Grendel (Picador Books) |
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Author:
John Gardner
By Macmillan
Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780330237352
ISBN: 0330237357
Label: Macmillan
Manufacturer: Macmillan
Number Of Pages: 128
Publication Date: 1973-10-12
Publisher: Macmillan
Studio: Macmillan |
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 Gives real depth to the myth, 2008-04-10
Having recently read Beowulf for the first time, I was looking forward to this slim novel, told from Grendel's point of view. Poor Grendel, although we never find out exactly how he was created, he does realise that he has a bit of man in him somewhere, and he agonises over this as he lurks around watching men and occasionally getting the urge to kill one - always to eat at this stage. It is his encounter with the arrogant Unferth, that starts to really turn him and this is sped on by the dragon's wisdom until he becomes the killing machine we know from the original text.
The very dense and literary style with much philosophising will not suit all, but it has great insight and goes very well with Beowulf indeed. A difficult but rewarding read.
Inventive, intelligent and convincing, 2002-07-03
Alternating between the sublime Orwellian double-talk of the minstrel Shaper and the cold, condescendingly bleak philosophy of the Dragon, Grendel struggles for meaning. Told that his life and energies exist only for man to define himself against, he finds small consolation. Still, Grendel throws himself on the mercy of the men in a Frankenstein's monster effort to be accepted... to no avail, deciding after that 'why should I not' destroy them . At times darkly humourous, and touching, the creature muses on the beauty of Hrothgar's placid, sacrificing wife before attempting to kill her, and plays with the fallen hero Unferth before Beowulf's arrival. As those familiar with the epic know, Beowulf in the original poem arrives from across the sea to save Hrothgar's hall by doing battle with Grendel, his mother, and eventually the Dragon. Grendel senses Beowulf's arrival and marvels at the concept of fear. Familiarity with the story makes the inevitability of the conflict all the more delicious when Grendel finally realizes his purpose and observes 'I cannot believe such monstrous energy of grief would lead to nothing' the reader is left to answer that it did not lead to nothing, it was a necessary component in an incredible story, told from the historical antagonist's point of view. Another great book is The Price of Immortality, I highly recommend it.
Delicious retelling of the Beowulf legend, 1999-10-12
This book overflows with black humour as Grendel himself narrates the frustrations and indignities of being a single parent monster in the dark ages. Imaginative and thought provoking.
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