Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A new verse translation [B0967]

2004 PB in nice clean condition. A splendid translation of the classic Arthurian tale of enchantment, adventure, and romance, presented alongside the original Middle English text-from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author/translator and "one of the greatest poets of our age . . the Thoreau of our era" (Edward Hirsch). It is the height of Christmas and New Year's revelry when an enormous knight with brilliant green clothes and skin descends upon King Arthur's court. He presents a sinister challenge: he will endure a blow of the axe to his neck without offering any resistance, but whoever gives the blow must promise to take the same in exactly a year and a day's time. The young Sir Gawain quickly rises to the challenge, and the poem tells of the adventures he finds-an almost irresistible seduction, shockingly brutal hunts, and terrifyingly powerful villains-as he endeavors to fulfill his promise. Capturing the pace, impact, and richly alliterative language of the original text, W. S. Merwin has imparted a new immediacy to a spellbinding narrative, written centuries ago by a poet whose name is now unknown, lost to time. Of the Green Knight, Merwin notes in his foreword: "We seem to recognize him-his splendor, the awe that surrounds him, his menace and his grace-without being able to place him . . We will never know who the Green Knight is except in our own response to him."

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Vivid, Relevant, Sensuous. My fascination with the subject matter was balanced with a dread of entering into a 'dry read'. This version is anything but. From the helpful intro on, I could not put this book down. As a poetry and theatre fan, I was fascinated with the thought of this piece being recited aloud, by one sole performer, at Medieval banquets, from King Arthur's time on. The Celtic/Gaelic version on the left page against the modern English version on the right made me realize how close the two languages still are. At places, my instinct brought a sense of dread during most sensuous passages. In others, revelations brought from me an audible gasp! This is one of those pieces one does not want to end. I highly recommend it!"; "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a classic example of medieval alliterative poetry. Medieval themes of nature (the hunt) and chivalry, temptation and seduction, and seasons/the passing of time are apparent throughout this Arthurian legend. It's a very quick read and beautifully written."; "Glorious. I don't really know what else to say. I think either Green Knight gets into your bones or it doesn't, and for me, it entered the marrow. Weird, wild, and with extremely detailed descriptions of what everyone was wearing and also how to butcher a deer-Green Knight transports you to an time of war and woe and wonder, and I hope I never stop asking it questions. Merwin's translation has so much heart and heat to it. Accessible without straying far from the source, this has become my go-to copy."; "I loved this very readable translation by the great poet W.S, Merwin and may make it my annual Christmas/New Years read. Elegant, evocative, with just enough excitement."