strawberrytheauthor's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I listened to it on audiobook mostly while falling asleep so I missed a lot of it. I really enjoyed the introduction which was mostly the history of the Beowulf. I definitely enjoyed the parts I was tuned in for and plan to reread it in book format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, and Violence
waytoomanybooks's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had to read this for a college course, and I have to admit that it's one of the better books I've had to read for school! The translation and context provided by Seamus Heaney went a long way in my enjoyment and understanding of the epic poem. It reads a lot like the Greek epics: The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid. It's a classic hero's journey tale: Beowulf battles monsters, avenges the lives of those cut down in battle, confusing family trees where all the names sound the same, and lots of hyphenated descriptions of people and beasts.
It may help to know that if you have to read this for school, I was able to read the whole thing in about 6 hours while taking notes for class, and I'm a slow reader. I hope you find it as easy and interesting to read as I did!
It may help to know that if you have to read this for school, I was able to read the whole thing in about 6 hours while taking notes for class, and I'm a slow reader. I hope you find it as easy and interesting to read as I did!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
monsterofidaho's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Fool that I was, I figured this was a revision of a prior translation of Beowulf and not a direct translation from the original text. I’ve never been more delighted to be wrong! The book reads so well on its own but it really takes flight when you listen to the audiobook. Hearing JD Jackson begin with ‘Bro! Tell me we still know how to speak of kings!’ sends a thrill down my spine every time I revisit the audiobook. The poem really feels – almost – like it was in its original time of telling, an epic of inhuman proportions first spoken to an audience of many and now spoken so much more personally to an audience of yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Death and War
naomi_k's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
jessthanthree's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
roadki77's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Plot holes aplenty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism and Alcohol
marthadude's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, and Murder
Minor: Animal death and Stalking
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Dude, this was what they call a blood feud, a war / that tore a hole through the hearts of the Danes. / Grendel was broken, and would not brook peace, / desist in dealing deaths, or die himself.”
Headley proves beyond debate that truly modern (American?) English, complete with its plethora of colloquialisms and slang, is a perfectly beautiful and apt vehicle for this traditional, epic story. I would go so far as to argue that her translation gives an additional level of magic and power to this poem that possibly even more appropriately captures the true energy and feeling of its content.
When I read Heaney’s translation first, I was appreciative of both the language and the content from an academic perspective, but Headley’s translation has turned this into a story as well as a piece of writing that has truly captivated my imagination and fascination. It felt like I was underlining some quote or another on every other page. She also returns to the story more of the feel of its true oral storytelling nature—I was better able to visualize the characters standing in the meadhall shouting and boasting and acting like real people.
What Headley was trying to accomplish with this translation was definitely risky—the result could have truly been a cringe-worthy disaster—but I think she was intentional enough to capture both the original essence of the poem and the style of modern language that makes her translation so revolutionary and impactful.
Essentially, if you’re fascinated by language, especially the uniquely developed word-hash that is the English language, I would definitely recommend checking this book out.
“My own experiences as a woman tell me it’s very possible to be mistaken for monstrous when one is only doing as men do: providing for and defending oneself… many human women have been, over the centuries, mistaken for supernatural creatures simply because they were alone and capable.” — from the Introduction
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
TW // gore, murder, death
Further Reading—
- Seamus Heaney’s translation (the bilingual edition & the Norton Critical edition)
- J. R. R. Tolkien’s translation and commentaries
- “Grendel and His Mother”, by Toni Morrison
- The Mere Wife, by Maria Dahvana Headley (a Beowulf retelling)
- The Boneless Mercies, by April Genevieve Tucholke (a retelling)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Death
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