This is a story about coming and going. This is a story about the sea…
A warrior sets sail for a distant land, to a once great hall plagued by a murderous enemy – the monster Grendel. Can the hero Beowulf defeat his bloody-thirsty foe, save the Geats from being wiped off the map, and claim his just rewards?
The Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf is brought to life in a vigorous, contemporary translation by American poet Meghan Purvis. Written across a range of poetic forms and voices, this rendering captures the thrust and gore of battle, the treasures of the mead-hall, and the sinister dens and moorlands of Dark Age Denmark. Combining faithful translation with innovative versions and poems from alternative viewpoints, Purvis has created an exciting new interpretation of Beowulf – full of verve and the bristle of language.
Reviews
The excellence of Purvis’ translation is her ability to convey the real sadness and might of Beowulf … The translation moves relentlessly forward, the different rhythms and structures of the constituent parts acting as variations in a greater theme.
James Schuller, Annexe Magazine
This highly successful translation brings variation of voice and form to the Epic which makes it a fascinating and forceful read.