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Grendel is a beautiful and heartbreaking modern retelling of the Beowulf epic from the point of view of the monster, Grendel, the villain of the 8th-century Anglo-Saxon epic. This book benefits from both of Gardner's careers: in addition to his work as a novelist, Gardner was a noted professor of medieval literature and a scholar of ancient languages.
Book Description
The first and most terrifying monster in English literature, from the great early epic BEOWULF, tells his side of the story.
Customer Reviews:
A riveting and hilarious revisiting of the old epic.......2007-08-18
Yes! It's a glorious read! You don't have to know the original story, but it helps. Briefly, the Anglo-Saxon epic "Beowulf"where the monster Grendel makes his appearance, dates from about 700 AD, was probably written in England, but describes events in Denmark. An aging king's hall is troubled for twelve years by visits from a monster who lives in the depths of a marshy lake. The monster breaks into the hall at night and seizes and eats men. It is invulnerable to swords. Eventually, a neighboring group come to the hall promising to deal with the monster. The king's men are a bit humiliated, but in no position to refuse. Sure enough, the hero Beowulf wrestles the monster and succeeds in tearing off its arm. Monster goes back to marsh to die, but...here comes Mama Monster, and she is REALLY bad news. However, Beowulf tracks her to their den under the lake and kills her too.
John Gardner's "Grendel" retells the story...from the point of view of the monster. His Grendel is an enthralling creation, basically all Id, ruled by appetite and impulse, given to sudden craziness, but full of inchoate yearnings and an endearing scepticism about the bombastic heroics of the drunken Danes. He watches everything, hidden behind cowsheds or in a tree. He is smitten with the beauty of the king's young queen! (But he has no sex urge: invading the royal bedchamber, he is appalled by her nakedness).
Grendel is full of confused metaphysical musings on the nature of reality, time, fate, and other inconvenient appurtenances of daily life. He is not the only philosopher, however: there is a wonderful portrait of an all-knowing dragon (who also features elsewhere in the original, but is only seen in repose in this book).The dragon is a wily old rascal, of impenetrable cunning and endowed with great power. Even Grendel fears him. (Actually, in full philosophical flood the dragon is more like a cross between Alan Watts and Stephen Hawking). Then there is Grendel's mother, a nasty bloated thing who has forgotten speech, a limbic horror:
"When I sleep, she presses close to me, half buries me under her thistly fur and fat. "Dool-Dool," she moans. She drools and weeps. "Warrovish," she whimpers, and tears at herself. Hanks of fur come away in her claws. I see gray hide."
All the writing is just splendid, varied in rhythm, brilliant in imagery, incisive in tone: a scene in a sentence. Here is an archer hunting the winter woods:
"The man, furred from his toes to his ears, walks through the moon-and-snowlit woods, silent as an owl, huge bow on his shoulder, his eyes on the dark tracks."
It is also hilarious: he describes his night visits to the king's hall "[I have] ... knocked politely on the high oak door, bursting its hinges and sending the shock of my greeting inward like a cold blast out of a cave. "Grendel!" they squeak, and I smile, like an exploding spring. The old Shaper, a man I cannot help but admire, goes out the back window with his harp at a single bound, though blind as a bat."
Or the description of the tame bear during a feast in the hall:
"The bear sat with his feet stuck out, playing with his penis and surveying the hall with a crotchety look, as if dimly aware that there was something about him that humans could not approve."
Tempted enough? Go for it. A super book.
Grendel a unique character.......2007-06-17
If you ever wanted to enter the mind of a serial killer, then this is the book for you. No story is simple. Grendel came to the point he did after much contemplation and injury. The intriguing part of the story comes from your sympathy for his character. It's a contemplation of life and living and what is real and isn't.
G-r-r-endel.......2007-05-04
Grendel" by John Gardner is the ancient story of Beowulf as told by the monster Grendel. Three quarters of the book is about Grendel as he sinks further into insanity and terrorizes Hrothgar and his people. The remaining quarter is about the coming of Beowulf and his conflict with Grendel, as described in the actual book "Beowulf."
"Grendel" is an excellent book. It is absolutely fascinating seeing things from the monster's point of view. Where there is a lack of story involving Grendel in "Beowulf," "Grendel" fills in the blanks with monstrous insanity. The book covers a wide range of intellect, from mindless killer to profoundly deep and surreal beyond that of our human mind. The only problem is the end, which is inevitable since the book follows "Beowulf." Fortunately the ending is executed creatively, bringing a wonderful book to it's end.
Grendel.......2007-05-04
The book Grendel, written by John Gardener, tells the story of when Grendel began his life pondering all of life's mysteries. Experiencing pain, sorrow, and happiness, Grendel develops a character all his own. Slowly, as Grendel grows older, he explores more and more of his surrounding area until he finally encounters humans. As Grendel watches the trials and tribulations of the humans, he becomes more and more disgusted with the pitiful creatures until he finally wages war on Hrothgar's hall.
