The Tower of Beowulf
by Parke Godwin
List Price:
Our Price: $15.00
You Save: $8.00 (35%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.65 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Parke GodwinEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1995-09
ISBN: 068812738X
Number of pages: 246
Publisher: William Morrow & Co
Book Reviews of The Tower of Beowulf
Book Review: Well written, but unbelievable
Summary: 3 Stars
I came to this book with only the vaguest prior knowledge of the Beowulf story, which I think has allowed me to view the book on its merits as a story. Sadly, it doesn't really hit the mark in this respect, I think due to some of the more unrealistic aspects of the saga. These include Norse gods flying through the air in horse-drawn chariots, a fire-breathing dragon, men swimming in freezing seas for several days, Beowulf dying and coming back to life, with this giving him some quality in his eyes that frightens the monster Grendel, and him subsequently tearing off its arm. Of course, this is not Godwin's fault - he had to make the best of the existing material, and as you would expect from such an accomplished writer, he actually does this very well. He gives Beowulf considerable depth of character, filling in aspects of his childhood that provide the motivation for him to become the hero of the story. Subsidiary characters are also well rounded, and I suspect from some of the comments on the back of the book that previous interpretations of the saga have not had such depth of characterization. In this respect, and in the descriptiveness of the narrative, the book has to be viewed as a success, and it would not surprise me if it is the best version of the saga to date. But I have to say I very much prefer Godwin's more believable historical novels.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in More Arthurian and Medieval Favorites
The Eyes of the Dragonby Stephen King
Viking Adult; Published: 1987-02-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
The Tower of Beowulfby Parke Godwin
William Morrow & Co; Published: 1995-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops:
The Sheriff of Nottinghamby Richard Kluger
Viking Adult; Published: 1992-02-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
Pride of Kingsby Judith Tarr
Roc Trade; Published: 2001-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.55
Price in other shops:
Good King Harry (Ballantine Reader's Circle)by Denise Giardina
Ballantine Books; Published: 1999-12-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.64
Price in other shops:
The Forgotten Queen (Warrior Queen Series)by Haley Elizabeth Garwood
The Writers Block; Published: 1998-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
Guardian of the Vision (Merlin's Descendants #3) (Merlin's Descendants)by Irene Radford
DAW Hardcover; Published: 2001-05-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.62
Price in other shops:
Guardian of the Trust (Merlin's Descendants #2)by Irene Radford
DAW Hardcover; Published: 2000-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
Guardian of the Balance (Merlin's Descendants, Vol. 1)by Irene Radford
DAW Hardcover; Published: 1999-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.78
Price in other shops:
Gawain and Lady Greenby Anne Eliot Crompton
Dutton Adult; Published: 1997-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Beloved Exileby Parke Godwin
IBooks, Inc.; Published: 2006-01-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.54
Price in other shops:
The 13th WarriorDisney; Release date: 2000-01-18; DVD
Best price: $14.25
Price in other shops:
The Last Rainbowby Parke Godwin
Avon Books (Mm); Published: 1995-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $280.59
Invitation to Camelotby Godwin Parke
Ace; Published: 1988-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.87
The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Chronicles Series #1)by Bernard Cornwell
HarperCollins; Published: 2006-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
The Sea of Trollsby Nancy Farmer
Atheneum; Published: 2006-05-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.62
Price in other shops:
Robin and the Kingby Parke Godwin
Avon Books (Mm); Published: 1994-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.29
Price in other shops:
Sherwoodby Parke Godwin
William Morrow & Co; Published: 1991-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $40.92
Lord of Sunsetby Parke Godwin
Eos (HarperCollins); Published: 1999-08; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $60.00
Vlad Dracula: The Dragon Princeby Michael Augustyn
iUniverse, Inc.; Published: 2004-12-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.70
Price in other shops: