Beowulf

by Rosemary Sutcliff

Hardcover, 1984

Status

Available

Call number

823.914

Collection

Publication

Peter Smith Pub Inc (1984), 93 pages

Description

In this thrilling re-telling of the Anglo-Saxon legend, Beowulf, the renowned children's historical fiction writer Rosemary Sutcliff recounts Beowulf's most terrifying quests: against Grendel the man-wolf, against the hideous sea-hag and, most courageous of all - his fight to the death with the monstrous fire-drake.

User reviews

LibraryThing member CliffBurns
The first book I can remember reading.

And, yesterday, at a local library sale, I spotted a copy of Rosemary Sutcliff's BEOWULF propped up on one of the overflowing tables. The same edition, the same color cover as the one I read all those years ago. What was I? Eight? And the story took hold of me
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and I easily imagined myself waiting with the other men as something horrible lurked about on the other side of a sturdy door. The fire burned down low, our swords within easy reach.

Those seeking a more literate and definitive translation of BEOWULF should look elsewhere. Check out Seamus Heaney's, I love that one. But this is a short effort (93 pages) that helped me fall in love with reading. Words COULD come to life, here was proof positive. From BEOWULF it was on to the likes of Bradbury and THE HARDY BOYS and since then I've barely looked back.

Thank you, Ms. Sutcliff. This might have been the one that started it all.
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LibraryThing member timj
Fabulous, blood thirsty re-telling of the traditional tale.
LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Rosemary Sutcliff has used an old English epic poem about Beowulf as the basis for this retelling in the form of a children’s book. It is fairly scary in parts, especially Grendels attacks, which are stopped when he meets Beowulf, ‘this time his hand was met and seized in a grasp such as he had
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never felt before; a grasp that had in it the strength of thirty men. And for the first time he who had brought fear to so many, caught the taste of it himself, knowing that at last he had met his match and maybe his master’ (Sutcliff, 2001, p. 36-37). The Sea-Hag seeks vengeance after Grendel dies. ‘She was the same kind as Grendel, monstrous, evil, a Death-Shadow-in-the-Dark; but she had possessed the power to love, and she had loved her son, and was therefore more terrible than he had every been’ (Sutcliff, 2001, p. 46). There is a fearful battle between Beowulf and the Sea-Hag. Throughout Beowulf is courageous and strong against unhuman enemies and their wish to destroy. His last battle is with the fire-drake. ‘A great cloud of fiery breath belched out from the cave mouth, and within there sounded the clapping of mighty wings; and even as the King flung up his shield to guard his face, the earth shook and the dragon came coiling from its lair’ (Sutcliff, 2001, p. 84). The author’s works are so like the poetry of the epic poem and the sheer heroism shown by Beowulf and his self-sacrifice is very inspiring.
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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Probably best known for her outstanding historical fiction for young readers, particularly that set in Roman Britain - novels such as The Eagle of the Ninth, and The Lantern Bearers - Rosemary Sutcliff here turns her attention to the Anglo-Saxon epic of Beowulf, producing an immensely engaging
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prose version of the story, sure to please children with a taste for exciting adventure tales.

Divided into nine chapters, this brief novel covers the three major episodes in Beowulf's heroic life: the defeat of Grendel, the monstrous "Night-Stalker" and "Death-Shadow terrorizing the court of Hrothgar, King of the Danes; the defeat of Grendel's mother, a savage "She-Wolf" bent on revenge for the slaying of her child; and finally, at the end of the hero's life, the defeat of the Fire-Drake attacking the people of Geatland. Sutcliff's language is beautiful, her narrative fast-paced and involving. The accompanying black and white illustrations by Charles Keeping reminded me a bit of Victor Ambrus' work, which is high praise indeed! All in all, an immensely satisfying retelling of this classic story, recommended to all who are looking for a prose version suitable for younger readers.
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LibraryThing member PollyMoore3
Simple but powerful retelling of the Beowulf story for children. Charles Keeping's heavy, atmospherically Sixties line drawings give added punch. But to quote James Brown, this is a man's, man's man's world......
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
A somewhat simplistic retelling of Beowulf, echoing the language and phrasing but using Sutcliff's own voice and a bit of simpler language without being condescending and giving it a sort of grandeur.

I liked the story of Beowulf hunting down Grendel and Grendel's mother, and his eventual death just
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seemed right. A good re-telling.
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LibraryThing member PhilSyphe
“Beowulf” quotes crop up in several Anglo-Saxon books I’ve read over the past year, and more recently I’ve read one author or another praise Rosemary Sutcliff for her historical novels, so reading this short novel was like killing two birds with one stone.

Although aimed at children, this is
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certainly suitable for adults as well.

I understand the author has been faithful to the original poem. She does a good job at creating tense atmospheres and frighting scenes, all of which are vivid.

On the other hand, Beowulf sorts the monsters out a bit too easily, and I would’ve preferred more of a challenge; however, I realise this may be owing to the author keeping it simple for a young audience, so this is an observation, not a criticism.

I’ll be checking out some of Rosemary Sutcliff’s other books in due course.
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LibraryThing member themulhern
Sutcliff is such a sentimental writer, and she has her particular tropes. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this one a lot more than Crossley-Holland's Beowulf.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1961

ISBN

0844661651 / 9780844661650
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