Product Description

'Beowulf' & Other Stories  is a new introduction to the study of Old English consisting of fifteen essays, each written by an expert in the field, that cover the many diverse facets of Old English.

'Beowulf' & Other Stories has been conceived in the firm belief that Old English - and its close cousins, Old Icelandic and Anglo-Norman - should be seen as a genuine delight, a period as replete with wonder, creativity and magic as any other in literature.

The book discusses a vast range of subjects, from the fire and bloodlust of the great epic, Beowulf, and the sophistication and eroticism of the Exeter Riddles, to fresh interpretations of the spiritual ecstasy of The Seafarer and the imaginative dexterity of The Dream of the Rood.

'Beowulf' & Other Stories provides students and the general reader with all they might need to explore and enjoy this complex but rewarding field. Written throughout with verve, panache and a deep understanding of its subject, 'Beowulf' & Other Stories is set to be the standard introduction to the field for many years to come.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #320199 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Review

  ''A genuine delight, replete with wonder, creativity and magic. Written with a deep understanding of its subject, Beowulf and Other Stories will be the standard introduction to the field for many years to come.''

Toebi Newsletter

"The editors are to be congratulated upon their success in arraying such an impressive field of internationally-renowned specialists, the scholarly credentials of whom, and hence of the volume to which they have contributed, are unimpeachable. It is approachable by absolute beginners, but those who read it from cover to cover will have accrued a very wide range of knowledge on a variety of material relevant to the study of Old English (and Old Norse) literature."

"The book is very much pitched at the right level. It is a breath of fresh air in this respect and should appeal to students taking their first proper steps in Old English/Old Norse. The challenges in teaching these subjects have to do with accessibility and with the fact that existing introductions tend to expect too much from their readers, who do not have the same background today as they would have had in the past. Old English and Old Norse studies have been off-putting for students because they find it hard to relate to them. This book enables them to do so."

Richard Dance, University of Cambridge
...those who read it from cover to cover will have
accrued a very wide range of knowledge.

Toebi Newsletter
''A genuine delight, replete with wonder, creativity and magic. Written with a deep understanding of its subject, Beowulf and Other Stories will be the standard introduction to the field for many years to come.''

Customer Reviews

A very good introduction to the subject
This is a very good introduction to the subject but with a particular emphasis on the Beowulf poem. The subsequent influence of the poem is also considered which I found very interesting. The comparison to Tolkien's work is appropriate as Tolkien was Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford and as regards Beowulf the most learned man of his day.

Beowulf & Other Stories - Richard North and Joe Allard
I have to say that I was very disappointed with this book. I was left with the feeling that this book was written by second rate lecturers wanting to produce any-old textbook in order to include it as recommended reading for undergraduate fresher's who know no better. Furthermore, the writers - editors sorry (although we cannot get away from the fact that the narration is what really spoils this book) write like adolescents. Maybe I'm being unfair and I'm possibly making the mistake of comparing this book against the excellent Agincourt by Juliet Barker or the highly creditable Joan of Arc by Timothy Wilson-Smith. Perhaps so, but one should never compare Beowulf with The Lord of the Rings. I gave up on the book terrified that I might get to a part where Beowulf is compared to Harry Potter. Such things should only be done by drunk historians and never put to paper.