Rosemary Sutcliff — Beowulf

London, The Bodley Head, 1961. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of this retelling of Beowulf from English novelist Rosemary Sutcliff, with illustrations. First thus, being the first retelling of this work from Sutcliff. Illustrated throughout. A retelling of Beowulf, an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend considered one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The protagonist Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, whose great hall is plagued by the monster Grendel. Retold by Rosemary Sutcliff, an English novelist best known for children's books, especially historical fiction and retellings of myths and legends. Illustrated by Charles William James Keeping, an English illustrator, children's book author and lithographer who made the illustrations for all of Rosemary Sutcliff's historical novels for children. In the original full cloth binding. Externally, very smart with light wear to the extremities and the odd mark to the cloth. Original price-clipped dust wrapper is also smart with light wear and the odd small closed tear to the extremities. Light sunning to the spine with the odd small mark. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean throughout. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Charles Keeping. Very Good Indeed/Very Good.