Anon

"Quickly, the dragon came at him, encouraged As Beowulf fell back; its breath flared, And he suffered, wrapped around in swirling flames" - <em>Beowulf</em><br/><br/>Set in the pagan world of 6th-century Scandinavia, the 3,000-line <em>Beowulf</em> is the longest epic poem written in Old English, the language spoken in England before the Norman conquest in 1066.<br/><br/>Originally an oral tale passed on by word of mouth, the poem tells the story of the adventures of a young hero, Beowulf, and his successive battles with the monster Grendel - who he kills by ripping off its arm - Grendel's vengeful mother, and with a rampaging dragon. In between, the story involves gathering bands of warriors, drinking mead in great halls, the crowning of Beowulf as king of the Geats, and finally a lament for a dead hero after he has slain the dragon and claimed the mighty treasure hoard. Written around 750, it is a tale of heroism and sacrifice that connects the old world of Norse mythology with an emerging Christian mindset.<br/><br/>Presented in a high-quality Chinese-bound format with accompanying illustrations, <em>Beowulf Illustrated</em> offers a classic translation of this famous eighth century Anglo-Saxon epic that still entertains today.