Beowulf: A Pagan Hero' takes the poem back to its pre-Christian roots, revealing a warrior-society that valued duty, honor, bravery, and swift vengeance. Removing the Christian insertions shows us what is expected of heroes, of men who do not shrink before the hard decisions of life or death, and a society that valued fame above all other rewards. Remaining true to the Anglo Saxon language without hewing too closely to the rhythm of the ancient poetry shows us the power and beauty of that language that has been called 'more masonry than poetry', a burly language full of swift and beautiful metaphors and descriptions of ordinary life made ethereal.In preparing her translation, Ms. Boyden studied some 50 versions of 'Beowulf' for accuracy of meaning, tone and temperament. In "A Note on Pronunciation" she explains how Old English-Anglo Saxon names are read; and the "Principal Characters" are introduced so that we can trace their relationships of trust and obligation, and the power of their personalities. The "Introduction" provides a quick look at Anglo Saxon society, the people's values, beliefs, customs and activities, placing Beowulf in a cultural context to round out the reading experience.