Since I just got the new Beowulf translation and commentary by J. R. R. Tolkien that was published on Thursday, I’m not going to do a full review of it, but I think the Tolkienistas are going to be confused with the commentary, as this is-to a greater of lesser extent-Tolkien the medievalist writing, and not Tolkien the storyteller, who is covered ( Read more... )

Posting has been light recently because of trying to get all the medical bills from this past year cleared out and moving into my new abode. The move will probably take the rest of the month, so not much will happen here until February, most likely. I've done some posting from the phonophor, but long posts are a pain to do on it, so most have been ( Read more... )

swutol sang scopes.

Benjamin Bagby came to town yesterday, thanks to the UT English department, with his fine rendition of the first third of Beowulf.

Anybody who thinks this is a dull and stuffy poem needs to hear his performance.

Bagby is a performer and scholar of medieval music, and a member of the group Sequentia, He and Tom Cable of the ( Read more... )