Beowulf: A Glossed Text

Description

The earliest English poem, given here in its original form Beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in Old English, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. 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 Grendel's avenging mother, and finally with a dragon that threatens to devastate his homeland. Through its blend of myth and history, Beowulf vividly evokes a twilight world in which men and supernatural forces live side by side, and celebrates the endurance of the human spirit in a transient world.

This heroic Anglo-Saxon narrative poem, believed to have been written 1,250 years ago, is rich in history and legend. Michael Alexander edits this latest edition to great acclaim.