The Tale of Beowulf
Sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats
von Unknowntranslated By William Morris
Gelesen von Taylor Whitehead
William Morris's translation of Beowulf beautifully showcases the unique character of English alliterative verse in one of the finest epic poems of the Middle Ages. The language and syntax employed by Morris is at times challenging, however, it can be a very rewarding reading experience that gives a close adaptation of the original both in language and feel. While written in Modern English, Morris shifts his vocabulary to be heavily Germanic and often archaic. In particular, Morris tends to use the closest cognate words available in Modern English even if the word has long fallen out of regular use. While this was certainly a bold choice that sometimes comes at the cost of readability, the effect achieved is well worth it.
This translation is recommended for readers who are already familiar with Beowulf and/or other Medieval literature. It is also recommended to refer to the text while listening to the audio. An effort has been made on the part of the narrator to achieve approximately correct pronunciations of Old English words in the text, however, some minor inaccuracies may be present. (Summary by Taylor Whitehead)