"Grendel" is an amazing story written from the point of view of the villain in the classic novel, "Beowulf." Written in the same medieval style as "Beowulf," "Grendel" gives the reader insight into the mind of the monster. Written by John Gardner, who was a phenomenal professor of medieval literature and ancient languages, "Grendel" is a must read for all classic literature fans.
Poor, not so misunderstood monster.......2007-04-11
_Grendel_ is based on the old English poem, _Beowulf_, but is told from the point of view of the monster. Grendel is a hairy, fearsome creature with an appetite for human beings. He resides in a cave with his mother who is even more homely than her son, and smelly as well. She loves Grendel very much and occasionally embraces him and will come to Grendel's assistance when he calls her, but says little if anything to him. Grendel is often confused by his mother's behavior.
Grendel is a lonely creature and has no friends. Afraid of Grendel, the Danes, who live near him, merely shun him. In a nearby castle, live good King Hrothgar and his lovely Queen Wealheow, whom Grendel attempted to kill, but just as suddenly dropped the plan. Unferth, one of the king's soldiers, would very much like to kill Grendel. Grendel knows Unferth's heroic pretentions and merely plays with him, terribly frustrating Unferth.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to become friends with people who so thoroughly reject you and when your only ambition is to devour them. Grendel seeks the advice of an ancient dragon, who is filled with cynicism. Further confusing Grendel are the beautiful epic songs of Shaper which enchant Grendel. He also understands the language the Danes speak--why do they not understand him?
Everything comes to a head when the mysterious Geats come to the land of King Hrothgar. One particular stranger sizes up Grendel and his fate is sealed. _Grendel_ is a magnificent tale--it reads like poetry and it tells a story overflowing with adventure and human foibles and psychology. I often feel great sympathy for its pathetic lead character, who was decidely immature, dependant on his mother, and a cry baby. The tale is also often funny, especially the unmitigated joy Grendel feels in the presence of the Geats: "Swiftly, softly, I will...destroy them all, swallow every last man. For pure mad pranks, I snatch a cloth from the nearest table and tie it around my neck to make a napkin." Misunderstood, indeed!
Average customer rating:
- Grendel is Gone
- Epic Adventure Saga
- Miserable, compared to Black White and Red or Devil by Deed
- It got me hooked
- Sweeping
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Grendel: War Child
Matt Wagner , and
Pat McEown
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Grendel: Devil's Legacy
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Grendel Cycle
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Grendel Tales: Homecoming
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Grendel: Past Prime
ASIN: 1878574892 |
Book Description
The Grendel-Khan, Orion Assante, is dead, leaving his only son as heir, a political pawn for the Khan's widow. The passing of the Khan, the military ruler of the earth, left the world warrior society in fragments, the once-controlled planet shattered into rival clans and apocalyptic zombies. But the Khan left a paladin behind to protect his only son from political ping-pong, a half-man, half-machine weapon of ultimate destruction: Grendel-Prime! Upon kidnapping the rightful heir from his mother's "protection," Prime begins a high-speed chase, ending the lives of many and ultimately deciding the fate of the tattered world. As it did when first printed, Grendel: War Child features dynamic pencils by Patrick McEown and dynamic colors by Bernie Mireault. Additionally, this new printing will feature a brand new painted cover by Grendel creator Wagner himself. Vivat Grendel!
Customer Reviews:
Grendel is Gone.......2006-11-16
I read Grendel all through the Comico run. I had seen the Dark Horse "War Child" individual comics around, but didn't read the story until I picked up this trade. The Hunter Rose stories were graceful and poetic, the Christine Sparr run intense and vibrant, while the later stories, such as the Eppy Thatcher saga, twisted and sickeningly compelling. This Grendel Prime figure is a one dimensional joke, as well as the world he inhabits. In the last issues of the original Grendel series, we started to see Grendel become a force that could infect more than one person, and Grendel gangs began to proliferate, political institutions were affected as well, but never so prolific has the spirit of Grendel been than in this world created here in "War Child", where everything is Grendel this, Grendel that, totally deadening any of the impact of the idea. When everything is Grendel, then Grendel is really nothing, it ceases to exist and loses all potency. Let's say you work in an office, and every piece of paper is a RUSH, ASAP! Well, then rushes no longer exist, if that is the status quo. Think of this Grendel world is those terms. What is Grendel when everything is Grendel!? Wagner went overboard with this one and ruined the myth.
Epic Adventure Saga.......2006-08-22
Grendel: War Child is perhaps not what long-time Grendel fans expected. I can understand how those of you who cut your teeth on the affairs of Hunter Rose and Christine Spahr might find this massive post-apocalyptic adventure story a bit jarring, but on its own merits, I think War Child holds up pretty well.
