The Dynastic Drama of Beowulf, by Francis Leneghan

Francis Leneghan’s impressive new book makes a substantial contribution to Beowulf criticism. Through a series of insightful close readings of the poem—very well attuned to its editorial and interpretive cruces and set against a wealth of literary, historical and intellectual backgrounds—Leneghan explores the roles of the three royal dynasties whose origins, interactions and fates so fascinated the poet, arguing compellingly that these are essential to our recovery of the meanings that Beowulf had for its original audience(s). The introduction surveys the critical history of Beowulf, and outlines some of the contexts for the study to follow. Here and throughout, the book shows an impeccable grasp of existing scholarship; its footnotes amount to an annotated guide to work on almost every aspect of the poem, and readers will find these very stimulating in their own right. Chapter One argues that the ways in which the hero’s career intersects with the...

Ancient history · Art · Drama · Literature · Historical, Literary, and Cultural Studies · History · Joseph Conrad and Literature · Medieval Literature and History