Beowulf: A New Translation |
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Author:
Seamus Heaney
By Penguin
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £12.72
Our Price: £6.99
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Binding: Audio CD
Dewey Decimal Number: 811
EAN: 9780141802473
Format: Audiobook
ISBN: 0141802472
Label: Penguin
Manufacturer: Penguin
Number Of Items: 3
Number Of Pages: 3
Publication Date: 2000-09-28
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: 2000-10-02
Studio: Penguin |
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Amazon.co.uk Review
What could be a more promising poetic project than the greatest of early English poems, Beowulf, newly translated by arguably the greatest of living poets writing in English, Seamus Heaney? The literary pedigree of this great fabular epic in the hands of Nobel Laureate Heaney matches Ted Hughes' award-winning rewrite of Ovid's Metamorphosis, Tales from Ovid. Heaney has chosen the plain, prosaic yet subtly cadenced vernacular of his Northern Irish roots as the poetic voice into which he renders this famous Anglo-Saxon fabular epic of a dragon-slaying Danish warrior. The result is an engaging evocation of the highly alliterative, densely metaphorical texture of Anglo-Saxon verse, which is famously hard to capture in modern English poetic forms."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
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 Epic stuff!, 2008-04-10
This was my first encounter with Beowulf, (I haven't seen the film either). I chose the bilingual edition to see what the Old English looked like and although I could barely recognise a word, it did help to see the shape, metre and style of the original. Heaney's translation is easy to read, very straight-forward in language, and the accompanying essay helps you see how much work goes into preserving some of the form of the original in the modern translation.
With the original and Heaney's version printed side by side, it affected the way I read it. I tended to readi it aloud to myself (but in my head), trying to see the translation's cadence resonating with the original's two parts to each line. This was novel for me and enjoyable for one who doesn't normally do poetry!
As a story, you can see why it survives, but there is too much pontificating on the glories of war, fighting and serving the king and not enough action; Beowulf's dispatching of Grendel seemed to be little more than arm-wrestling and was over in a couple of pages.
I'm glad I read it and am sure I will refer to it again.
Beowulf: Story of a true warrior, 2009-01-06
This remarkable story was written sometime between seventh and tenth century of first millennium in Anglo-Saxon or Old English language. Seamus Heaney translation is simple and easy to read for those who are not the biggest fans of poems like these. Seamus Heaney managed to translate this heroic poem from old English language and turn it into an easy reading. Although the story is full of action and quite interesting history facts, the most interesting part for me was the introduction of this translation. Seamus Heaney introduces the book with all the small details about this translation. The basic idea of the plot, characters relationship and prehistory of the poem are being described in the introduction followed by the interesting story of how the author translated this edition. Nevertheless, the poem itself is really interesting and what was most important for me - easy to read and understand. The poem tells a story about a Geat warrior named Beowulf, who fights two monsters in the book - Grendel and his mother in order to save Denmark from their terror. After defeating the monsters Beowulf returns home to become a King of Geats and once more an enemy awaits. Beowulf fights a huge dragon and meets his heroic death. Apart from wonderfully described battles, the poem is full of stories about Denmark, Sweden and Beowulf's native lands' history. In the story, Beowulf is a warrior, a king and a prophet. A hero that should be known by everyone. Strong recommendations to read the book, and if you can - listen to the audio translation as well.
Fantastic, 2008-10-26
In a way I think this is better than a modern fantasy like Tolkien's because it feels more authentic: because it actually comes from the authentic Anglo-Saxon Dark Ages. The story isn't told by an abstract narrator; the storyteller is a person who gives you his opinions, and he sounds not like an Oxford don but like a real character from war-torn ancient times. Listen to Seamus Heaney's voice in the dark and you could really be listening to this bard in a smoky mead-hall.
P.S. There are three CDs of about 45 minutes each. I didn't realize until I later bought a book of the poem that this CD version is slightly abridged. I hope this won't put you off, because Heaney's voice is so good. However, I should mention that there is now also an unabridged audiobook of Beowulf: a translation by Benedict Flynn from Naxos. This version is nine and a half minutes longer.
Monotonous, 2008-04-02
I was very much looking forward to listening to 'Beowulf' read by its illustrious author/translator. Audiobooks read by their authors must be as credible as anything can be - or so I thought. Whilst I am not denying the skill displayed in this beautifully poetic translation, the soft Irish tones of Seamus Heaney are not for me, atleast, not after the first 20 minutes of listening. The descriptive passages are luxurious, the battle scenes full of action, the characters heroic yet vulnerable. So where is the enthusiasm in the reader's voice, where the awe, the admiration for the story? I am sure no teacher or casting director would have ever freely chosen Mr Heaney as The Narrator for any performance or playreading. Seamus Heaney has indeed given us a brilliant and admirable translation, but I strongly recommend that he restricts his professional activities to the written and not the spoken word.
Englands Oldest Legend!!!!!!, 2008-03-20
originally told round the bonfire and in small halls until it was finally written down in the 7th century(ish) after it was brought to england by the invading anglo-saxons/english. This is the oldest surviving written text in english history (to be found in the British library) This tells the story about a Swedish warrior who goes back to his native Denmark to defend the people against a man eating monster called Grendal. But dont forget about gredals mother or the flame throwing dragon. A story of germanic honour, courage and loyalty. Read it here in both modern and olde english. Fantastic stuff, i couldnt put it down. A true classic.
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