War Child is set in the distant future, where the spirit of Grendel is no longer part of the shadow world, but is instead a critical and respected aspect of society. The world's ruler, the Grendel Khan has recently died, and his young heir has been kidnapped by a mysterious warrior called Grendel Prime, much to the dismay of the Khan's ex-wife, who sought to use the boy to assure her own control over the world's affairs.
Grendel Prime's quest to protect the heir until he is old enough to rule takes them all over the globe and incorporates the best elements from just about every adventure story imaginable. You have cyborg warriors with (for lack of a better term) lightsabers and hover-cycles, vampires, mutants, gangs, pirates, witches, resistance fighters, super-weapons, and a pissed-off gorilla. There are romantic and political elements to the story, but at heart War Child is an epic adventure saga.
All told, I think Matt Wagner has created something quite special with Grendel: War Child. It's not what you'd typically expect from a Grendel story, but it's the one I find myself coming back to time and time again. The 300+ page War Child trade paperback collects the entire 10-issue limited series plus covers and sketchbook material.
NOTE: This one is for mature readers only. It features explicit language, nudity and some sexual situations, and more blood-soaked violence per page than you might think possible. None of it seems gratuitous however; it's just part of the story.
Miserable, compared to Black White and Red or Devil by Deed.......2006-05-10
This is alternate future story about one boy who should inherit the throne of Earth and how he got betrayed by his mother. Robocop wannabe called Grendel Prime saves him and they journey away from chasers that were sent after him. It has elements of sci fi movies of early nineties, think Terminator and so on. The stage is set in your typical Mad Max/Judge Dredd future.
Maybe it was great for people who were teenagers when it was published, but I searched it so much and got dissapointed in the end.
It got me hooked.......2001-06-21
Grendel: War Child tells us the story of a alternative world were ONE emperor is ruler over the entire world (called) Grendel Kahn. Unfortunately the Grendel Kahn just passed away so the entire world is out for power and possession. The only one who is in the way of the wife of the passed away Grendel Kahn becoming supreme ruler is his son. So it's essential to get this son to safety away from his mother to grow up and rise the throne when he's ready for it. Only the way to safety is long and dangerous in a world where everybody is out for his head. This particular trade got me hooked on the Grendel Legacy and I can advise people who are into Fantasy/Mad Maxx/Waterworld to get this trade without a doubt. It's well worth your money both qualitywise as quantitywise (there are 10 issues in here).
Sweeping.......2000-03-10
Another epic tale by Matt Wagner. This is the only one I felt came close to the glory of the Hunter Rose stories. (In the back of the Mage: The Hero Discovered books)This one has it all. This Grendel is a perfect warrior with flawed masters....beautifully balanced
Average customer rating:
- Re-Red, and Not for the Better
- By highschoolers, for highschoolers.
- The best graphic prose ever written!
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Grendel: Devil By The Deed (Grendel (Graphic Novels))
Matt Wagner ,
Rich Rankin , and
Others
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
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Binding: Hardcover
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Grendel: Red, White, & Black (Grendel (Graphic Novels))
ASIN: 159307736X |
Book Description
When Wagner first serialized Grendel: Devil by the Deed as a backup in his critically acclaimed title Mage, its innovative storytelling techniques, philosophical undertones, and charismatic anti-hero ignited a devoted following. Introducing Hunter Rose as the brilliant, twisted assassin Grendel, it gave birth to what would become a centuries-spanning epic exploring the roots and consequences of violence. This influential tale has been collected only twice in the past twenty years, quickly selling out each time. Now, for the first time in hardcover, Dark Horse presents the book that brought one of the most popular alternative comics characters to life and marked the auspicious arrival of one of the greatest visionaries of modern comics!
Customer Reviews:
Re-Red, and Not for the Better.......2007-08-10
While Devil by the Deed still stands as an important and quite beautifully realized milestone in comics history, I did find the decision to recolor the work in the 'black, white, and red' style to be a mistake. The coloring of the original version of the story had always been one of my favorite aspects of the work, and I do not think the revision was necessary or desirable. While it is nice to own a hardcover of the story (which is mostly undiminished by the alteration), I may have thought twice had I known about the recoloring. That'll teach me to do a little research, I guess. Fortunately, I do still own a copy of the 1993 re-issue (I've never run across a copy of the original Comico collection).
I can at least content myself with the fact that this version of Devil by the Deed still stands lightyears ahead of the alterations that Image did to the original Mage collection.
By highschoolers, for highschoolers........2007-08-03
The art work is very much like something you would expect from a talented highschooler; the writing is like a movie treatment written by a highschooler who is NOT remotely as talented as his mother says he is.
The best graphic prose ever written!.......1997-08-04
This book is a visual and literary masterpiece. Matt Wagner took a novel approach to the comic book format and created the poetic dark story of Hunter Rose aka Grendel, the most sadistic and romantic killer in comic book history. It chronicles the birth and death of Grendel in a smoothly flowing pictorial, with text inserts. This book is a must read if you are a fan of the dark and twisted. This is not a children's book by any means
Book Description
Grendel Drago has been fatally contaminated with radiation. But a Grendel must die in battle, not in bed, so Drago prepares for his final mission -- he will kill the mysterious monster on the outskirts of town and die in the blaze of combat.
