Book is [v] (unpaginated) + vi + 353 pp. + 4 unpaginated illustration plates (facing pp. [v], 116, 224, and 308), each covered with a printed tissue-paper leaf crediting and describing the picture; b/w and color illus., and colored series plate (differing) (p. [i]). (One edition contains an extra leaf in the first, unpaginated series; see notes below.)

The volume is a reprint of material from W. S. W. Anson, ed., Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages (1883; see separate record), omitting a few of the earlier book's chapters and in some cases making new divisions of the text. The title page of Anson's edition had credited MacDowall with the translations of Wägner's German versions in the 1883 book, but MacDowall is nowhere credited here though his text is reused verbatim. Anson's introduction is retained and credited. Only 4 illustrations are present (and none in the Beowulf chapter), rather than the many from Wägner's German book that were retained in Anson's 1883 English version; these are not carried over from Anson but are based on famous paintings.

The book was issued for the Norrœna Society's series The History and Romance of Northern Europe in several limited-edition formats, reportedly starting in 1905 and verified from 1906. All editions seen state a copyright date of 1905, and 1905 is the publication date reported in two WorldCat records (OCLC accession nos. 41682542 and 71373714) for the Imperial Edition, which has not been seen. One of these two copies listed as the 1905 Imperial Edition has been seen (from Pacific Lutheran University Library), however, and it turned out to be a miscatalogued copy of the 1907 Memorial Edition. Thus the 1905 publication date remains unverified.

The Royal Edition (1906, 450 copies), Viking Edition (1906, 650 copies), Memorial Edition (1907, 350 copies), Editor's Autograph Edition (1907, 500 copies), and Imperial Autograph Edition (1907, 350 copies) are internally identical—apart from their limitation pages—except in the following ways:

• In the Viking Edition, the tissue-paper leaves covering the 4 illustrations have their red-printed text facing away from the illustration plate. In all other editions seen, the red-printed text on the tissue-paper leaf faces the illustration plate.

• The Imperial Autograph Edition has an additional leaf in the unnumbered set at the beginning, so it is [vii] (unpaginated) + vi + 353 pp. + 4 unpaginated illustration plates. On this extra leaf, pp. [v]-[vi], the recto contains a note explaining the edition's binding, and the verso repeats the 1905 copyright information from p. [iv] (so that this is printed twice).

• The series plate (p. [i]), the only color-printed interior element other than the red print on the tissue-paper leaves that cover the illustrations, differs. In the 1906 Viking Edition, it is green, red, and black, identifying the series as "The History and Romance of Northern Europe." In the 1907 Memorial, Editor's Autograph, and Imperial Autograph Editions, the plate is red, green, black, and white, with a completely different design from that of the 1906 Viking Edition, and reads "Anglo-Saxon Classics | Norrœna | Embracing the History and Romance of Northern Europe," identifying Rasmus B. Anderson as series editor.

The Beowulf story retains its 5-section presentation from Anson's 1883 edition (as in Wägner's original German), but the table of contents lists 6 sections and gives slightly differing section titles. The sections are internally titled "Giant Grendel," "Beowulf, the Bold Diver," "The She-Wolf of the Sea," "Beowulf is Made King," and "The Fight with the Dragon." The text differs from the 1883 version only in a few superficial matters of editing. The title is given in this entry as it appears at the head of the story; in the table of contents, it is called only "The Legend of Beowulf."

The Beowulf tale 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 sang 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. (266)

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 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. (284-85)

[unfinished, tdic: need to see Cushing Library's copy of 1906 Royal ed.]

Fry and MO1 date this book to 1907, but printings from 1906 are confirmed. GR dates to 1906. See Descriptive Notes, above, for the question of whether the book was printed in 1905.

BAM, from several post-1905 limited editions: 1906 Viking Edition (copy seen is no. 135 of 600), 1907 Memorial Edition (copies seen are nos. 149 and 325 of 350), 1907 Editor's Autograph Edition (copy seen is no. 58 of 500), 1907 Imperial Autograph Edition (copy seen is no. 8 of 350). [To these will be added 1906 Royal Edition when I have a chance to see Cushing's copy.]