The Complete Old English Poems

by Craig Williamson (Translator), Tom Shippey (Introduction)

From the riddling song of a bawdy onion that moves between kitchen and bedroom to the thrilling account of Beowulf's battle with a treasure-hoarding dragon, from the heart-rending lament of a lone castaway to the embodied speech of the cross upon which Christ was crucified, from the anxiety of Eve, who carries "a sumptuous secret in her hands / And a tempting truth hidden in her heart," to the trust of Noah who builds "a sea-floater, a wave-walking / Ocean-home with rooms for all creatures," the world of the Anglo-Saxon poets is a place of harshness, beauty, and wonder.

Now for the first time, the entire Old English poetic corpus—including poems and fragments discovered only within the past fifty years—is rendered into modern strong-stress, alliterative verse in a masterful translation by Craig Williamson.

Accompanied by an introduction by noted medievalist Tom Shippey on the literary scope and vision of these timeless poems and Williamson's own introductions to the individual works and his essay on translating Old English poetry, the texts transport us back to the medieval scriptorium or ancient mead-hall, to share a herdsman's recounting of the story of the world's creation or a people's sorrow at the death of a beloved king, to be present at the clash of battle or to puzzle over the sacred and profane answers to riddles posed over a thousand years ago. This is poetry as stunning in its vitality as it is true to its sources. Were Williamson's idiom not so modern, we might think that the Anglo-Saxon poets had taken up the lyre again and begun to sing once more.

Genres: Poetry, Medieval, Nonfiction, Reference, Classics

1248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2017

About the author

Craig Williamson is Alfred H. and Peggi Bloom Professor of English Literature at Swarthmore College. He is author of A Feast of Creatures and Beowulf and Other Old English Poems, both available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not read this completely, but I read several wonderful pieces describing the grave, and the inevitable decay of the once proud body in quite gleeful language. And a charm for summoning bees.
I decided to return this to the library, and to purchase a copy for myself, as the translation is spare, and readable, and the thoroughness of the volume is admirable.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

In another life, I was an Old English scholar, I believe this with all my heart. What an interesting book, and even though it contained more Christian poetry than I initially assumed, it led me to research many subjects and read a lot more than just this book. I will say, I am not convinced by the necessity to include a couple of these poems, but what the hell, gotta translate 'em all.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read Anglo-Saxon poetry in vibrant, lovely, idiomatic, spirited Modern English, please don't reach for any book but this one. Williamson's translations have the ability to help a modern audience actually enjoy reading the Anglo-Saxon poems that early medievalists know and love.

[Atshiga · Rating 4 out of 5]

From translations to poetic exuberance, what a legend.

[Stella Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Mills College Library]

829.1 C73768 2017