Beowulf: A New Verse Translation brings the Old English epic into modern English with Seamus Heaney’s ear for rhythm and speech. The poem follows a young warrior who crosses the sea to fight the monster Grendel, then Grendel’s mother, and finally faces a dragon as an aging king. Heaney keeps the poem’s hard, sea‑wind music while choosing words that feel spoken rather than museum‑piece formal, and his introduction gives just enough background on the language and manuscript to ground new readers.

WHY WE PICKED IT
Because if someone is going to read Beowulf for the first time, this is the version that actually gets finished and talked about. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation is a strong pick for students, poetry readers, and anyone curious about the roots of English‑language hero stories.

DETAILS
• Translator: Seamus Heaney
• Original author: Anonymous
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication Date: February 17, 2001
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 9780393320978
• Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days