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Review
It is a shame that the publishers of this book have had to resort to the usual hype on the cover: 'This is the orginal horror story - two thousand years old and as exciting as ever. Read it if you dare'. This re-telling of the story of Beowulf needs no such hyperbole. John Harris has apparently spent the last ten years telling the story in front of live audiences, honing the version that we now have in print. It has been worth the wait. Whilst the language is suitably bloodthirsty - and no details of pain, torture and death are omitted - a wonderfully evocative atmosphere is maintained throughout the book. There are excellent colour illustrations throughout and good quality paper is used, making this a 'must buy' for any library. --School Librarian Magazine, Spring 2008 (Robin Barlow)
Beowulf made easy for a new generation of bloodthirsty juniors who are up for something a bit different. Distinctive illustrations and an enthusiastic rendition of a literary classic are what makes the book so appealing. John Harris is a storyteller by trade, and it shows in the pace and rhythm of the text. He narrates the tale of the geat warrior Beowulf, who sails across the sea to take on the challenge of gruesome, man-eating Grendel, monster of the parish. Beowulf is small, and Grendel is huge. But Beowulf has cunning and wisdom, and even children for whom this is a first time story will be left with a sense of how it will end - which makes all the blood and gore of the journey safely enjoyable. --Carousel Magazine, Summer 2008 (Yvonne Coppard)
Fearsome monsters, powerful heroes and gruesome murders should be enough to keep the most bloodthirsty young reader satisfied..... the illustrations manage to be both frightening and comic. --Daily Telegraph
Beowulf made easy for a new generation of bloodthirsty juniors who are up for something a bit different. Distinctive illustrations and an enthusiastic rendition of a literary classic are what makes the book so appealing. John Harris is a storyteller by trade, and it shows in the pace and rhythm of the text. He narrates the tale of the geat warrior Beowulf, who sails across the sea to take on the challenge of gruesome, man-eating Grendel, monster of the parish. Beowulf is small, and Grendel is huge. But Beowulf has cunning and wisdom, and even children for whom this is a first time story will be left with a sense of how it will end - which makes all the blood and gore of the journey safely enjoyable. --Carousel Magazine, Summer 2008 (Yvonne Coppard)
Fearsome monsters, powerful heroes and gruesome murders should be enough to keep the most bloodthirsty young reader satisfied..... the illustrations manage to be both frightening and comic. --Daily Telegraph
Product Description
The creature raised a fist and with one blow the solid oak door of the hall flew in off its hinges, splintering as it hit the ground. The soldiers leapt to their feet and drew their swords. The last thing they ever saw was the most terrifying thing they'd ever seen. From that day fear ruled the Danes as the hideous creature Grendel roamed the land looking for food. And revenge. One man was possibly a match for Grendel, and he wasn't even a Dane. He was a Geat, one of the tribe who lived across the sea. He was known as a great warrior not just for his strength and courage but also his wisdom. His name was Beowulf. But could he kill Grendel? This is the original horror story - two thousand years old and as exciting as ever. Read it if you dare.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The back-cover of this remarkable book refers to this 'original horror story' (how true that is!) as being two thousand years old. Read the short but powerful introduction and you will immediately realise that with John Harris you are in the hands of a remarkable story-teller. The author's profession (practised throughout those schools lucky enough to find time to engage John's talents in person) stretches back those two thousand years and beyond, and with a few words I found myself imagining what it would have been like if...
But I won't spoil it for you: do read this book. I marvelled at the clarity and power of its language, and took guilty delight in the wicked humanity of the stunning illustrations by Tom Morgan-Jones.
'The Geat' is for children - and for all adults who were once children, and who wish to join their ancestors in the dark woods for a magical while, sitting around the fire, and listening...
But I won't spoil it for you: do read this book. I marvelled at the clarity and power of its language, and took guilty delight in the wicked humanity of the stunning illustrations by Tom Morgan-Jones.
'The Geat' is for children - and for all adults who were once children, and who wish to join their ancestors in the dark woods for a magical while, sitting around the fire, and listening...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The only reason I can think of to answer that question is that his books are a bit different - nicer paper, A5 size, not too long, brilliantly illustrated and good value all round - and so they don't quite fit in with all the others sitting in a bookshop. Perhaps they use up too much space on the shelves.... I dunno.
This is John's version of Beowulf. We bought this along with a couple of other versions (which I will not name) because my son was doing a project about it at school. (Actually we'd have bought it anyway because of who wrote it - we bought the others for comparison.) I read all three and there really is something special about The Geat. It seems to hold together more as a whole story, while the other two just seem to be versions of the original saxon poem and don't seem to be as carefully thought through. For example, only in The Geat does Beowulf get his men to roll around in all the dirt and dung on the floor of the hall so that Grendel doesn't smell them as he approaches - a small point, but an important and believable one. The Geat is also the only version that has any humour in it, even though the descriptions of what Grendel does make it by far the most horrific - an aspect which both my kids appreciated!
I should also mention the illustrations, which, as with John's other books, are by Tom Morgan-Jones. They are beautiful, grizzly, frightening and funny, and with an attention to detail that matches the words perfectly - the pair of them really are a great team!
This is John's version of Beowulf. We bought this along with a couple of other versions (which I will not name) because my son was doing a project about it at school. (Actually we'd have bought it anyway because of who wrote it - we bought the others for comparison.) I read all three and there really is something special about The Geat. It seems to hold together more as a whole story, while the other two just seem to be versions of the original saxon poem and don't seem to be as carefully thought through. For example, only in The Geat does Beowulf get his men to roll around in all the dirt and dung on the floor of the hall so that Grendel doesn't smell them as he approaches - a small point, but an important and believable one. The Geat is also the only version that has any humour in it, even though the descriptions of what Grendel does make it by far the most horrific - an aspect which both my kids appreciated!
I should also mention the illustrations, which, as with John's other books, are by Tom Morgan-Jones. They are beautiful, grizzly, frightening and funny, and with an attention to detail that matches the words perfectly - the pair of them really are a great team!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this for my young nephew and he's subsequently declared it his favourite book! The description is exciting and vivid, and you're drawn effortlessly into the era of Beowulf, who incidentally is far more interesting in this book than his animated counterpart is in the recent blockbuster... But to be fair my nephew hardly noticed this, he was captivated by the bloody violence and gruesome battles! A good book, and a good author... the blurb says his stories are "honed in front of a live audience", and it's this energetic approach that sets his books apart.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lovely retelling
It's fantastic to see this old story retold in a way which is utterly engaging. It is beautifully written and illustrated and a worthy addition to John Harris's excellent other... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Barbara Houseman
Heart Stopping retelling of Beowulf
This retelling of the story of Beowulf is heart stopping. For those of us who have been fortunate enough to experience John Harris telling this story in front of a live audience,... Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2008 by C. A. Botterill
Year 7 Students of Holyhead School
Shamsah Kaval
I like the book because the characters are exciting; they kill people! I like this book because it reminds me of people fighting for good, like fighting for... Read more
I like the book because the characters are exciting; they kill people! I like this book because it reminds me of people fighting for good, like fighting for... Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2008 by Miss Penn
A delightful spin on a gruesome tale
This is a grisly tale, there is no doubt about it, but the author, John Harris, captures this and injects humour and verve. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2007 by N. Wiggs
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