Beowulf: An Updated Verse Translation

The acclaimed verse translation of the timeless epic tale of bravery and battle—the enduring saga of the hero Beowulf and the monster Grendel—the first true masterpiece of English literature.

“There are lots of translations of Beowulf floating around, some prose, some poetry, but none manages to capture the feel and tone of the original as well as this one.” — Dick Ringler, Professor of English and Scandinavian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

"No self-respecting college professor will want his students to be without it. . . . Renditions in modern English haven't taken the poetry of the original very seriously—but what a shock now that someone has! With the subtle rules of alliteration, stress, and pause in place—and with a translator bold enough to invent his own vigorous and imaginative compound nouns—the poem suddenly takes flight and carries us to the highest mountains of achievement." (Booklist)

A verse translation of the first great narrative poem in the English language that captures the feeling and tone of the original.

“There are lots of translations of Beowulf floating around, some prose, some poetry, but none manages to capture the feel and tone of the original as well as this one....A very impressive and sometimes inspired piece of work. It fills a need and fills it admirably.” - Dick Ringler, Professor of English and Scandinavian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“[This] translation is a truly splendid job....The verse flows with little punctuation but entire clarity.” - Richard Wilbur

“No self-respecting college professor will want his students to be without it....Renditions in modern English haven’t taken the poetry of the original very seriously--but what a shock now that someone has! With the subtle rules of alliteration, stress, and pause in place--and with a translator bold enough to invent his own vigorous and imaginative compound nouns--the poem suddenly takes flight and carries us to the highest mountains of achievement.” - Booklist