Book is xxii + 744 pp.; b/w illus. Heritage of British Literature, a high school textbook, belongs to the series Literature: A Series of Anthologies, and the volume contains a wide variety of works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, organized into sections according to genre in the first part of the book and to period in the second part. Beowulf is placed in a period section dedicated to Old English literature. The Beowulf segment contains one illustration, a line drawing of a scene of feasting, that is not credited individually to Maud or Miska Petersham (both are identified as the volume's illustrators on the title page).

The Beowulf excerpt extends from the start of the poem to Wealhtheow's presentation of the cup to Hrothgar and her mention that he had spoken of regarding Beowulf as a son. It is credited to Child (1904), but is also stated to have been "modernized by Laura L. Moore" (538), and Moore has revised Child's language considerably. Her text is accompanied by short footnotes explaning unfamiliar words and concepts and by inset summary tags, presumably also Moore's own. The Beowulf selection is preceded by a brief headnote (537-38) that reproduces from Child's 1904 introduction the first 11 lines of the Old English text as well as Child's verse translation of those same lines; and is followed by a short prose summary of the rest of the poem.

The Beowulf excerpt begins:

You have heard of the might in days of old of the folk kings of the Spear-Danes and how deeds of prowess were wrought by their athelings. Often Scyld Scefing took the mead benches away from the throngs of his foes, from many a people. Fear of the earl grew after he was first found in his need. He won justice from that, grew under the clouds, and throve in his glory till each one who dwelt near him over the whale road had to obey him and pay him tribute. He was a good king. (538)

And ends:

Further then, Hrothgar gave treasures, swords handed down from of old, to each of the earls who had come over the seaway with Beowulf. He bade that payment be made with gold for the one Grendel had slain.

Song and sound of playing were then joined together there before the battle leader of the Danes, and stories were told of great deeds.

Again rose the clamor in the hall; the bearers brought wine in vessels of wondrous workmanship. Then came forth Wealhtheow, under her golden diadem, going where uncle and nephew were seated. She offered the cup to Hrothgar to take the cup and be glad of heart. She told him to speak to the Geats with words of kindness. She had heard that Hrothgar wished to hold Beowulf as his son. She knew that Beowulf would repay their children with good. (546; sentence beginning "She offered the cup" sic, with perhaps a phrase missing from printed text)

Not in Fry, MO1, GR, or MO2.

BAM.