Beowulf

"Beowulf is the longest and finest literary work to have come down to us from Anglo-Saxon times, and one of the world's great epic poems. Set in the half-legendary, half-historical Scandinavian past, it tells the story of the hero Beowulf, who comes to the aid of the old Danish king Hrothgar by wrestling with the terrifying, demonic monster Grendel, and then killing Grendel's infuriated and vengeful mother. A lifetime later, when his own kingdom, Geatland, is threatened by a fiery dragon, Beowulf engages in a third great fight." "The poem celebrates the virtues of the heroic life, and Beowulf and Hrothgar are beacons of courage, loyalty, and wisdom in a dark world of feuds, violence, and uncertainty. This acclaimed translation is complemented by a critical introduction and helpful supplementary material."--BOOK JACKET.