"Quickly, the dragon came at him, encouraged As Beowulf fell back; its breath flared, And he suffered, wrapped around in swirling flames" - Beowulf
Set in the pagan world of 6th-century Scandinavia, the 3,000-line Beowulf is the longest epic poem written in Old English, the language spoken in England before the Norman conquest in 1066.
Originally an oral tale passed on by word of mouth, the poem tells the story of the adventures of a young hero, Beowulf, and his successive battles with the monster Grendel - who he kills by ripping off its arm - Grendel's vengeful mother, and with a rampaging dragon. In between, the story involves gathering bands of warriors, drinking mead in great halls, the crowning of Beowulf as king of the Geats, and finally a lament for a dead hero after he has slain the dragon and claimed the mighty treasure hoard. Written around 750, it is a tale of heroism and sacrifice that connects the old world of Norse mythology with an emerging Christian mindset.
Presented in a high-quality Chinese-bound format with accompanying illustrations, Beowulf Illustrated offers a classic translation of this famous eighth century Anglo-Saxon epic that still entertains today.