Beowulf hears about grendel and decides to travel from his home in. He had studied english at oxford, receiving his training in old english from christopher tolkien, bruce mitchell and others, and had embarked upon what would be a successful and wideranging academic career. Michael alexander recently retired from the chair of english literature at the university of st andrews. Penguin books, harmondsworth, middlesex, england, 1973. About beowulf alexander s translation is marked by a conviction that it is possible to be both ambitious and faithful and communicates the poem with a care which goes beyond fidelitytomeaning and reaches fidelity of implication.
A verse translation penguin classics rev ed edition, kindle edition. Christian authors by lowering a chronological portcullis. Michael alexander translator is berry professor of english literature at the university of st andrews. A history of old english literature michael alexander. Beowulf by michael alexander, 9780140433777, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Im about to start reading beowulf, is there anything i. The anglosaxon poem beowulf marks the beginning of english literature. Beowulf by michael alexander penguin books new zealand.
Michael alexander is berry professor of english literature at the university of st andrews. Kiernans electronic beowulf cd images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of ben slade reading it in old english, are here. Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero who saves the danes from the seemingly invincible monster grendel and. A spectacular verse translation of one the most foundational texts in world literature. Alexanders translation is marked by a conviction that it is possible to be both ambitious and faithful and. Edwin morgan, burton raffel, michael alexander, and seamus heaney that f. By anonymous introduction by michael alexander translated by michael alexander notes by michael alexander. Verse translation, michael alexander, michael alexander, beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. As a social document this great epic poem is invaluablereflecting a feudal world of heroes and monsters, blood and victory. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Seamus heaney beowulf audible version read by seamus heaney michael morpurgo beowulf illustrated by michael foreman rosemary. Among other quirky decisions made in order to open up the text, the project wound up being a kind of typological specimen book for long american poems extant circa 1965. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the. Feb 27, 2003 michael alexander translator is berry professor of english literature at the university of st andrews.
For penguin he has translated, the earliest english poems, the canterbury tales. Again, we have a terribly formatted kindle book from penguin a mainstream publisher who, quite frankly, should know better. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the monster grendel, who has laid waste to the great hall of the danish king hrothgar, then with grendels avenging. Heaneys performance reminds us that beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read. Beowulf s adventures themselves stand in front of the wide historical canvas of 5th and 6th century scandinavia. Buy a discounted paperback of beowulf online from australias leading online bookstore. Discover beowulf as its meant to be heard, narrated by royce pierreson, roy. Beowulf by michael alexander 9780140449310 dymocks. I highly suggest listening to this as an audio book. Beowulf beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. He is best known for his translations of beowulf and other anglosaxon poems into modern english verse. A verse translation penguin classics paperback april 29, 2003. The version of beowulf by the british translator michael alexander appeared in 1973, when alexander was in his early thirties.
As a social document this great epic poem is invaluablereflecting a feudal world of heroes and monsters, blood and victory, life and death. At this moment beowulf and grendel are fighting and grendel is howling and. Michael alexander s translation of beowulf is among the best available today. Beowulf by michael alexander introduction, anonymous audiobook. A verse translation paperback childrens book world. The first known and indeed the only surviving manuscript of the poem was written in ad 1,000. Booktopia has beowulf, a verse translation by michael alexander. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the monster grendel, who has laid waste to the great hall of the danish king hrothgar, then with grendels avenging mother, and finally with a dragon that threatens to devastate his homeland. He is best known for his translations of beowulf and other anglosaxon poems into modern english verse he was educated at downside school, read english at oxford university, then spent a year. While reading the author made it a statement to tell us about how great beowulf is, strong, wise, and hero to all. The first fragment, as well as a prose translation of beowulf. Michael joseph alexander born 1941 is a british translator, poet, academic and broadcaster. Publishers summary the epic story of this heros battle against dragons, monsters, and their mothers is particularly suited to being recorded as an audiobook given that for the first 300 years of its existence it was only ever spoken.
