Full name: Dragon Slayer: The story of Beowulf

Author: Rosemary Sutcliff Rank: Rating: Original Rating: Pop Rating: Genres/categories: Purchase/reserch links: LibraryThing Amazon Goodreads ISBNs: 9780140302547 0140302549

Probably best known for her outstanding historical fiction for young readers, particularly that set in Roman Britain - novels such as The Eagle of the Ninth , and The Lantern Bearers - Rosemary Sutcliff here turns her attention to the Anglo-Saxon epic of Beowulf, producing an immensely engaging prose version of the story, sure to please children with a taste for exciting adventure tales. Divided into nine chapters, this brief novel covers the three major episodes in Beowulf's heroic life: the defeat of Grendel, the monstrous "Night-Stalker" and "Death-Shadow terrorizing the court of Hrothgar, King of the Danes; the defeat of Grendel's mother, a savage "She-Wolf" bent on revenge for the slaying of her child; and finally, at the end of the hero's life, the defeat of the Fire-Drake attacking the people of Geatland. Sutcliff's language is beautiful, her narrative fast-paced and involving. The accompanying black and white illustrations by Charles Keeping reminded me a bit of Victor Ambrus' work, which is high praise indeed! All in all, an immensely satisfying retelling of this classic story, recommended to all who are looking for a prose version suitable for younger readers. Similar books: Devil-in-the-Fog by Leon Garfield The Witch's Daughter by Nina Bawden The High Deeds of Finn MacCool by Rosemary Sutcliff Goggle-eyes by Anne Fine The Gawgon and the Boy by Lloyd Alexander More All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor Nightbirds on Nantucket by Joan Aiken The Edge of the Cloud by K. M. Peyton The Shadow on the Sun by Rosemary Harris The Driftway by Penelope Lively Flambards in Summer by K. M. Peyton Tristan and Iseult by Rosemary Sutcliff Flambards by K. M. Peyton Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin The Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris by Leon Garfield