An anthology of old english poems in prose translation. The vintage book of contemporary american poetry mcclatchy, j. But theres a wealth of great literature written in old english, as the following pick of. Most poems from before the norman conquest are steeped in pagan symbolism, and their integration into the new faith goes beyond the literary sources. The best anglosaxon riddles interesting literature. This is an immense book, not just in size but also in achievement. The dazzling variety of anglosaxon poetry brought to life by an allstar cast of contemporary poets in an authoritative bilingual edition. Thus, as lethbridge reminds us, to say, this is a monument erected in christian times and therefore the symbolism on it must be christian, is an unrealistic approach. Brilliant collection of anglo saxon poems sans beowulf with english on one side anglosaxon on the other, each section broken up by a riddle hoard section which like a ring giver doles out the riddle in the exeter book with suggested answers for the sag heart ic in the back. In a way, anglosaxon poetry cannot be translated although.
The exeter book christ a, b, c guthlac a, b azarias the phoenix juliana the wanderer the gifts of men precepts the seafarer vainglory widsith the fortunes of men. The wellworn cliches of anglosaxon studies are applicable here. I have also read many books of translations, for better and worse, but nothing in. A poetry translation project usually aims to publicize a poet or poets. The book is a best seller in britain and the united states where it is published. Old english literature, or anglosaxon literature, encompasses literature written in old english. Anglosaxon is a term that was rarely used by anglosaxons themselves. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. Weve restricted our choices to works of literature written in anglosaxon or old english, so that rules out bedes historia ecclesiastica gentis anglorum, which, as the title suggests, was written in latin. Encompassing a wide range of voicesfrom weary sailors to forlorn wives, from heroic saints to drunken louts, from farmers hoping to improve their fields to sermonizers looking to save your soulthe 123 poems collected in the word exchange complement the. Anglosaxon poems in translation i am a fan of anglosaxon poetry, but its slow work doing my own translation its good to have these poetic translations to support my own reading. Anglosaxon narrative poetry project rutgers university.
The full contents of the exeter book are represented, summarized where not translated, to facilitate appreciation of a complete anglosaxon book. The complete corpus of anglosaxon poetry genesis a, b exodus daniel christ and satan andreas the fates of the apostles soul and body i homiletic fragment i dream of the rood elene. Craig williamsons collection of old english poems in verse translation is a. The complete old english poems craig williamson, tom shippey.