Customer Reviews:
Horrible reviews.......2005-06-14
First of all, most reviews on amazon are OK. I didn't wanna bother writing them, but after this I have to. I give this 3 stars (I only gave it 1 to balance other people's overrated grades). To the mo**n M. Vasiljevic. This is not a perfect explanation what happened to ex-Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia had 6 republics and Soviet Union had 12 or so. Soviet Union dissolved peacefully, but Yugoslavia didn't. The reason for that is that Serbia, who dominated the country politically and economically (just like Russia dominated ex Soviet Union) didn't want it to end, and started the war. After the 6 republics declared independency, Serbia attacked them. First Serbia attacked Slovenia, than Croatia and finally Bosnia. We didn't have the same language, plus 5 republics had roman letters, Serbs cyrillic, so M. Vasiljevic, you are an ignorant pr**k. The other thing is that people in Croatia are Catholics, Serbs are Orthodox, some people in Bosnia are muslims. Everybody didn't shoot at each other, Serbs shoot at everone.
Finally the story is for children, I'm sorry that I have to say, I'm from Zagreb, Croatia, and I wanted to give this 5, but I can't. The story is 1 star, illustrations are 4 stars. I can't rate this better. Most reviewers obviuosly grew up on fairy tales and claim this to be the best graphic novel ever like Borjan Komarica.
My advice for all of you - read Enki Bilal - the best one's are "The Hunting Party" and "The Beast Trilogy". Enki's stories and illustrations are 5 stars. His comic books are for mature readers. I'm 29, and I tought that most readers here are above 20, so I believed their reviews. After you are done with his comic books, then come back and review this again.
A perfect explanation for what happened on Balkans..........2005-04-15
...in 20th century. In this future situated book, there are clans who speak same language, have same religion but, however, keep backstabbing and shooting at each other.
The first story arc is about honorable warrior who is in quest of warrior's death because he is radiation poisoned.
The second part of the book is parable of what happened in ex Yugoslavia: they let people kill each other and then marched in as pacificators.
Although this is fictional book, you have all the tragedy of balkan people and their mentality.
This book is REALLY one of the best written, because it has no script: the script IS the truth that we witnessed.
amazing grace.......2005-02-20
and ease with which late edi biukovic drew a story, at its best. one of the most beautifully written and drawn comic books i have ever seen - and i have seen many, as i used to date a comic book store owner for years. i also knew edi in person. he was obsessed with framing and composition, and he actully SAW the story unravel like a movie in his head. out of all his works i prefer grendel tales, to the level of purchasing 3 original tables. if you like art in any of its many forms and fashions, you'll love this.
A must-have for your graphic novel collection........2003-07-23
The only excuse for you not to read this tale is for someone to say "oh heck, i'm not familiar with the characters and story behind Grendel". Well don't fret, neither am I. And that didn't effect me one bit in fully enjoying this moving, tour de force, graphic novel.
The story starts here and ends here. But your thoughts on it won't, atleast for another day or two. It's got everything to captivate you; a little bit of good humour, a lot action, and it's got it's share of dark moments.
It's about war, and properly portrayed too, i.e there really isn't any glory in it. How can it when lives are lost?
I have to admit this book is original and creative especially when you loook at 90% of all the other graphic novels put out in the comic market these days. This one rises high above the rest of all that trashy...and only few works of Alan Moore or Neil Gaiman can be compared to it.
a fiction so true to war, and true to Croatia.......2002-04-16
Grendel: Devils and Deaths is one of those great comic fictions (like Dark Knight and Watchmen) which reveal so much of the time and culture which produced them. The story takes place in an imagined distant future, but yet is so clearly about the hatreds and terror of the early 90s Balkan wars (its writer and artist are natives of Croatia).
I think what I love so much about this work is the constant mix of strength and weakness in the characters-- there are no supermen here. The boldest warriors are gripped with fear, the most murderous generals are not portrayed without sympathy, and even the most oppressed are not innocent. This is real life.
It is true to the Balkans, with its myriad factions, and also so true to Croatia-- the beautiful beaches Borna longs to see...
This work is sadly out of print, but hopefully not for long. Highly recommended.
Book Description
The mind of a vigilante murderer is complex, wrought with anger and blood; it echoes through time in ancestral screams for revenge. And the cycle of death that comes from such a spirit is often endless and tragic. Such is the story of Christine Spar, adopted granddaughter of the terribly notorious, yet rich and graceful Hunter Rose, a.k.a. the original Grendel. It's the near future, and Spar takes her son, Anson, to see a kabuki show, not knowing what tragedy lies ahead. The mysterious leader of the troupe cuts a terrifying figure, cat-like and dangerous, with an odd fixation for Spar and her son. Soon Anson disappears, and Spar takes up the mantle of Grendel. So the cycle begins. Written by Grendel creator Matt Wagner, illustrated by the talented Pander Brothers, and colored by Jeromy Cox.
