Beowulf

Author(s): Unknown, Francis Barton Gummere

Genre(s): Action & Adventure Fiction, Poetry

Narrators: Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023), Karen Savage, Jim Mowatt, Peter Yearsley, Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011), Denny Sayers (d. 2015), Kirsten Ferreri

Number of Chapters: 8

Length: 2 hours and 52 minutes

Language: English

This is a short but beautiful book, and the Gummere translation really captures the feel of the Old English. Beowulf tells the story of a mysterious young warrior who saves the Spear-Danes from the terrible monster Grendel and his venomous mother. Long a mainstay of English Literature 101 courses at universities around the world, it is not only one of the oldest, but one of the most exciting English folktales ever invented. (Summary by Caeristhiona)