.... This newborn translation makes accessible to everyone the first supremely great poem to be written in the English language. --Colin Campbell
Mr. Heaney's translation beats with a recurring pulse, from homely and concrete to elevated and back again. The great battle scenes are rendered with a power and a grisly horror both increased and made oddly transparent by a freshness and innocence of diction.... In sustaining contrast is the lyricism, quiet yet immediate, of the small passages. --Richard Eder
Heaney has turned to Beowulf, and the result is magnificent, breathtaking.... Heaney has created something imperishable and great that is stainless -- stainless, because its force as poetry makes it untouchable by the claw of literalism: it lives singly, as an English language poem. --James Wood
As vivid as a tabloid headline and as visceral as a nightmare. Heaney's own poetic vernacular... is the perfect match for the ?Beowulf? poet's Anglo-Saxon. Heaney uses this idiom not to modernize the epic but to showcase it's surprisingly contemporary feel.... As retooled by Heaney, ?Beowulf should easily be good for another millenium. --Malcolm Jones
Heaney's excellent translation has the virtue of being both dignified and sophisticated, making previous versions look slightly flowery and antique by comparison. His intelligence, fine ear and obvious love of the poem bring ?Beowulf ?alive as melancholy masterpiece, a complex Christian-pagan lament about duty, loss and transience.... Heaney has done it (and us) a great service. --Claire Harman
Heaney has turned to ?Beowulf?, and the result is magnificent, breathtaking.... Heaney has created something imperishable and great that is stainless stainless, because its force as poetry makes it untouchable by the claw of literalism: it lives singly, as an English language poem. --James Wood
As vivid as a tabloid headline and as visceral as a nightmare. Heaney's own poetic vernacular... is the perfect match for the ?Beowulf? poet's Anglo-Saxon. Heaney uses this idiom not to modernize the epic but to showcase it's surprisingly contemporary feel.... As retooled by Heaney ?Beowulf should easily be good for another millennium. --Malcolm Jones"
Excellent . . . has the virtue of being both dignified and sophisticated, making previous versions look slightly flowery and antique by comparison. His intelligence, fine ear and obvious love of the poem bring ?Beowulf?alive as melancholy masterpiece, a complex Christian-pagan lament about duty, loss and transience. . . . Heaney has done it (and us) a great service. --Claire Harman"
[Heaney] has made a masterpiece out of a masterpiece.--Andrew Motion
Accomplishes what before now had seemed impossible: a faithful rendering that is simultaneously an original and gripping poem in its own right.
How did he do it? How did Seamus Heaney fashion verses, singularly handsome verses that not only capture the somber grandeur and mythic vigor of the Anglo-Saxon original, but also reflect the rhythm and timbre of the English we speak today.... This newborn translation makes accessible to everyone the first supremely great poem to be written in the English language.--Colin Campbell
Mr. Heaney's translation beats with a recurring pulse, from homely and concrete to elevated and back again. The great battle scenes are rendered with a power and a grisly horror both increased and made oddly transparent by a freshness and innocence of diction.... In sustaining contrast is the lyricism, quiet yet immediate, of the small passages.--Richard Eder
Magnificent, breathtaking.... Heaney has created something imperishable and great that is stainless--stainless, because its force as poetry makes it untouchable by the claw of literalism: it lives singly, as an English language poem.--James Wood
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. 'The whole performance is wonderfully intermediate - poised between the Bible and folk wisdom, between the Light Ages and the Dark Ages - and at the same time pulverisingly actual in its language. Heaney has caught the balance of these brilliantly; he has made a masterpiece out of a masterpiece.' Andrew Motion, Financial Times 'What characterises this Beowulf is its energetic, relentless driving forward.miraculous mix of the poem's original spirit and Heaney's voice.' Bernard O'Donoghue, Irish Times The oldest epic tale in the English language composed between the 7th and 10th century. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780571203765
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 144 pages. 7.76x5.20x0.43 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __0571203760
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Composed towards the end of the first millennium of our era, the Anglo-Saxon poem "Beowulf" is a Northern epic and a classic of European literature. In this new translation, Seamus Heaney has produced a work that is true, line by line, to the original poem. Seller Inventory # B9780571203765
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Book Description Condition: New. 2000. Reprint. Paperback. Composed towards the end of the first millennium of our era, the Anglo-Saxon poem "Beowulf" is a Northern epic and a classic of European literature. In this new translation, Seamus Heaney has produced a work that is true, line by line, to the original poem. Num Pages: 144 pages. BIC Classification: DCF. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 196 x 129 x 12. Weight in Grams: 178. . . . . Seller Inventory # 9780571203765
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