Beowulf (Fort Raphael Publishing Company Edition - Unabridged)

An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem

By: Francis B. Gummere - translator, Kevin Theis

Narrated by: Kevin Theis

Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

"Beowulf", a sprawling, fantastical tale of bravery, heroism, and Anglo-Saxon heraldry, is the most celebrated epic poem in the English language.

The story of the great Geatish fighter Beowulf, who comes to the aid of the beleagued Hrothgar and his men, the poem relates three epic battles: Beowulf's fight with the monster Grendel, his face-off with Grendel's vengeful mother and, after serving as King for 50 years, Beowulf's fateful clash with a fire-breathing dragon.

Francis B. Gummere's translation of this ancient text has been hailed for over a century and is here brought back to life with a summary of the poem by the English scholar Dr. J.L. Hall.

Public Domain (P)2018 Fort Raphael Publishing Company

A rousing adventure!

Kevin Theis' crisp, energized reading of the classic tale brings life to the poetry that is Beowulf. Enjoy!

Perfection!

Ok. So I was an English major and had to read this. I got the story and appreciated it, but I hated slogging through it and just didn't get how it was so pivotal. I'm so glad I took the time to listen to Mr. Theis' narration. He made it sing for me. I get it now! Thank you!!!

Great narration, great production

Rating for production rather than the story because it's Beowulf. Love or hate it, read it because you want to or it's assigned: you know what you're getting anyway. :) This is a great version. Excellent narration, good quality production.

(I got free codes from the narrator for this, and am voluntarily leaving a review)

High School Throwback

Do you remember that teacher in school, the one that you actually listened to when they read because they weren't lifeless or boring? The one that actually read with some enthusiasm and for some reason, just hearing it read that way somehow made it easier to understand? That's what this book reminds me of. The epic poem demands to be read with feeling and Theis meets the challenge without falling prey to the overdramatic ways of less experienced narrators. I'll be the first to admit that much of this poem still goes over my head (and I majored in English!) but it's still an enjoyable experience. Just reading it, you can miss the mood of what's going on, but with his inflection, Theis' reading is able to provide a layer of understanding. I highly recommend this audiobook for any students studying the work or anyone who wants to something more than a fluffy, no substance piece.

Good read. Excellent performance.

Enjoyed the epic story rendered in an epic voice. Theis is becoming one of my favorites.

Wonderful!

Being of Swedish Decent, this is a must read Classic for Me.. Absolutely wonderful translation from the original poem.. Beowulf is the Hero of the Geats of Scandinavia... And this is his tale. The Narration was excellent and there are even some great sound effects.. This book was provided free of charge in exchange for a fair review of the book... Thank You!

Sweeps you into the story

Stirring, sturdy reading that sweeps you into the story. Music and sound effects provide effective punctuation. I listened in one sitting, while driving a notoriously bland stretch of road, and it made the miles zip by. Very entertaining—and I would recommend this version for students working with the poem, as well.

Hard to review

I wanted to step out of my comfort zone for this one and certainly did. How do you rate something that was written so long ago? While Kevin gave it the 'gusto' that I believed it required, the story had trouble holding my attention. It was interesting to listen to their version of an epic tale versus what we take for granted now. Fantasy, battle, dominance, betrayal and a whole strew of characters certainly would have made for a good read back in the day. I didn't hate it, didn't love it so it's a three stars from me.

A classic!

Incredibly engaging, moves at a clip, and really fascinating. Glad to revisit this story again!

Great Narration

A piece of classic literature brought to you by an excellent narrator. Very enjoyable listen.