Big Bold Beowulf



  Big

  Bold

  Beowulf

  (an almost true story)

  by

  Geoff Boxell

  ISBN: 978-0-473-32485-8

  PRINTING HISTORY

  Wendlewulf Productions 2002

  Copyright GR Boxell 2002

  Cover by John Clark ([email protected])

 

  Condition of Sale

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, or hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the purchaser.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Mr Paige, who was my teacher in my first year at Earlsfield Junior Boys School. Amongst the many stories Mr Paige taught my class mates and I were the story of Beowulf, the story of Hengest and the story of the Battle of Hastings. The fact that I can still recall him telling those tales shews what a brilliant teacher he was. It was only years later that I realised the irony that my first taste of early English history had come from a man who was an Anglo-Indian!

  Via another ex-pupil of Mr Paige I recently heard that he died a few years ago. Mr Paige was a well-loved teacher whom those in his care, myself included, were proud to call 'Sir'.

  Foreword

  This book is the result of the tangled woven web of Wyrd.

  I give lectures and talks in early English history, here in New Zealand. As a result I get invited to mediaeval banquets to tell stories of old England and the English.

  I was/am a Rocker and despite the passing of the years there is still an extensive network formed around those of us who hung out at Mordon. One of the Rocker Birds, Twink, had read my two published novels and then been amused by some of the scripts for my mediaeval banquet tales. She felt that there was a demand for old English tales written for youngsters and asked me to write one for her. Given a bit of local knowledge of the area, I decided to base it in Wimbledon, London. Another Bird, Yvonne, worked at Wimbledon and was able to update me on the shops and the current layout of the Broadway. One of the Lads, Gurn, regularly visits an ex-neighbour near the windmill on Wimbledon Common and was able to give me information that I needed for this area. Looking for photographs, I came across the Web site of Dr Ian Howard. Ian has been helpful with more than just photos.

  Beowulf is the longest existent poem in Old English. The date that it was composed is unknown, as is that date when the oral version was first written down. Whilst much of the story it tells can be regarded as legend, it includes historically verifiable incidents, thus shewing that even the 'legend' part of the tale may well have a historical foundation.

  I have refused to avoid long or old words. As a boy my teachers never avoided them; they pointed me towards a dictionary! Through their teaching I have a large word-hoard and am aware of the great heritage that I have in the English language. I have also deliberately used three old English letters and their pronunciation is as follows:

  Æ æ: Asc - flat 'a' as in Alfred.

  Ð ð: Eth - 'th' with tongue behind the teeth as in teeth.

  Þ þ: Thorn - 'th' with tongue between teeth as in 'thorn'.