Die Schlacht von Maldon und Die Heimkehr von Beorhtnoth

"Higher be the will, the heart bolder, the courage all the more, as our power wanes." England in the 10th century. Near the town of Maldon, a Viking army confronts the defenders of Essex. This is the story told by an Old English poem that was created shortly after the battle. It inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write his own verse drama: The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son.

It is night. Two men stumble across the battlefield. One is a young lad with his head full of dreams. The other is an old farmer who has seen many battles. As they search in the dark for the body of their lord, they explore in conversation the tensions between youth and age, pagan and Christian worldviews, the ideals of loyalty and community, and the question of what heroism means. Tolkien's dramatic dialogue is complemented by his translation of the Old English original, notes and essays from the surrounding context, and an early version of the play in rhymed verses. In this way, scholarly work and literary creation are inextricably linked and ultimately lead further into the world of The Lord of the Rings.

Included is The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son in the English version and for the first time in German translation. An extra chapter addresses the tradition of verse formation in Old English.