Customer Reviews:
My favorite graphic novel, ever........2003-04-30
Though this may not be the best storyline in Matt Wagner's GRENDEL epic, this book remains to be my favorite standalone graphic novel of all time.
The story follows Christine Spar, daughter of Stacy Palumbo who was raised by Hunter Rose - the first Grendel. She has just written a best-selling novel, "Devil By The Deed" that chronicles the life and death of Hunter Rose and Grendel. After her son is kidnapped, Christine snaps mentally and goes on a crusade to first find her son, and then enact revenge on the person who kidnapped him. Along the way, she dons the mask of Hunter Rose's Grendel character and assumes the mantle of this devilish persona.
As time goes by, and the outlook of finding her son alive seems more grim, Christine spirals deeper and deeper into the character of Grendel. She soon captures the attention of Argent, the werewolf arch-enemy of Hunter Rose who eventually killed him and ended up crippled himself in the process. Argent now wants this "new" Grendel brought to him, and to find her he uses her own friends for information against her.
Now almost totally mad, Christine puts an end to the reign of terror caused by her son's kidnapper and sets her eyes on putting an end to Argent - the one task that Hunter Rose started as Grendel almost 30 years before, but never finished. Will she succeed or will Argent claim the life of yet another Grendel? The answer may surprise you.
Matt Wagner's story is flawless, and this book is just the beginning of a truly epic story, with DEVIL BY THE DEED acting as a prelude for everything to come. Matt Wagner is a comics genius. GRENDEL was a comic book that was originally published in the 1980's, but still is far more intelligent and holds more weight than most of the comics being published today. GRENDEL was years ahead of it's time, and Matt Wagner held no limits to what he would do with the characters he created within the pages of his books.
The Pander Bros.' artwork is amazing, and this volume features totally remastered color which makes their artwork shine even more.
So far only this volume and the final volume WAR CHILD have been put into print, but expect the next volumes - THE DEVIL INSIDE, GOD AND THE DEVIL (My favorite storyline), and DEVIL'S REIGN soon.
Weakest - grendal story - with artwork from the 80's.......2002-03-02
Skip this and get Grendal - Batman or Grendal war child.
Just finished it and disappointed. Very predictable, and artwork was horrible.
Hell Hath No Fury............2002-02-22
With "Grendel: Devil By The Deed", Creator Matt Wagner introduced readers to Criminal Genius Hunter Rose, and his alter-ego, Grendel, a masked fiend who holds New York City in his gloved hand.
Devil's Legacy introduces us to the newest recipient of the mask & fork: Christine Spar, adopted granddaughter of Hunter Rose. Chris has just written a best-selling book about Hunter/Grendel; Now she finds herself thrust into a parents worst nightmare....her son Anson is missing, and Christine has reason to believe the responsible party is Tujiro, a mysterious, seductive Kabuki artist. When Christine discovers the true nature of Tujiro, she also discovers an inner strength she never knew she had. She takes up the weapons of Grendel, and seeks her revenge.
Unfortunately, she attracts some attention from the wrong people, in particular Hunter Rose's old nemesis, Argent the Wolf....
Wagner divides the book neatly into two sections: Christine's battle with Tujiro, where she discovers her courage and strength, and her confrontation with Argent and his minions, where she discovers her rage, and puts it to good use. Wagner gets great marks for introducing (in the course of the entire Grendel canon) the concept of Super-Hero as a virus, for lack of a better description; The identity of Grendel hops from person to person, almost as if these people don't really become Grendel; Grendel becomes THEM. He has a knack for creating realistic characters; Christine's journey is fraught with dangers, and I found myself really worrying about her, hoping that she wouldn't really go down that path. Great writing, Matt! The art by The Pander Bros......well, I can't really call it art- It's more like beautiful architecture. The eye just wants to linger over the exquisite layouts. There's a double-page layout towards the end (involving severed fingers...) that is among the most perfect examples of comic-book art I've ever seen. The battle between Grendel & Argent is stunning.....
If you enjoy this book, pick up Wagner's Batman/Grendel, among the best Batman stories EVER.
A tale of revenge and obsession........2000-04-01
Grendel: Devil's Legacy takes place several decades after the events of Grendel: Devil by the Deed. It is the story of Christine Spar, author, loving mother, and adopted granddaughter of the arch-fiend Hunter Rose, also known as Grendel. When Christine's son, Anson, is kidnapped and murdered, Christine embraces her dark heritage and assumes the role of Grendel. But once her revenge is achieved, she finds that the mantle isn't as easily laid down as it was assumed. Hunter Rose's greatest enemy still lives, and his own hunger for revenge will threaten any hope Christine has of returning to a normal life. Devil's Legacy is full of intricate storytelling and stylish art. If you can find it, by all means get it.
