A review by marsius
Beowulf: A New Translation by Anonymous

5.0

An incredibly readable and enjoyable translation. Maria Dahvana Headley translates “hwæt” as “Bro!” She explains the choice in the front matter, basically saying she envisions the narrator as a dude at the end of the bar trying to tell his story and using “bro” as a semi-friendly way to demand ownership of the space. And it makes sense. Not everyone will love some of her choices (at one point she drops “hashtag: blessed”), but considering how brash and even uncouth Beowulf is portrayed throughout the story, especially in his early years, things like saying Beowulf gave “zero shits” about the prospect of death or that “anyone who fucks with the Geats, bro, they have to fuck with me” in many ways come across as more true than higher minded portrayals.