Beowulf

Bro, this was good!

This is an absolutely fantastic translation of Beowulf. Accessible for new readers, and charming and original for those that have heard it all before. Headly approaches the text in a way that's fun yet respectful - you can tell she truly loves Beowulf and wants others to love it as much as she does.

What a completely RAD translation! I had a lot of fun reading this. I appreciated the feminist perspective of Grendel's Mother - that this “monster” was really just as badass as Beowulf, and somehow the concept of a woman being that hardcore has her translated as a “hideous, monstrous creature” over the years.

This is an interesting take on Beowulf. I think the author's heart is in the right place, but readers should know that in places her “translation” is absolutely not what the original says. I don't have any overall complaints. I think she accomplishes her goals, which are clearly stated in the introduction. However, once you've read the original, nothing can compete with it.

five stars if you read it aloud

Bro! Hardly fucked by Fate, but rather hashtag blessed for this translation that gives zero shits. Our swole, sword bearing, son-of-a-bitch comes out swinging. Beowulf brings the beatdown, batters beasts, and bests the bringers of blood. Raring to be read aloud, voice raised over the roar of revelry. The song of sweaty soldiers with back slapping swagger who swear on the sword they saw it true. Headley is hard-core, heroic and hardly one to haver, hell-bent on hewing her own history here. Too much? Truly it is a touch too far at times but still a towering testament to her talent.

Beowulf rode hard. He stayed thirsty! He was the Man! He was the man.