Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Penguin Classics ; L92)

The introduction offers a technical explanation of the poetic form used in the original Middle English. The back of the book has several very good critical essays. Sandwiched in between is a very readable and enjoyable rendering of the poem itself. A solid edition all around.

I have read at least four translations of Gawain, including Tolkein's, and the Brian Stone version is my favorite. It is written in understandable English. As another reviewer has pointed out, Stone's version is most like the medieval one in its structure, its use of alliteration, and the rhyme scheme of the bob and wheel. Tolkein, in an appendix to his version, gives a clear and enlightening explanation of the principles of this kind of poetry. Once you've read Tolkein's explanation, your appreciation of the poem will be greatly enhanced. Nowadays, many poets and others turn up their noses at alliteration, but I love it. So the language is one of the things that make the poem such a pleasure to read.Another thing that makes Gawain a great read is that it is just a darn good story. When a green man riding a green horse and carrying his own green-haired head gallops into Arthur's dining hall, you know there's going to be some drama in this tale. And there is! There's some hunting and killing of animals for the sportsperson and the bloodthirsty. There's romantic temptation, and there's suspense.One reviewer speculated on possible symbolism in the novel. The search for deeper meanings might interest some readers. For me to "get" a symbol, it has to jump out of the book and bite me on the nose.

The book is very interesting. There are a lot of notes that help us to understand everything. Sadly, I do not understand the author's choice to get all the olden letters (yogh, ð...) off. I think that it is too "modern englishized". If it were not, how better would it be! The style is most interesting. Folks have to re-enter in the literature of the old times, folks have to rediscover it.I would advise he who read me to buy  Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Manchester Medieval Studies)  more than this edition.Have fun! Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Manchester Medieval Studies)

King Arthur's stories always seem to appeal - my college son said he liked it and that it helped to have the Cliffs Notes since the story is poem or in poem format . . . think Shakespeare.

Ordered used and it came it great condition with no tears or dents. Interesting novel, a tad difficult to understand, but still enjoyable.