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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Paperback)

by Simon Armitage (Author)

5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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3 new from �2.93 6 used from �2.29

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Hardcover			15 used & new from �8.13
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Product details

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Faber and Faber (6 Mar 2008)
Language English
ISBN-10: 057122329X
ISBN-13: 978-0571223299
Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 1 cm

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 72,016 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Sunday Times
'Armitage rises to the challenge of translating this mysterious tale of chivalry, supernatural forces and seduction.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Nicholas Lezard, Guardian Paperback Choice of the Week
'It might even be the best translation of any poem I've ever seen.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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	90% buy the item featured on this page: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 5.0 out of 5 stars (8)
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

5.0 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fab, 29 Mar 2008

By	Jonathan Birch (Manchester) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

If you only show your children one poem, make sure it's this one. The touching and powerful Arthurian legend is brought to life miraculously in this rendition by Simon Armitage, which (unlike previous translations) will never leave you scratching your head and saying "What does that mean?" Despite retaining the strange and lovely alliterative verse of the original, the poem is lucid, accessible, fresh and modern. Here is a poem for ordinary people, not just Medievalists and English students.

Armitage adds a nice introduction, suggesting how we can find a contemporary resonance in the poem. Gawain's story is not merely an exploration of Christian morality, but also, through vivid imagery of the natural world, aims to remind us of our own relationship with our nature and with nature as we find it all around us. The Green Knight is green for a reason (he thinks).

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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Muscular and modern revival, 27 Jan 2007

By	TR (Suffolk, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Hardcover)

A terrific book. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an early classic of English Literature - lost until the 19th century. This is a very readable, witty, bright translation with Simon Armitage's customary edge. In places: warm, funny, violent, dramatic, sexual. I've long been a big fan of Armitage - a Yorkshire writer who uses language brilliantly and has proved to be extremely versatile as poet, editor, playwright, novelist, non-fiction prose stylist and more recently translator. His Homer's Odyssey was a pleasure; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a delight. This would make a great Christmas present (much of the setting is Christmas/New Year) for anyone who enjoys literature.

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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly compelling, 10 Feb 2007

By	Liesel Knightley (Brussels) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Hardcover)

Thoroughly enjoyable, muscular, vivid, exciting rendition of this wonderful poem: I first read the original at university and loved it then. But Armitage's modernisation brings the text to life for those readers who aren't ever going to need or want to tackle Middle English. I can't recommend it too highly. It is beautifully paced, extremely detailed and accessible without in any way dumbing down. I really felt as though I was in the poem, particularly in the third and fourth sections where Gawain faces a moral dilemma.

Terrific. Simon Armitage is the true Poet Laureate of Britain, bringing our literary heritage to a fresh audience.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars the green knight
loved this poem, Simon Armitage`s translation is easy to read and rolls of the tongue whilst keeping to the spirit of the original.

Published 4 days ago by Bev Chong

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading, a romp, and a rare delight / You'll love this tale of Gawain and the knight
I knew of - rather than knew - this knight's tale
Of Gawain and the green man in his horrid green vale. Read more

Published 15 days ago by Mr. F. L. Dunkin Wedd

5.0 out of 5 stars Seen the BBC Four documentary? Now read the book!
"...It was Christmas at Camelot - King Arthur's Court,
where the great and the good of the land had gathered .. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Graham S

5.0 out of 5 stars Great edition of a great tale
Loved this book. Great tale and appealing translation. The cover is very pleasing too!

Published 1 month ago by E. Lawrence

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
A fabulous translation into modern English which is a pleasure to read but also resonant and powerfully suggestive of the original, a treat over Christmas time or indeed any time.

Published 5 months ago by pappenheim

› See all 8 customer reviews...

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