The Heliand: The Saxon Gospel
"One of my own teachers, Father Murphy gives us a look at how the Gospel was spread into Central Europe. What he shows us is a different kind of warrior epic, and a look at how civilization began in a savage place."--Tom Clancy"The specialists will appreciate Murphy's fine and very readable version, in view of the difficulties he had to overcome in creating an adequate modern text that can be used in the classroom. Students will value it as an exciting text for the modern interest in crosscultural studies."--Theological Studies"A great translation.  I recommend it highly."--S.L. Clark, Rice University"An excellent translation which captures the spirit of the times and the people who listened to this unique blend of the traditional gospel message with the trappings of the heroic sagas which formed the other part of their literature.  The text is readable and understandable and yet representative of the original.  The notes on the translation were invaluable as is the material in the appendices."--Charles W. Nelson, Michigan Technological University"Very useful for demonstrating the pagan and heroic influence on religious work."--G.N. Berqquist, Creighton University"Fascinating addition to medieval literature in translation. Notes and introduction very helpful in considering cultural influences on translation of the Gospel into Saxon.  The English version itself is clear, yet captures the Saxon style well."--Elizabeth L. Rambo, Biola University"A valuable resource for the history of Christian piety and for the study of how Christianity was affected by transplantation to Northern Europe.  Having such works available in translation is a real boon to teaching and to scholarship."--Richard Kieckhefer, Northwestern University"Richly annotated. A provocative companion for students working with the original text."--Ray Wakefield, University of Minnesota"A vivid retelling of the Gospel story from an early Saxon perspective. Ideal reading as a component of a culture and civilization course in translation....Also for the general reader who is interested in Germanic history of the dissemination of Christianity."--David J. Parent, Illinois State University"An interesting and remarkable text, full of possibilities for defining epic machinery, and a welcome addition to the Old English canon."--R.E. Stratton, University of Alaska, Fairbanks