Written in Old English more than a millennium ago, Beowulf tells the story of a Scandinavian hero who faces three evil creatures—a cannibalistic ogre named Grendel, Grendel's equally monstrous mother, and a dragon. Much as he did with his translations of Gilgamesh and The Iliad, Stephen Mitchell brings this bygone world marvelously to life, ensuring that this perennial classic will still stir our feelings and rivet our attention today. Mitchell also includes additional notes and introductory material to put this epic into historical perspective.

"A most readable, energetic, and colorful translation of this savage epic…. An amazing achievement."—Billy Collins