To ask other readers questions about beowulf, please sign up. Although the first manuscript of beowulf dates from around the year ce, it is thought that the poem existed in its present form from the year 850. The classic tale of monsterhunting, dragonfighting beowulf, here in its original old english beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. Legends from the ancient north 5 books flip to back flip to front.
He has translated the earliest english poems, the canterbury tales. Old english edition by michael alexander, paperback. Beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. Having read a couple of translations of beowulf already including michael alexander and. Having variously the look of pounds cantos, williams paterson, or olson or zukofsky, occasionally late eliot, even david jones. Eighthcentury in origin, composed to be recited aloud, it told its anglosaxon listeners a story of their scandinavian ancestors. This revised edition of michael alexander s acclaimed verse translation makes accessible to modern readers the story of the scandinavian hero beowulf slayer of the monster grendel and grendels motherwho becomes a king of greatland in old age and is mortally.
His verse translations of the earliest english poems and beowulf have sold over half a million copies in penguin, for whom he has also edited. An adaptation by julian glover of the verse translations of michael alexander and edwin morgan alan sutton publishing, gloucestershire, 1987. Google online pdf chaptersindigo whsmithuk there are also beowulf books available at. Beowulf by michael alexander penguin books australia. Beocat by henry beard brave beocat, brood kit of ecgthmeow, hearthpet of hrothgar. It celebrates the hero beowulf, who goes to denmark and slays the monster grendel and grendels mother. His new introduction discusses central themes of beowulf and its place among epic poems, the history of its publication and reception, and issues of translation about the translator michael alexander recently. Beowulf, an anglosaxon poem of epic scope, dates back to the year 850 and marks the beginning of the english literary tradition. Beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english. Michael alexander, the translator and compiler of this collection of ancient anglosaxon poetry, says that his goal with this book is to make anglosaxon poetry accessible and enjoyable for nonacademics, and at this he mostly succeeds. For penguin he has translated, the earliest english poems, the. Jul 26, 1973 buy beowulf reprint by michael alexander isbn.
While neither as readable nor as poetic as the more famous heaney translation, alexander s is exciting, close to the original, and tells the story in such a way that it never fails to grip and thrill. About this title may belong to another edition of this title. His beowulf completed in 1972 but never before publishedis sure to stretch readers ideas about what is possible in terms of translating anglosaxon poetry. Before there was game of thrones, there was beowulf song of battle and kings beowulf is one of the earliest extant poems in a modern european language, composed in england before the norman conquest.
He later becomes the king of geatland, and in old age meets death in combat with a dragon. May 04, 2000 a new york times bestseller and whitbread book of the year. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the monster grendel, who has laid waste to the great hall of the danish king hrothgar, then with grendels avenging mother, and finally with a dragon that. Rageinflamed, wreckagebent, he ripped open the jaws of the hall. He held the berry chair of english literature at the university of st andrews until his retirement in 2003. Hastening on, the foe then stepped onto the unstained floor, angrily advanced out of his eyes stood an unlovely light like that of fire legends from the ancient north beowulf the elder edda the saga of the volsungs sir gawain and the green knight the wanderer elegies, epics, riddles these are the great epic. Beowulf audiobook by michael alexander introduction, anonymous cover art. This is just one example of the adventurous and provocative angle on beowulf to which meyer introduces us.
Part of a new series legends from the ancient north, beowulf is one of the classic books that influenced jrr tolkiens the hobbit and the lord of the ring. Not sure if its any better or worse than others, but i was back at the used bookstore yesterday poking around for a copy of the faerie queen and found that copy of beowulf. May 01, 2003 by author unknown, introduction by michael alexander. Where he fails is, oddly enough, in the formatting. Verse translation authored by michael alexander, michael alexander released at filesize. New york times best seller and whitebread book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Beowulf reduced by michael alexander there once was a hero. Michael alexander s landmark modern english verse translation has been revised to take account of new readings and interpretations.
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