Beowulf in Parallel Texts

“Why read this translation of Beowulf? Because there isn’t a better one to be found.”


—Robert D. Stevick, from the foreword





“The handling of the syntax of the original, and particularly the syntactical variation, which is such a salient and difficult feature of the poet’s style, is masterly. The naturalness of the flow of language is one of the most admirable features of the translation. The narrative, as one reads this translation, begins to exert its customary compelling hold, and one reads on for the excitement and pleasure of the story itself rather than to keep reminding oneself what a good translation it is.”


—Derek Pearsall, Harvard University





“Sung-Il Lee’s parallel text of Beowulf, a boon for Old English students, has what Robert Stevick calls ‘fine renditions.’ Phrase by phrase it captures the poem’s variations and strong, forward pace, moving like successive waves to a resting place. Beowulf’s artful complexities beautifully guide Lee’s translation. His edition includes textual and explanatory notes, along with an account of the poem’s so-called ‘digressions.’”


—John M. Hill, Professor Emeritus, U.S. Naval Academy





“Professor Sung-Il Lee offers here a superb translation of Beowulf, in parallel presentation with the Anglo-Saxon original text. This imaginative, aesthetically pleasing, and extremely useful parallel text of our beloved Beowulf will be a great help to scholars, students, and general readers alike.”


—J. Harold Ellens, University of Michigan and Ecumenical Theological Seminary of Detroit