Beowulf Author:Anonymous, Burton Raffel (Translator) The earliest extant poem in a modern European language, Beowulf was composed 400 years before the Norman Conquest. As a social document, this great epic poem reflects a feudal, newly Christian world of heroes and monsters, blood and victory and death. As a work of art, it rings with a beauty, power, and artistry that have kept it alive ... more »for more than twelve centuries.« less
The great Classic story from the time the Germans and English spoke the same language. It is the start of both literatures, even though it is about a "swedish" Geat king and warrior.