Publisher's Synopsis
Beowulf, the Old English epic poem published anonymously centuries ago, remains one of the most influential pieces of English literature. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the rescue of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, who has come under attack by Grendel, a horrifying monster. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the Dane and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf returns to Geatland (Götaland in modern Sweden) and is declared their king. Fifty years later, Beowulf rises to battle again, this time to defeat a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. Originally written in Old English, this edition is based on the 1892 verse translation by J. Lesslie Hall.
