This new translation, by the nobel laureate poet seamus heaney. Everyone thought beowulf would become king, but he didnt want to hurt the succession. Seamus heaney reads his exquisite translation of beowulf. Hear the epic battle between the hero beowulf and the monster grendel, and then grendels mother. Born at mossbawn farmhouse between castledawson and toomebridge, county derry, he resided in dublin until his death. Beowulf audiobook seamus heaney translator audible. 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. Composed towards the end of the first millennium, the anglosaxon poem beowulf is one of the great northern epics and a classic of european literature. During the 50 years, king hygelac was killed in the war with the shylfings, and his young son became king. A new york times bestseller and whitbread book of the year. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the old english.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Beowulf is an old english epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It was posted on youtube today, and we thought it worth your while. In beowulf warriors must back up their meadhall boasts with instant action, monsters abound, and fights are always to the death. Beowulf read by seamus heany omnibus edition on august 30, 20, radio 4 paid tribute to seamus heaney, nobel prizewinning poet, internationally recognised as one of the greatest. Seamus heaney s 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. His elegant use of language helps smooth out many of the translation.
The poems reflect one of the books larger themes, the connections between. I mentioned this in the introduction into the book, people called the. Try one of the apps below to open or edit this item. Nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this. A movie based on the old english epic poem beowulf was number. Download this important work of anglosaxon literature and the oldest surviving epic poem of old english. Seamus heaneys 1999 translation of the poem referred to by howell. Translated throughout the late 1990s, it was published in 1999 by farrar, straus, and giroux and won that years whitbread book. The speardanes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. His elegant use of language helps smooth out many of the translation bumps, without losing the distinctive, almost singsong rhythm of the original poem and the original old english text allows you to compare and contrast. A thousand year old heroic story translated by the greatest poet in english language, told by the tea house fireside. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. Seamus heaney 193920 was an irish poet, playwright, translator, lecturer and recipient of the 1995 nobel prize in literature.
Composed toward the end of the first millennium, beowulf is the classic. 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. He then returns to his own country and lives to old age before dying in a vivid fight. Beowulf s death and burial translation by seamus heaney unabridged. There was shield sheafson, scourge of many tribes, a wrecker of meadbenches, rampaging among foes.
Seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf is a work that is both true to the original poem and an. It may be the oldest surviving long poem in old english and is. Beowulf audiobook part 2 translated by burton raffel duration. Heaney s performance reminds us that beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read. The speardanes in days done by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. Book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of.
He then returns to his own country and lives to old age before dying in a. Beowulf by seamus heaney and a great selection of related books. Beowulf is now the king of geatland and his kingdom is being threatened by a dragon. Heaney s performance reminds us that beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Join beowulf, a young warrior, as he achieves glory by fighting and killing three fantastic monsters. The hero went to the lairs of watermonsters, observed that swamp. You can hear heaney read his translation of beowulf. A new verse translation also known as heaneywulf is a verse translation of the old english epic poem beowulf into the modern english language by seamus heaney. The spirit level won the whitbread book of the year award. A new verse translation by seamus heaney introduction of the danes so. 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. Beowulf by seamus heaney overdrive rakuten overdrive. Beowulf free full audiobook online listen authors unknown. Beowulf translation by seamus heaney audiobook highbridge. Written a thousand years ago, this long poem is the very first surviving piece of english literature.
Listen online or offline with android, ios, web, chromecast, and. Seamus heaney reads his exquisite translation of beowulf and. It seems like an appropriate title for seamus heaney, whose translation of the anglosaxon poem beowulf has become a modern classic in its own right. This audio book is the translated by irish poet and nobel laureate seamus heaney and he also narrates the audio book. Seamus heaney is widely recognized as one of the major poets of the 20th century. 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. I keep coming back and listening to this one every once in awhile. The epic of beowulf by seamus heaney 2116 words 9 pages. Seamus heaney s version of beowulf is a wonder, a totally modern translation of the poem that somehow manages to sound like its been around for a thousand years.
Indeed, heaneys earliest poetry collections death of a naturalist 1966. You know, this kind of thing bless does he who after death can. Translated by seamus heaney audiobook by anonymous. Beowulf is an old story, that was composed somewhere between the middle of the seventh and tenth century, that used to be told. The theme of tribal violence and its consequences is central to the old english poem beowulf, which heaney famously translated into a rich new idiom suited for a postcolonial age but still consonant with the distinctive poetic rhythms of its language.
Seamus heaney i collected poems published 19661975. In 1996, heaney was elected a member of the royal irish academy, and admitted in 1997. A new verse translation by seamus heaney, paperback. Beowulf audiobook translated by burton raffel duration. For a long time, his translation was only available on audible in a badly abridged version badly abridged even though it was read by heaney himself. A new verse translation by seamus heaney overview composed toward the end of the first millennium, beowulf is the classic northern epic of a heros triumphs as a young warrior and his fated death. For a long time, his translation was only available on audible in a badly abridged version badly abridged even though it was read by heaney. Nobel laureate seamus heaney s new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio.