Beowulf (Broadview Literary Texts) (Broadview Literary Texts Series)
"Liuzza takes account of recent scholarly research and provides a commentary, a collection of supporting texts, and an excellent introduction to this 'Christian poet's bittersweet elegy for the doomed heroic life.' His account of the peculiarities of Old English poetic style is particularly helpful." - Frank Kermode, The New York Review of Books "Liuzza has provided an invaluable volume for scholars and students of Old English in general, and Beowulf in particular. The translation is reliable and accurate, empathetic to the original, and thoroughly readable. Together with the accompanying detailed and accessible introduction, and the extensive range of additional texts and research tools, this is an exemplary, complete edition that deserves the respect and attention of Anglo-Saxonists everywhere." - Dr. Elaine Treharne, University of Leicester "This close and readable translation, put together by a scholar who knows so much about the poem and its craft, remakes the old tale in a new register. From the prickly dignity of overdressed spearbearers to the sad songs of beefy breakers-of-rings in their cups, there is much here to surprise and delight. Successive cohorts of students will be grateful to Professor Liuzza for his wise and informative introduction and notes." - Roberta Frank, University of Toronto "Liuzza's close translation of Beowulf reads accurately and smoothly. His lucid introduction illuminates the poem in all its complexity and power. The selection of analogues for the poem offers a few surprises as well as the old favorites. And the section containing renditions of the coastguard's speech from 19 other translations will allow students to compare versions done between 1805 and 1991. A wonderfully imaginative volume to use for teaching Beowulf to undergraduates." - Nicholas Howe, Ohio State University "Readers who wish for reliable access to Beowulf will welcome this fluent rendering of that Old English masterwork into modern English verse. In language that is free from mannerisms or clumsy literalism, Roy Liuzza makes the poem easily accessible to new admirers. What specialists and teachers will welcome about this book is the way in which the translation, with its helpful notes, is embedded between a masterful critical introduction and a set of appendices that includes translations of all the important analogues and ancillary texts. Together these make up an edition that many will want to use." - John Niles, University of California, Berkeley --John Niles, University of California, Berkeley