The Complete Old English Poems - Hardback

Introduction by Tom Shippey

From the riddling song of a bawdy onion that moves between kitchen and bedroom to the thrilling account of Beowulf's battle with a treasure-hoarding dragon, the world of Anglo-Saxon poets unfolds with harshness, beauty, and wonder. This collection spans:

• Heart-rending laments, such as the lone castaway's sorrow.
• Embodied speech, like the cross upon which Christ was crucified.
• Eve's anxiety, carrying "a sumptuous secret in her hands / And a tempting truth hidden in her heart."
• Noah's trust, building "a sea-floater, a wave-walking / Ocean-home with rooms for all creatures."

For the first time, the entire Old English poetic corpus—including poems and fragments discovered within the past fifty years—is rendered into modern strong-stress, alliterative verse in a masterful translation by Craig Williamson.

Features of This Edition

• Masterful Translation: Craig Williamson breathes new life into these timeless works while staying true to their original essence.
• Comprehensive Content: Includes all Old English poetic works, even those discovered in recent decades.
• Expert Insights:
  • An introduction by noted medievalist Tom Shippey exploring the literary scope and vision of these poems.
  • Williamson's introductions to individual works and his essay on translating Old English poetry.

Experience Timeless Poetry

This collection transports readers back to the medieval scriptorium or ancient mead-hall, sharing:

• A herdsman's recounting of the story of the world's creation.
• A people's sorrow at the death of a beloved king.
• The clash of battle.
• Sacred and profane riddles posed over a thousand years ago.

This is poetry as stunning in its vitality as it is true to its sources. Were Williamson's idiom not so modern, one might imagine the Anglo-Saxon poets taking up the lyre again and singing once more.