Description

Book Synopsis
Tolkien's famous translations and lectures on the story of two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe.Professor J.R.R.Tolkien is most widely known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but he was also a distinguished scholar in the field of Mediaeval English language and literature. His most significant contribution to Anglo-Saxon studies is to be found in his lectures on Finn and Hengest (pronounced Hen-jist), two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe.The story is told in two Old English poems, Beowulf and The Fights at Finnesburg, but told so obscurely and allusively that its interpretation had been a matter of controversy for over 100 years. Bringing his unique combination of philological erudition and poetic imagination to the task, however, Tolkien revealed a classic tragedy of divided loyalties, of vengeance, blood and death.Tolkien's original and persuasive solution of the many problems raised by the story ranged widely through the early history and legend of

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‘How, given little over half a century, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?’
Guardian

Finn and Hengest

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    A Paperback / softback by J. R. R. Tolkien, Alan Bliss

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      Book details

      Publisher Harper Collins
      Imprint HarperCollins
      Published 2 March 1998
      ISBN-13 9780261103559
      978-0261103559
      ISBN-10 0261103555
      Also in:
      Non Fiction Biography Essays ELT & Literary Studies Literary studies: ancient, classical Literary studies: fiction

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Tolkien's famous translations and lectures on the story of two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe.Professor J.R.R.Tolkien is most widely known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but he was also a distinguished scholar in the field of Mediaeval English language and literature. His most significant contribution to Anglo-Saxon studies is to be found in his lectures on Finn and Hengest (pronounced Hen-jist), two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe.The story is told in two Old English poems, Beowulf and The Fights at Finnesburg, but told so obscurely and allusively that its interpretation had been a matter of controversy for over 100 years. Bringing his unique combination of philological erudition and poetic imagination to the task, however, Tolkien revealed a classic tragedy of divided loyalties, of vengeance, blood and death.Tolkien's original and persuasive solution of the many problems raised by the story ranged widely through the early history and legend of

      Trade Review

      ‘How, given little over half a century, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?’
      Guardian

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