Book is xiv + 1158 pp.  An anthology of English poetry and prose from the beginnings through Matthew Arnold; this is the revised edition of a book first published in 1936. The anthology is divided into periods, the first being "The Beginnings and the Middle Ages [to 1400]," with an introductory essay on pp. 3-16. Beowulf is the sole representative of Old English literature.

Beowulf is presented in a series of titled extracts from the Charles W. Kennedy translation, with his titles, preceded by a 1-page headnote. The sections given are "The Danish Court and the Raids of Grendel," "The Coming of Beowulf," "Beowulf's Welcome at Hrothgar's Court," "Unferth Taunts Beowulf," "Beowulf Slays Grendel," "The Joy of the Danes and the Lay of Sigemund," "The Feast and the Lay of Finnsburg," "The Troll-Wife Avenges Grendel," "Beowulf Slays the Troll-Wife," "Beowulf Returns to Heorot," "The Parting of Beowulf and Hrothgar," and "Beowulf's Funeral." Apart from the final extract, the segments give Beowulf continuously from its beginning to line 1887. The tales told by scops within the story—the story of Sigemund and the Finnsburh episode, translated into longer lines by Kennedy—are printed in italics.

The selection begins:

[The Danish Court and the Raids of Grendel]

Lo! we have listened to many a lay
Of the Spear-Danes' fame, their splendor of old,
Their mighty princes, and martial deeds!
Many a mead-hall Scyld, son of Sceaf,
Snatched from the forces of savage foes.
From a friendless foundling, feeble and wretched,
He grew to a terror as time brought change.
He throve under heaven in power and pride
Till alien peoples beyond the ocean
Paid toll and tribute. A good king he! (18)

And ends:

Then round the mound rode the brave in battle,
The sons of warriors, twelve in a band,
Bemoaning their sorrow and mourning their king.
They sang their dirge and spoke of the hero
Vaunting his valor and venturous deeds.
So is it proper a man should praise
His friendly lord with a loving heart,
When his soul must forth from the fleeting flesh.
So the folk of the Geats, the friends of his hearth,
Bemoaned the fall of their mighty lord;
Said he was kindest of worldly kings,
Mildest, most gentle, most eager for fame. (53)

BAM.