Takes a few listenings to really get into the story but once there it becomes quite intriguing. ( )

Adapted by actor Julian Glover as a one-man show he could put on between film roles, this is an abridgement of the Old English poem. Glover has pared away much of the peripheral material (genealogies, etc.) and presents the core of Beowulf's adventures: the battles with Grendel, Grendel's mother and the dragon.

This is a good, modern abridgement and as an introduction to the full poem is excellent. I saw a televised performance of the show a couple of years ago and it was very effective.

The text is illuminated with illustrations by Shelia Mackie, which enrich the text with depictions of Anglo-Saxon artefacts, animals and monsters. ( )