It seems like an appropriate title for seamus heaney, whose translation of the. 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. In this new translation, seamus heaney has produced a work that is both true,line by line,to the original poem, and an expression, in its language and music, of something fundamental to his own creative gift. It was posted on youtube today, and we thought it worth your while. In 1996, heaney was elected a member of the royal irish academy, and admitted in 1997. Book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Germanic paganism and the christianity of the early middle ages sprung one of the worlds supremely great pieces of literature. Beowulf version 2 audiobook unknown, translated by francis barton gummere 1855 1919 beowulf was composed by an anonymous anglosaxon poet. In his new translation, seamus heaney has produced a work which is both true, line by line, to the original poem, and an expression, in its language and music, of something fundamental to his own creative gift. There was shield sheafson, scourge of many tribes, a wrecker of meadbenches, rampaging among foes.
Seamus heaney was born in county derry in northern ireland. The poem is about encountering the monstrous, defeating it, and then having to live on, physically and psychically exposed in the exhausted aftermath. A new york times bestseller and whitbread book of the year. I consider beowulf to be part of my voiceright writes heaney in part 2 of the introduction, about this translation.
Heaney read well and the translation loses nothing of the sense of ancient history and myth. Heaney s performance reminds us that beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read. You can hear heaney read his translation of beowulf online. Heaneys translation, which won the whitbread book of the year in 1999, was my chance to fill the gap. The spirit level won the whitbread book of the year award. Then in 2000, seamus heaney, 1939 20 a nobel prize winning, harvard university professor, published the newest translation of beowulf. 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. Nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio, read by heaney himself.
Some parts are excellent, and the book of his translation is worth reading, along with other prose translations by swanston and tolkien. In his new translation, seamus heaney has produced a work which is both true, line by line, to the original poem, and an expression, in its language and music, of something fundamental to his own. 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. A native of northern ireland, heaney was raised in county derry, and later lived for many years in dublin. Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of. Beowulf, now in seamus heaneys inspired translation the whitbread book of the year 1999 is a classic of world literature and poetry. A new verse translation by seamus heaney, paperback. Oct 19, 2015 beowulf version 2 audiobook unknown, translated by francis barton gummere 1855 1919 beowulf was composed by an anonymous anglosaxon poet. It amply demonstrates why this epic has spread its influence over. The sixth book of virgils aeneid, in which aeneas travels into the underworld to meet the spirit of his father, is a story that captivated seamus heaney from his schooldays. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the old english.
As a translator, heaneys most famous work is the translation of the epic anglosaxon poem beowulf 2000. Considered groundbreaking because of the freedom he took in using modern language, the book is largely credited with revitalizing what had become something of a tired chestnut in the literary world. Bbc radio 4 book of the week, seamus heaney beowulf. Nobel laureate seamus heaneys translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping rendition that reminds listeners that the work was truly meant to be heard.
Listen to beowulf audiobook by seamus heaney free 30day. 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. Call of cthulhu hp lovecraft audio book with words closed captions duration. Heaneys excellent translation has the virtue of being both direct and sophisticated, making previous versions look slightly flowery and antique by comparison. Try one of the apps below to open or edit this item. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. 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. Beowulf translation by seamus heaney audiobook highbridge. Beowulf translation by seamus heaney highbridge audio. Beowulf unabridged beowulf unabridged audiobook, by c. Lesslie hall illustrated and millions of other books are. But the work took on a special significance for him after the death of his own father, becoming a. Death of a naturalist, his first collection, appeared in 1966, and since then he has published poetry, criticism and translations which have established him as one of the leading poets of his generation.
Beowulf this is the version translated and read by seamus heaney. Seamus heaneys 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. Listen to beowulf translated by seamus heaney by anonymous available from rakuten kobo. Written a thousand years ago, this long poem is the very first surviving piece of english literature. May 04, 2000 a new york times bestseller and whitbread book of the year. He was the author of over 20 volumes of poetry and criticism, and edited several widely used anthologies. Seamus heaney reads his exquisite translation of beowulf and. Eliot prize for his collection district and circle. 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 contemporary voices who passed away at the age of 74.
Nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Beowulf 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 as a defender of his people. Hear the epic battle between the hero beowulf and the monster grendel, and then grendels mother. This audio book is the translated by irish poet and nobel laureate seamus heaney and he also narrates the audio book which runs 2 hrs. Beowulf audiobook seamus heaney translator audible. His intelligence, fine ear and obvious love of the poem bring beowulf alive as melancholy masterpiece, a complex christianpagan lament about duty, glory, loss and transience. Seamus heaney reads from his translation of the great anglosaxon poem. The rattle bag, the anthology he cocurated with ted hughes, is one of the finest and popular poetry collections of its kind. I consider beowulf to be part of my voiceright writes heaney in.
Translated by seamus heaney audiobook by anonymous. This new translation, by the nobel laureate poet seamus heaney, offers modern readers an accessible, intensely dramatic text. 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. New york times best seller and whitebread book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Seamus heaney reads his exquisite translation of beowulf. Download this important work of anglosaxon literature and the oldest surviving epic poem of old english. 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.
Originally written in old english, this translation by francis barton gummere updates it to modern english. Beowulf stands as one of the first and greatest works of english literature. A great story to be listened to, this audio book is well read by tad e. I will now after hearing of beowulfs brave exploits and heroic qualities. The speardanes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. Beowulfs heroism in going to face his doom, battling against impossible odds is remarkable. Jan 11, 20 written a thousand years ago, this long poem is the very first surviving piece of english literature. Heaney s excellent translation has the virtue of being both direct and sophisticated, making previous versions look slightly flowery and antique by comparison. 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 grendels mother. In 2012, he was awarded the lifetime recognition award from the griffin trust for excellence in poetry. Tolkien, author of the lord of the rings, delivered a famous lecture to the british academy in 1936 in which he maintained that. Join beowulf, a young warrior, as he achieves glory by fighting and killing three fantastic monsters.
Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. 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 as a defender of his people. Heaneys performance reminds us that beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read. A nobel laureate, heaney twice secured the whitbread book of the year award for the spirit level and beowulf. Beowulf is the conventional title of an old english epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in scandinavia, the oldest surviving epic poem of old english and thus commonly cited as one of the most important works of anglosaxon literature, and also arguably the earliest vernacular english literature. Synopsis composed towards the end of the first millennium of our era, the anglosaxon poem beowulf is a northern epic and a classic of european literature. Seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf is a work that is both true to the original poem and an expression of something fundamental to heaneys own.
Seamus heaney is widely recognized as one of the major poets of the 20th century. Heaneys 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. He has twice won the whitbread book of the year, for the spirit level 1996 and beowulf 1999. New york times bestseller and winner of the costa book award composed toward the end of the first millennium, 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 grendels mother. Beowulf audiobook by anonymous 9781470348342 rakuten kobo. Beowulf tells the story of a mysterious young warrior who saves the speardanes from the terrible monster grendel and his venomous mother. A new verse translation unabridged audio cd seamus heaney, george.