The chief interest in this edition of Old English poetry is in the translation. Michael Alexander took the bold step of not trying to translate the literal sense of the poems into modern English, but to try and preserve both the original form of the poems (alliterative, with each line broken into two half lines) and as much of the original vocabulary as can be retained without destroying the sense completely. And I must say this technique, for the most part, works brilliantly (at least for someone like myself who has some acquaintance with the poems and the language). It works best in the best poem, The Battle of Maldon, which conjures up a real and strong flavour of the original.

The choice of verse is perhaps not optimal: myself I would have left out the Riddles and had a bit more Beowulf, but this is really the only quibble. The notes are both extensive and useful, and the introduction clear and informative aboth about the poems and the translator's objectives and techniques.

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Old English or in Anglo-Saxon England generally.

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