On Mar 5, 10:32 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
On Mar 5, 8:10 pm, jeff wrote:

john gardner wrote a book from the beowulf monster's point of
view...grendel. very effective and interesting when i read it decades ago.

Broadly speaking, there are two classes of books in this world; those
whose covers are (as Mr. Bierce once observed) too far apart, and
those whose covers are way too close together. Gardner's "Grendel"
exemplifies the latter as well as any.

Thanks for the reminder. I'll be looking for a copy to reread soon.

I know it is poetry (I know, I know! I've got a reputation to uphold,
after all!) but you boys should have a look at Gardner's translation
of the Gawain poet. "Gawain and the Green Knight" is rolicking good
fun- banquet feasts, quests, lots of slaying- and Gardner did a darned
good job of rendering the old English into new.

I don't know much about Gardner- his academic background- but he must
have gotten a taste for the early stuff at some point.

Hwæt!
Wm