Update to current edition: While the art by the Pander Bros. is still very 80's (hey, I like it), the effect is softened by application of modern coloring techniques, rendering the overall effect much more pleasing to the eye.
Book Description
Over two and a half decades, what began as the story of Hunter Rose, the talented young author who became the city's most feared assassin and criminal overlord, evolved into a prolonged examination of authority, society, and that dark mechanism of nature - violence. Now, take a step inside one of the most daring comic book projects ever created as Matt Wagner guides you through the artwork that changed contemporary comics forever. As beautiful and graceful as it is thrilling and surprising, each piece - many seen for the first time or previously long out of print - brings you deeper into the seductive mystery that is Grendel.
Average customer rating:
- This is a fascinating idea...
- Interesting read
- Some Interesting Insights but No Overall Unity of Vision
- An awesome yet frustrating book.
- Earlier roots of the English Founding Myth - in Turkey?
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Beowulf & Grendel: The Truth Behind England's Oldest Legend
John Grigsby
Manufacturer: Watkins
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Beowulf & Grendel
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ASIN: 1842931539 |
Book Description
The legend of Beowulf and Grendel is one of the founding works of modern Western literature. It tells the story of the monster-slaying hero, Beowulf, who frees the feasting hall of a Danish king from the 12-year tyranny of the hideous creature Grendel. For decades, scholars have assumed that the warrior Beowulf was based on an actual historic person, but that Grendel was the work of imagination. In Beowulf and Grendel, John Grigsby reveals the true basis for Grendel's battle with Beowulf. Grigsby explains how a cult migrated to England from Denmark and Germany, bringing with it a practice of human sacrifice. It is the violent suppression of this cult in the fifth century that underlies Beowulf's fantastic deeds. Fusing historical research with literary study, Grigsby presents a compelling case for the true-life roots of a classic work of art.
Customer Reviews:
This is a fascinating idea..........2007-05-14
I'm a medical researcher with special interests in neuroscience, and Grogsby's thesis is fascinating. Neuroscientists, especially the bench scientists, like to play with historical events. One example was the rise of both flagellation and tarantella, which has been linked to humid warm weather and therefore mold on the rye harvest. So, it's a believable idea.
I am less familiar with the cultures that slew the king on a yearly basis - that sounds as though it wouldn't sustain itself very well. There may be other books on that subject, whether Fraser or others, that I should look into to see how this could work.
Finally, either I missed it or Grigsby didn't mention the dragon part of the Beowulf legend in any depth. One wonders how that links up with the religious shift theme.
Interesting read.......2007-05-13
The book reads a little like a college essay. Some of the author's points are better supported than others. In several cases he assumes the reader must agree with him and no further proof is needed. In some cases no real proof is available because the lack of historical data. However, the author discusses some very interesting topics and writes in an accessible style. If you have any interest in Beowulf or Germanic, Norse, or Celtic cultural roots, this book is certainly worth a look. I enjoyed reading it and was motivated to further explore the topic when I finished the book.
Some Interesting Insights but No Overall Unity of Vision.......2007-04-18
This book makes the interesting case that the Beowulf poem is less a dim recollection of a particular historical incident or of a strictly mythological tale, than it is a veiled recounting of a religious change that overwhelmed the cultural lives of the ancestors of the English. John Grigsby brings archeological and ethnological studies to bear on this effort to reconstruct the actual circumstances and practices of the peoples who were to become the Angles, Saxons and Jutes (who in turn became the Anglo-Saxons who became today's English). In so doing he suggests that the Norse mythos and pantheon, as we have it from later times, was, in fact, relatively late on the scene and that the proto-English, whom he identifies with the Ingaevones of Roman times, were agriculturalists with a religion that reflected agriculturalist predilections long before they worshipped Woden and Thunor (Odin and Thor in later Viking times).
According to Grigsby, the Beowulf myth is a dim echo of the era in which latecomers in the area, worshippers of the sky gods identifiable with large segments of the later Norse pantheon, overthrew the old ways, ways that required the annual sacrifice of a king to a fearsome goddess and her son. Grigsby makes many connections with the triple goddess worshipping neolithic age that apparently once predominated in the Mediterranean and European areas, with the old myths of the Nile valley and with the old faiths which suffused the area in which Rome arose. But in the end his argument boils down to this: that the Beowulf story is a somewhat corrupted and confused recollection of some events which altered forever the older beliefs and practices of these peoples, traditions that the Angles, Saxons et al brought with them out of the old country (today's southern Denmark) when they conquered the British Isles. They were not yet sky god worshippers, not yet Wodenists, Grigsby maintains, but came from a backwater part of Scandia which had remained more primitive than other parts of Germania and Scandinavia in the Dark Ages that followed Rome's fall. Thus, the story of Beowulf is as native to the early Germanic English as to the land from which they hailed.
