Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you read Beowulf, read Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid, then John Gardner's Grendel, Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology, The Poetic Edda and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. All are heroic epics and retellings of old tales of monsters, war and fate.
Beowulf is an Old English poem of about 3,000 lines, likely composed between the eighth and eleventh centuries, telling how the Geatish hero Beowulf defeats the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother and, in old age, a dragon. It is the oldest major work in English literature. The books below offer related epics, myth and retellings.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grendel | John Gardner | Adult | the monster's view |
| Eaters of the Dead | Michael Crichton | Adult | Beowulf retelling |
| The Iliad | Homer | Adult | war and rage |
| The Aeneid | Virgil | Adult | founding epic |
| Norse Mythology | Neil Gaiman | Adult | retold myths |
| The Poetic Edda | Anonymous | Adult | Norse myths |
| The Prose Edda | Snorri Sturluson | Adult | Norse mythology |
| The Saga of the Volsungs | Anonymous | Adult | Norse hero tale |
| Sir Gawain and the Green Knight | Anonymous | Adult | Arthurian romance |
| The Song of Roland | Anonymous | Adult | medieval French epic |
| The Kalevala | Elias Lonnrot | Adult | Finnish folk epic |
| Epic of Gilgamesh | Anonymous | Adult | oldest epic |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | All ages | the adventure |
| Mythology | Edith Hamilton | Adult | classic guide |
| The Last Kingdom | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | Saxons and Vikings |
1. Grendel by John Gardner
The story of Beowulf told from Grendel's side. Witty, dark and philosophical.
Best for: the monster's view.
2. Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton
An Arab traveller joins Vikings against a monstrous enemy. Fast and clever.
Best for: Beowulf retelling.
3. The Iliad by Homer
The wrath of Achilles during the Trojan War. A foundation of war literature.
Best for: war and rage.
4. The Aeneid by Virgil
Aeneas flees Troy and founds the line of Rome. Grand and thoughtful.
Best for: founding epic.
5. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Gaiman retells the Norse myths in a clear, funny voice. Short and lively.
Best for: retold myths.
6. The Poetic Edda by Anonymous
Old Norse poems of gods and heroes. Rough, vivid and poetic.
Best for: Norse myths.
7. The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson
A medieval guide to Norse myths and poetry. Clear and essential.
Best for: Norse mythology.
8. The Saga of the Volsungs by Anonymous
The story of Sigurd and the dragon Fafnir. Dramatic and tragic.
Best for: Norse hero tale.
9. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous
A knight accepts a deadly challenge from a mysterious green stranger. Strange and lively.
Best for: Arthurian romance.
10. The Song of Roland by Anonymous
Roland and his rearguard fight at Roncevaux. Heroic and fierce.
Best for: medieval French epic.
11. The Kalevala by Elias Lonnrot
Finnish myths gathered into one epic. Rhythmic and strange.
Best for: Finnish folk epic.
12. Epic of Gilgamesh by Anonymous
The king of Uruk searches for immortality after his friend dies. Short and powerful.
Best for: oldest epic.
13. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins joins dwarves on a quest. A foundation of modern fantasy.
Best for: the adventure.
14. Mythology by Edith Hamilton
A clear overview of Greek, Roman and Norse myths. Useful background.
Best for: classic guide.
15. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
Uhtred, a Saxon raised by Danes, fights in Alfred the Great's England. Gripping.
Best for: Saxons and Vikings.
How to Choose
For retellings choose Grendel or Eaters of the Dead. For other epics pick The Iliad, The Aeneid or The Song of Roland. For Norse stories read Norse Mythology, The Poetic Edda or The Saga of the Volsungs. For medieval romance try Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Beowulf is short, so a modern verse translation, such as Seamus Heaney's, makes it easy to read in a weekend. Tolkien, who was a scholar of Old English, gave an influential 1936 lecture on Beowulf that changed how critics saw the poem, and Heaney's 1999 translation became a bestseller. A bilingual edition lets you see the Old English alongside.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Beowulf about?
A hero kills the monster Grendel and Grendel's mother and later dies fighting a dragon.
Who wrote it?
An anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet.
When was it written?
Probably between the eighth and eleventh centuries.
Which translation should I read?
Seamus Heaney's verse translation is popular, and Maria Dahvana Headley's is a recent version.
Is it religious?
It mixes pagan heroic values with some Christian references, but it is a heroic epic.
Is it long?
About 3,000 lines.
Is there a film?
Yes, several adaptations of varying quality.
What should I read next?
Try Grendel or The Hobbit.
Which book here is best for founding epic?
Try The Aeneid by Virgil, which suits readers looking for founding epic.
Which book here is best for Norse mythology?
Try The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson, which suits readers looking for Norse mythology.
Which book here is best for medieval French epic?
Try The Song of Roland by Anonymous, which suits readers looking for medieval French epic.
Which book here is best for the adventure?
Try The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, which suits readers looking for the adventure.
Which book here is best for Beowulf retelling?
Try Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton, which suits readers looking for Beowulf retelling.
Which book here is best for retold myths?
Try Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, which suits readers looking for retold myths.