A few items that didn't fit in other posts...

[eldritchhobbit]

* R.I.P., Mary Stewart (17 September, 1916 – 9 May, 2014), best known for her Merlin series of Arthurian fantasy novels: Mythopoeic Award winners The Crystal Cave (1970) and The Hollow Hills (1973), followed by The Last Enchantment. Read more from The New York Times: "Mary Stewart, British Writer Who Spanned Genres, Dies at 97."

* Is Tolkien's translation of Beowulf better than Seamus Heaney's? From Katy Waldman at Slate: "The Don’s Don: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Beowulf translation finally arrives."

* I should mention again that scholar Michael Drout has written a most enlightening blog post clarifying his work with Tolkien's Beowulf papers, etc.: "Tolkien's Beowulf: The Real Story."


And here's some amazing street art, a tribute to The Professionals.

Comments

[morfin.livejournal.com]

Sad that Stewart has passed, but she had a long life and was a fantastic author. I'll never forget reading The Hollow Hills for the first time as a kid. Major influence on my life. And speaking of major influence, I'm eagerly awaiting Tolkien's translation, though I have reservations, since he never intended its publication. I think those expecting a poetic reading ala Heaney will be disappointed, but then, Tolkien was a linguist and he was doing a translation for the purpose of studying the original Old English. I'm not a fan of Heaney's translation, as he takes too much poetic license and results in several inaccuracies. I'm rather fond of Greenfields' "A Readable Beowulf" and if you haven't heard Julian Glover's performance of it, go buy it online immediately.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I think those expecting a poetic reading ala Heaney will be disappointed, but then, Tolkien was a linguist and he was doing a translation for the purpose of studying the original Old English.

Great points!

I agree with you about Heaney, too. I'm looking forward to reading Tolkien's more accurate version, with the understanding that he never intended it for publication. I'd rather have more authentic content/meaning than poetry, honestly.

I'm rather fond of Greenfields' "A Readable Beowulf" and if you haven't heard Julian Glover's performance of it, go buy it online immediately.

Oh wow! Thanks so much for the recommendation. I will track down Julian Glover's recording ASAP!