Grendel

By: John Gardner

Narrated by: George Guidall

This classic and much lauded retelling of Beowulf follows the monster Grendel as he learns about humans and fights the war at the center of the Anglo Saxon classic epic.

The first and most terrifying monster in English literature, from the great early epic Beowulf, tells his own side of the story in this frequently banned book. This is the novel William Gass called “one of the finest of our contemporary fictions.”

“An extraordinary achievement.”—New York Times

©1971 John Gardner (P)1997 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"George Guidall masterfully impersonates the grumbling momma's boy with deliciously sly humor and mock-tragic grandeur. Without ever striking a false note, he maintains throughout such a perfect balance of crudity and poetry that we laugh, cringe and weep all at once." ( AudioFile)

Great story

It was nice to hear Grendel's side of the story, he is not all what you think he is. I recommend this book to everyone.

A great novel brought to life

I loved this book when I first read it many years ago, and it has been delightful to have George Guidall bring it thrillingly to life.

classic in it's own way

as you can see I've been on a bit of a Beowulf stint and always enjoyed this one from way back. Gardner is a fine writer who worked a lot with mythic/classic stories and elements and there is more depth regarding his structure and philosophical ponderings than I certainly realized at first. I like much of what he attempted here, though I have not yet sorted it all out regarding the zodiacal significance and all his philosophical elements and I plan to keep studying it.

I do think that from a "purist" angle some of the language is anachronistically modern and takes you out of the story and time period, but on the other hand he is experimenting with an existentialist monster so I have to let it go.

there is some very nice writing and imagery and I would like to see the film made of this to see what they did.

I don't mind Guidall though I do try to avoid him & I am a little prejudiced toward his readings partially due to running across him so often with Recorded Books years ago; it is hard to not pick up on verbal quirks thru saturated exposure. Though this is before he got too heavily into some irritating habits. When he gets too heavily into the whispery, drawn out, overly dramatic ending to every sentence I cringe; I can not tolerate his Frankenstein reading. Rudnicki has some similar quirks.

Great narration drives this book

John Gardner delivers some incredibly high brow dialogue throughout this anti-hero epic while his characters struggle with defining themselves against one other and the perpetual forward moving life they all share. The narration sells this plot.

Hidden messages about life

It was a good book I really like the perspective it gives and also the philosophies that are hidden in each chapter. I also like the voice of the narrator it's very fitting for Grendel. I really enjoyed this book and it has an ending one would expect but not expect the same time.

Pure delight

Despite bottomless nihilism, Grendel's reflections are challenging, earnest & hysterical. Gardener's prose captures & bedazzles Grendel's observer's torment frustration speaks to human presumptuousness--esp our dogged clinging to alleged beliefs & principles. Grendel despises our reinvention of truth thru the ages via poetry, narrative & song -- in his view, little more than illusion -- in shaping fictive histories, destinies that justify our desires & meet our longing for greater purpose & meaning.

Poor Grendel’s had an accident.

One of my all-time favorite novels. An underrated classic and an invaluable commentary on the human condition. A philosopher’s parody of Beowulf and nihilism.

Great Narrator, Mediocre Story

Grendel is a whiny man baby who lives with his mother, whom he despises. Wah wah (as he would say). He philosophizes, but not very interestingly. The narration, however, was excellent and made the audiobook worth the time spent listening.

Unselfconscious, powerful narration.

I love this book. I've read it several times in print. I never would have listened to it for fear that the narrator wouldn't be able to measure up to Grendel's "voice" my imagination -- the way you might hesitate to see the film version of a favorite novel -- but in the end I wound up buying the audio version so that my son could listen to it as we commuted. And in the end, I loved it so much that here I am, writing a review.

This novel is ultimately cognitive as well as sensory and emotional, and it is full of subtleties, but don't expect any restrained, intellectualized treatment of Grendel's thoughts and words here. George Guidall doesn't hold back; he goes for it in a way that feels raw and real. It is a true talent to manage so much intense emotion -- this narrator only sounds histrionic when Grendel does.

I often find "monsters" at least as human as the rest of us, and at least as able to show us the complexities and contradictions of the human state. If monsters appeal to you, don't miss this audiobook. If on the other hand you usually prefer human heroes and villains, but find yourself in the mood for something unusual, moving, comical, and tragic, consider this.

The monster's point of view

This is a retelling of the Beowulf epic from Grendel's point of view. Grendel, as represented by Gardner, is an interesting character -- sometimes petulant and childish, sometimes witty and droll, sometimes a raging monster, sometimes an earnest seeker of enlightenment. There are parts that become a bit tedious (Grendel whines A LOT), but it's certainly a new way to look at the ancient tale, and Gardner, who was a noted literary author, does not even try to mimic the style of the original. The narration by George Guidall was good; I especially liked the dragon.