BEOWULF The Complete Story

Though the publisher calls this production a drama, it is, rather, a recital of the complete text by multiple readers, with sound effects and music. As such, it is one of the most accessible and listenable audio versions of this tenth-century epic, originally written in Old English. The poem sings of the title hero's youthful victory over Danish monsters and his last fatal battle with a dragon. The crisp translation is tensely narrated by Richard Ringer, the University of Wisconsin professor who wrote it, with the characters performed by uniformly capable actors. Producer Norman Gilliland, a WHA Madison program host, has judiciously selected and mixed the sound and music to contribute atmosphere and help drive the action forward. Y.R. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]