If you ever just wanted to know the story of Beowulf without
having to plough through the 3,182 lines of the epic poem, then
this book is for you. This is the story of Beowulf as retold by
Strafford Riggs and originally published in 1933.

Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has
variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries.
The original is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of
epic events and of great people of a heroic past.

This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great
feats, and great the feats of Beowulf were. Dismissed by his King’s
Earls as clumsy, lazy and a sluggard, he was also shunned by his
peers for his strength and prowess with the sword and spear. On
hearing of the monster, Grendel, he announced his intention to sail
for the Daneland to prove his worth and prove his accusers wrong.
And this he did, killing not only the monster Grendel but also it’s evil
moster-mother.

On his return home he was proclaimed the greatest hero of the
North by the very same who condemned him (sic). In time he
becomes king of Geatsland and an extended period of prosperity
follows, ended only by a flame-breathing, steam belching dragon.
Once again our hero sallies forth. The dragon is defeated but this
time so is our hero.

In a time when the young servicemen of the western nations are
heroically laying down their lives in the seemingly endless battle
against terror in order that we may live safely in our homes,
£1.30 from the sale of this book will be donated to