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Beowulf

A New Translation

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Beowulf

By: Seamus Heaney
Narrated by: Seamus Heaney
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About this listen

Seamus Heaney’s new translation of Beowulf is a work that is both true to the original poem and an expression of something fundamental to Heaney’s own creative gift.

One of the great classics of English literature, it tells the story of a hero who wins glory and learns wisdom and is then called upon to face a final test against the monstrous.

There are obvious parallels to be found in the history of the 20th century, and Heaney’s Beowulf cannot fail to be read partly in the light of his Northern Irish upbringing. But it also transcends such considerations, revealing psychological and spiritual truths that are both permanent and liberating.

©1999 Seamus Heaney (P)2000 Faber-Penguin Classics

Critic Reviews

"Heaney's intelligence, fine ear and obvious love of the poem bring Beowulf alive as a melancholy masterpiece, a complex Christian-pagan lament for duty, glory, loss and transience. Heaney has done it (and us) a great service." (Claire Harman, Evening Standard)
"A wonderfully unfazed and unfussy riding round the great barrow of the text itself." (Paul Muldoon, Times Literary Supplement)
"The whole performance is wonderfully intermediate - poised between the Bible and folk wisdom, between the Light Ages and the Dark Ages - and at the same time pulverisingly actual in its language. He has made a masterpiece out of a masterpiece." (Andrew Motion, Financial Times)

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A true translation

There’s more to translating a work of literature than just recounting what was said. It is the beauty of Seamus Heaney’s language that sets this apart. I can just imagine the mead hall at night and the bearded warriors gathered around to listen to the saga

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Heaney’s reading is great

Beowulf is a great text. Heaney’s translation is enjoyable. His reading is excellent. I believe the episode with Unferth has been omitted in this audio version, but it could be argued that this wasn’t necessarily a terrible idea.

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