Book is 482 pp.; b/w illus. The whole volume is a loose translation of Wägner's Deutsche Heldensagen erzählt für Jugend und Volk, 1st ed. (1878), which was vol. 2 of Wägner's 2-volume Nordish-germanische Vorzeit. (This English work lacks Wägner's retelling of "Hertzog Ernst," whose inclusion in the 1881 2nd ed. of his work was the main distinction between Wägner's 1878 and 1881 editions.) The English version continues to use the illustrations from the German original, most of which were by Vogel, but does not credit them (although signatures are sometimes legible). The Beowulf story, as in Wägner, contains two illustrations both by Vogel: "Beowulf Fights with Gendel's Mother" (347) and "Beowulf Dying" (363). As in Wägner, the story is divided into 5 titled sections: "I. Grendel," "II. Beowulf, the Bold Diver," "III. The She-Wolf of the Sea," "IV. Beowulf is Made King," and "V. The Fight with the Dragon." The Beowulf chapter contains a curious error, in that the even-page running heads list it as "The Hegeling Legend" (continuing the title of the previous chapter) throughout; this error went uncorrected in all subsequent English and U.S. editions.

This Anson and MacDowall collection was published in England (London: W. Swan Sonnenschein & Co.) and in the U.S. (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.) both in 1883, in editions identical other than the publisher's information. The book was reprinted in London at least through a 10th ed. (1904) with no evident changes. The U.S. publisher changed to New York: Fords, Howard & Hulbert in 1887, and to New York: E. P. Dutton in 1917, still with no evident changes (and with the error in running heads remaining uncorrected).

The Beowulf story begins:

One evening while the warriors were feasting in King Hrodgar's hall, a minstrel was called upon to sing. He tuned his harp, and sang of the coming of Skiöld, the son whom Odin sent to live a human life among mortal men. He told how the babe had been seen lying on a shield floating on the waves of the sea, how he had been drawn ashore and carefully tended, and how he had become a mighty king and warrior in Jutland. He sang of Skiöld's glorious life, of the kingdom he had left to his children and grandchildren; and last of all he sung of Hrodgar, Skiöld's most famous grandson, who, like him, was the patron of all peaceful arts, the protector of all peaceful folk, and the punisher of evil-doers.

Many heroes were collected round the king that night at Hirschhalle, so called from the gigantic antlers of a royal stag, which, carved in stone, adorned the battlements. At length the time came for the warriors to separate for the night, and as there were too many of them to be accommodated elsewhere, beds were made up for them in the great hall. (347-48)

And ends:

On seeing what had chanced, they raised their voices in mourning; but Wichstan bade them hold their peace, or if they must weep, at least to weep for their own cowardice, and not for the hero who had died at his post. He then advised them to make the best of their way to other lands, as he could not answer for their lives when the Goths became aware of the way in which they had deserted their king in his hour of need.

With bowed heads and shame-stricken faces the men turned away. They departed out of Gothland, and sought to hide their heads in countries where their names were unknown.

The body of Beowulf was borne to its funeral pile on the height called Hronesnäs, and there burnt amid the tears and sorrow of a nation. When the funeral rites had all been performed, the great treasure was taken back to the dragon's cave. For the Goths would have none of the gold their beloved king had won for them in his death. So it still lies hidden in the heart of the earth as in the olden time when the dragon guarded it from mortal ken. If it is useless to men, it is at all events not hurtful. (363-64)

Fry, MO1, GR, and MO2 all mis-source this paraphrase by MacDowall, stating it to be based on a different version of Wägner's retelling than is the case. This book is based on Wägner's Deutsche Heldensagen erzählt für Jugend und Volk (1878). (All four also give an incorrect title for Wägner's 1881 book on which they claim this version to be based; see separate records.)

BAM (1st U.S. ed., Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.; identical 1st English ed. in digital facsimile available via Hathitrust.org.; and many subsequent English and U.S. editions viewed both firsthand and via Hathitrust.org).