It's an interesting claim and there's a lot to chew on in the information Grigsby brings forward. But the book, itself, lacks cohesion or a clearcut thesis as to the actual events which underly the famous Old English poem set in Denmark's Heorot. The parallels he draws with other traditions (including the Hrolf Kraki saga which deals with many of the same personalities, in a roughly comparable time, albeit from the perspective of the much later Norse tradition) are intriguing. But there really isn't that much new here and the failure to offer a firm conclusion or really unravel the story behind the story mar this book. Good for scholars, I think, and for those with a strong interest in the area, but not really right for laymen and not ultimately as satisfying as I had hoped it would be.
An awesome yet frustrating book........2006-10-23
This is an inspiring work. John Grisby has brought a wide array of factors concerning early northern culture together to make his point. His understanding of culture and myth and his obvious enthusiasm for these subjects make this one of the more interesting (and fresh) books to appear on the subject in a long time. Before I go further, I would like to point out that I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Norse/Germanic Mythology. If you are not greatly interested in Germanic and Indo-European linguistics you will enjoy the book greatly, and needn't read the rest of this review. If you are interested in linguistics, please read on.
Be very careful when reading this book. As he is enthusiastic, he is also academically reckless. There are a lot of passages starting with "some have been led to believe..." or "some claim that..." that end with no citation or note - My question to these passages is always "Who believes that, and how do I know that "they" offering an opinion that can be trusted as objective?". Furthermore, he makes it obvious on several occasions that he is no linguist. He offers Indo-European etymologies that don't conform to any known transcription standard, and on several occasions he seems to have trouble discerning Indo-European forms from Proto-Germanic (there is a big difference).
My intention here is not to be harsh, disapproving, or unduly critical. The subject matter of this book resides in a field that has all too often fallen prey to misunderstanding. To exemplify the type of error I am talking about, and to add credence for my objectivity here, I would like to point out two linguistic oversights that can be illustrated without excess circumlocution.
On page 69 Grisby raises the issue of a double meaning in the phrase "beow waes breme blad wide sprang" "Beow was renowned, far and wide his glory spread", arguing that this was a metaphor for the spread of agriculture throughout the north. The indication, he claims, is that the name Beow means "barley". That's true. In Anglo-Saxon the word "beow" does in fact mean barley. But that isn't the name that appears in the manuscript. The sentence he's referring to appears on the first leaf of the manuscript, (which he included as the first photographic plate in the book, just after page 118). The original manuscript reads "Beowulf waes breme blad wide sprang" - The name Beowulf here belonging to another character by the name of Beowulf. The only place that I can recall ever seeing this name appear printed in the poem as "Beow" and not "Beowulf" is in Seamus Heany's translation where he intentionally removes the sequence "-ulf" from the name to avoid confusion between this character and the hero of the poem. Scholars have posited that "Beowulf" was written here due to scribal misunderstanding, and that the name was in fact originally "Beo", but again, that is not what appears in the manuscript, and Grisby makes no mention of the fact that this point is an educated theory and not an attested fact.
Also on p. 156 Grisby makes reference to an Indo-European root "inguz" as the source of Germanic theonym Yngvi/Ingui/Ing. "*Inguz" is a Proto-East-Germanic word not an Indo-European root. Furthermore there is no consensus as to where the early Germanic speakers got this word and what its original meaning was. The name Yngvi, Ingui, Ing, etc. has no universally agreed upon etymology and very few linguists posit an Indo-European origin for the name. Further, the meaning of the word which Grisby offers "son" is not directly attested in any of the languages. The Old Irish name, Oengus/Angus by which Grisby claims an etymological connection to "Yngvi/Ingui", is similar in appearance but it is not related etymologically. The old Irish name is compound form, from Oen-gus; literally "one-strength" the meaning being "having solitary strength" these "-strength" names are very common in Old Irish and Modern Gaelic.
Hopefully without turning this into a term paper my sources are:
Vladimir Orel "A Handbook of Germanic Etymology", Winfred P. Lehman "A Gothic Etymological Dictionary", J.P. Mallory and Douglas Adams "An Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture", and Calvert Watkins "The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots" all works that are available (to my knowledge) from Amazon.com.
There are quite a few more problems, those are just two that I found the hardest to swallow, but by now I hope I've made my point clear: be careful when reading this book and looking for solid answers. The author jumps to a lot of conclusions - linguistically and otherwise.
All that said, I still give it four stars. The book is highly readable, enjoyable and insightful. I wish the author followed through more thoroughly on many of his claims with more citation and less speculation, but it is overall a very inspired work. Despite it's weak details, I still support many of the author's overall conclusions. This could be a seminal work redefining how the general reader, rather than just the scholar, views the Old North. If the author's love of the subject were the only judgement criteria, I would give him ten stars.
I apologise for the lack of brevity.
