Beowulf: A Dual-Language Edition

This translation has been much-praised as faithful to the original Old English. I think this is taking it a bit far: Chickering does typically use four-beat lines, which is how Old English poetry is arranged, although OE poetry has specific alliteration patterns and stress patterns (however, there are so many of the latter one wonders if such patterns are actually a modern invention). For a four-beat plus alliterative (although not a mimic of OE poetry) translation, take a look at Kennedy's Beowulf . Chickering does tend to reproduce the choppiness (to our ears) of the original text, including appositives. These are jarring at first but quickly become easy to scan. This is useful for seeing how the poem is actually laid out, although one can never say how jarring the original was to those who spoke OE. As a study aid, Chickering's translation is generally good (that is, literal-esque), but sometimes he does take liberties, so the student should beware. As a small example, lines 753b-754a: "He on mode wearð forht on ferhðe". This is literally translated "He in (his) heart became afraid in (his) spirit." Or something like that: mode and ferhðe mean the same thing, and can variously be translated as heart, mind, spirit, soul, etc. Chickering translates this as "at heart he feared for his wretched life." This is a fine translation, but is not literal. This may seem like small nitpicking, but if you are planning on using this text for studying Beowulf, you should at least have supplemental material. Of course you want Klaeber's Beowulf , but also handy is Alexander's Glossed Beowulf . It is, of course, small nitpicking, and so I unreservedly recommend this translation. As I stated, the translation is generally quite faithful to the text, and is a good read. The commentary is wonderful, as is the introductory material. As a bonus, glosses to a few passages are included. Please don't take the small points I make above as any sort of complaint about this translation; it's more a warning to prospective OE students. If you want to read Beowulf, you really can't do a whole lot better than this, unless you want to learn Old English. Fully literal translations are pretty pointless, anyway: for a ridiculous example, search Google Books for "Tale of Beowulf: sometime king of the folk of the Weder Geats" by William Morris.

This is the best, the clearest and most scholarly parallel translation of the Old English epic in print. It dwarfs Seamus Ennis' "Just-So" story by a mile (Ennis had the "help" of an obscure medievalist who had minimal objection to Seamis' opening, which is an opening that would put off any half-decently-educated reader.) Prof. Chickering has not only a fine, close parallel translation, he has an extended, thoughtful discussion of the poem with a running commentary on the scholarship he refers to with obvious familiarity. For these reasons -- including a clear style which parallels the parataxis of the original-- you would do yourself a favor if you bought this book. Regrettably, its e-edition in not available in the USA, but I've always found parallel translations to be hard to handle in e-book.

I read this edition many years ago while a student. It is still a great way to dive into Beowulf and get the feel of this great epic poem. You can give a shot at reading the Old English text on the left hand page, or just enjoy reading the modern English translation, in which the feel of the original is attempted to be replicated. It does make it a little difficult when it comes to trying to match up words in the modern English with the Old English text -- the translation followed within a few lines in either direction, but there probably isn't really an answer for that, barring a true interlinear translation with the translation of each Old English word written below -- maybe someone will do that some day.

This is another book that I bought for a college course, but I would have bought it anyway. It is not the easiest book to read and I suggest you take your time with it. But it is well worth the read. Great book.

Scholarly in the very best meaning of the word. Manages to keep both the rhythm and meaning of the original. I've read Heaney's translation and much prefer Chickering.

Very handy, multilanguage copy of the ancient epic. The translation keeps the lines and poetry well while at the time being a very easily understood story.

This volume is perfect for anyone studying Beowulf and the Old English language. Chickering's translation follows the original wording quite closely, and having the Old English on the page facing the translation is extremely helpful for cross-comparison and scholarly work with the poem. Chickering is a talented translator and his version of Beowulf follows the original better than any other I've read, so this volume is valuable even for those interested in reading the translation alone. This is a great addition to any library.

Really great edition of the book. The translation is good, and the bilingual presentation is very, very usefull. The editor brings a lot of intelligent and useful resources to use them. The prologue and study is really great, complete, didactic and of high scholar level. It's an edition really thought to present the academic knowledge to all public.

A brilliant piece of work, giving a great introduction to the work before going into it. The languages are clearly shown on both pages and given proper footnotes where necessary. This is the definitive edition of Beowulf in my eyes, beats Tolkein's by a mile. If you're interested in Old English and Beowulf, this is for you. Chickering pulled no punches.

Highly recommended for those who wish to study Old English.

Buen estado y buena edición.

This is yet another "print on demand" editions so is worthless as a physical object - printed on photocopy paper, cover made of strange material which instantly stays open as soon as you try to read one page. horrible edition, like all these amazon logistic printed on demands. i have repeatedly asked amazon to MAKE CLEAR IN THE DESCRIPTION if the item is this type of edition - but they never do :( The content is obviously infinitely superior to any other edition of the poem, almost word-for-word crib of the Old English text. What a shame that it cannot be found printed as a 'real' book anymore :(

I prefer this edition to Seamus Heany's because, unlike Heany, this one is closer to the original text. You can try parsing together the Old English original with this translation, but same isn't possible with Heany, or most translations out there for that matter.