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Grendel

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Grendel

By: John Gardner
Narrated by: George Guidall
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About this listen

This classic and much lauded retelling of Beowulf follows the monster Grendel as he learns about humans and fights the war at the center of the Anglo Saxon classic epic.

The first and most terrifying monster in English literature, from the great early epic Beowulf, tells his own side of the story in this frequently banned book. This is the novel William Gass called “one of the finest of our contemporary fictions.”

“An extraordinary achievement.”—New York Times

©1971 John Gardner (P)1997 Recorded Books Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Historical History & Culture Science Fiction & Fantasy Classics Witty Emotionally Gripping

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Critic reviews

"George Guidall masterfully impersonates the grumbling momma's boy with deliciously sly humor and mock-tragic grandeur. Without ever striking a false note, he maintains throughout such a perfect balance of crudity and poetry that we laugh, cringe and weep all at once." ( AudioFile)
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I just couldn't get into the story, got half way and gave up, not my style

Not for me

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Beowulf story from Grendels perspective. Very stream of consciousness at times, but also enjoyable. A different take on the saga

Interesting work of literature

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beautiful story and incredibly touching narration
i love the percpective this story gives into what it is to be different and to feel mobstrous

Grendel

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I loved all the descriptions given to characters, the environment and seeing the world from Grendels perspective was really interesting. I enjoyed the first part and last part of the novel but around the middle of the book i thought it trailed off. Also I think the fight with Beowulf at the end was slightly rushed and would’ve liked to seen more of him, or a critique of him- although Gardner had already critiqued the role of the ‘hero’. We don’t learn a lot about Gredels early life and I would’ve preferred this over the commentary of good/ evil, purpose of life and so forth given by the dragon. But all in all it was fantastically written and made me want to read more about Anglo/Saxon period.

Conclusions

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