Earlier roots of the English Founding Myth - in Turkey?.......2006-07-31
Mr. Grigsby's book is supplemental material for me as a historian exploring genealogy. A (fee-based) genealogy website that I use has detailed entries of the "Anglo/Swedes" back to a possibly semi-mythological figure named "Yngvi King In Turkey" b. 193 in Noatun, Sweden. Going further back, his antecedants are in fact listed as originating from Turkey, Macedonia, Persia and Mesopotamia, and many of them closely related to ruling families in those nations. I have been reviewing the history of this region and period, and there certainly were some displacements of large groups of peoples, especially with the expansion of Roman hegemony. Is it possible that some of these peoples migrated north along already known trade routes to Scandinavia, to become the parent group of the Anglo-Saxons?
Mr. Grigsby makes several references to Scandinavian/Anglo-Saxon rituals, e.g. references to a barley god, which he believes shares some similarities to rituals from the Middle East. Another comparison is to the depiction of a solar disk above a boat, which is clearly reminiscent of Egyptian artwork.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the earliest known history of the English-speaking peoples, and possibly a few others as well.
Customer Reviews:
Addictive, violent and a damn good time!.......1999-04-16
Grendel Tales: Four Devils, One Hell is one of the most stunningly inventive comics I have ever read. While not by Grendel creator Matt Wagner, it is a flawless and absorbing return to the Grendel series. While not exactly the most ideal place for a newcomer to this series to begin, the storyline is easy to get into and hard to put down. This was actually my introduction to Grendel, and I was instantly engrossed by the tale of Mantovani, the hard bitten P.I., Gloria DeVere, the female art collector, Alfred Bixby, the psychotic and drug-crazed madman, and Calhoun, the cool and mysterious gambler who is not all he seems. This book is a must have for anybody even remotely interested in comic books, and for people who enjoy Grendel, it is essential. James Robinson weaves an intricate story that is beautifully realized by the painted art of Teddy Kristiansen. The only thing I can say is "wow". That and Vivat Grendel!
The electric, violent, and visceral return of Grendel........1999-03-12
The long-awaited return of the Grendel series kicked off with Four Devils: One Hell, the first arc to not be written by Grendel creator Matt Wagner. While lacking in the intensity of character marked by the previous Grendels, James Robinson weaves an interesting an exciting tale in the New Orleans of the future, more than augmented by the breathtaking artwork of Danish artist Teddy Kristiansen. Easily the best of the post-Wagner Grendel tales, and a great jumping on point for new readers.
Book Description
A successful novelist by day, Hunter Rose becomes the unstoppable assassin Grendel by night, the leader of a vast criminal empire opposed by the mysterious wolf Argent. Containing the black-and-white interiors and full-color covers of Primer #2 and Grendel #1-3 originally published by Comico, this handsome hardcover volume is an essential piece of comics history, presenting the earliest work of Matt Wagner, the legendary creator behind such acclaimed projects as Mage, Sandman Mystery Theatre and Batman: The Monster Men among many others.
Customer Reviews:
First Steps.......2007-08-15
I know some people would argue that Matt Wagner's first steps into the world of comics don't deserve a four star rating. I disagree. While I will admit that they certainly lack the polish of his later work (both from a writing and an artistic standpoint), the energy and enthusiasm he so obviously put into these issues makes up for much. And, much like his other hallmark work, Mage: The Hero Discovered, one can actually see his style evolve from issue to issue (though Mage offers a much longer look at that evolution with consequentially more satisfying results.) Still, I found this to be well worth the price (especially considering I'd spent a good bit of money a few years ago trying to collect the issues contained herein.) Just don't expect any of the grace or adaptability Wagner shows in his later work (or even a finished story, as issue three ends on a cliffhanger that was not resolved until the reimagining of Grendel as a back-up feature in the aforementioned Mage series (and collected as Grendel: Devil by the Deed.)
Book Description
A lone Grendel warrior bent on suicide is found on the Antarctic coast by a team of scientists, and within hours, everything goes insane: the team gets cut off from the rest of the world, and one by one, they begin . . . bleeding. Now the Grendel who was so eager to kill himself must decide whether to help the others or end his own suffering. With only each other to rely on, and having no idea who will become infected and die next, the group becomes trapped in a deadly game of survival of the fittest! This fast-paced story of suspense is written by Steven T. Seagle (Uncanny X-Men, House of Secrets) and drawn by Paul Grist (Kane). Check out the tale that made them stars!
Customer Reviews:
More Grendel action.......2005-08-29
If you liked Grendel Warchild or even just GrendelPrime you will most likely find this a good story. It brings a bit more on what a grendels life is like. Some typical comic book stuff but as for the best part of the grendel series the human interactions are what make this series so memorable. Not all good but bringing home the gray of many situations. Personally I have yet to find a grendel story I didn't like but have read it since it first came out in monthly bits and stops. Enjoy.
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Beowulf (Signet Classics)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
The Canterbury Tales (Penguin Classics)
Frankenstein (Enriched Classics)
