Beowulf

By: Seamus Heaney

Narrated by: Seamus Heaney

Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Translated and read by Seamus Heaney.

New York Times best seller and Whitebread Book of the Year, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney's new translation of Beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Heaney's performance reminds us that Beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read.

Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, Beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero who saves the Danes from the seemingly invincible monster Grendel and, later, from Grendel's mother. He then returns to his own country and lives to old age before dying in a vivid fight against a dragon.

The poem is about encountering the monstrous, defeating it, and then having to live on in the exhausted aftermath. In the contours of this story, at once remote and uncannily familiar at the end of the twentieth century, Seamus Heaney finds a resonance that summons power to the poetry from deep beneath its surface.

©2000 Seamus Heaney (P)2000 Penguin Books Ltd., by arrangement with the BBC. Published by arrangement with W. W. Norton.

Critic reviews

"The classic eighth-century English poem is strikingly presented, making accessible the story of a young man's heroic journey to find and slay two monsters." (Publishers Weekly)

Why, oh, why is it abridged?

Seamus Heaney is a wonderful poet and a wonderful reader: listening to him is like hearing the original poet holding forth. But the reading is abridged, in what seems more like a marketing decision -- trying to fit the audiobook onto a two-CD set -- than an artistic one. "Beowulf" could certainly use some abridgement here and there, and I wouldn't mind if there were only minor omissions; but among the episodes cut is the challenge that Unferth issues to Beowulf about his swimming contest with Brecca. This isn't just empty padding: it's essential to the characters of both Unferth and Beowulf. In many ways this is the best single recording of "Beowulf" available: why couldn't there be an unabridged (or at least a less-abridged) version as well? That would get six stars out of five. No other version comes close to the mastery of language shown by this one.

Well Done

I got this for a school report and it was so much better to listen to it then read it. Seamus Heaney has a great voice for the part and was able to make even the parts where they are just listing Danish kings interesting.

Excellent but abridged, also lacks the introduction

I loved the narration; I read along with the physical copy of the book and had to skip around sometimes since it cut out certain parts. It was still well worth it; the author is so soothing to listen to that I was sad when it was over

Superb

Seamus Heaney’s translation and narration of Beowulf bring this ancient story vividly to life.

Anyone who loves a thrilling story should listen to this. It’s not a dry history lesson; it’s an exciting story of kings, monsters, and great battles.

1000 years later and it's still fantastic

The Scottish accent makes it so much better. though the speaking voices, I wish were more distinct.

Excellent translation although slightly abridged

Having this as an assignment in English Lit I sought out an audio version of the Seamus Heaney translation as found in the Norton Anthology (10th Edition).

This audio version is the same as my textbook and tracks (for the most part) word-for-word with the Seamus Heaney written translation however be forewarned that the audio version does omit some passages that either reference other Old English epics or are background details somewhat irrelevant to the story of Beowulf itself.

Overall I was able to follow along, occasionally pausing the audio to read those unspoken verses in my textbook and consider it a worthwhile purchase to help with my studies.

Narration was excellent and Heaney's lilting voice added a touch that helped draw you into the story.

This is an All Time Favorite Story and Narrator.

Required reading in high school. I have been back to this one again and again. Heaney is so much my preferred reader that I will listen to no other rendition of this work.
I listen to this for different reasons each time it seems. I have come to Beowulf to experience the action, or the honor, or the tragedy, or the hope. I am in the mood for this book every fall and many summers. Listening to it helps me identify my own internal struggle in the mirrored images of these people.

Amazing

Amazing in it's depth and complexity, some traditional parts were not included such as the swimming race but great translation on the themes of true heroism and nobility.

My Personal Favorite

Words fail. I love the story, this particular translation and Mr Heaney's narration. It's short but epic. You feel as if you're sitting around the campfire hearing tales from the bard. I listen to this every few months and it's never stale.

Beowulf

There is a reason this translation is so widely acclaimed. Because it is not a poetic translation, care has been taken to preserve the original Old English feel. This is especially evident in visceral phrases like "bone cage" for ribs and "word locker" mouth and vocabulary. But even so, the translation is modern enough that it feels natural.