Who's Afraid of Beowulf?

Who's Afraid of Beowulf?
First edition
AuthorTom Holt
LanguageEnglish
GenreSatirical Fantasy novel
PublisherMacmillan Publishers
Publication date
1988
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages210 pp
ISBN0-441-88591-8
OCLC24426393
Preceded byExpecting Someone Taller 

Who’s Afraid of Beowulf? is the second humorous-fantasy novel by popular British author Tom Holt, first published in the UK in 1988 by Macmillan Publishers. Unlike Holt's other early books, this is not based on any particular opera or well-known mythic cycle.

Summary

When American archeologist Hildy Frederiksen investigates an ancient Viking burial ship in Scotland, she finds that the Viking heroes on board are still alive, even though centuries have passed. Now she must help them defeat the evil sorcerer king.

Reception

Publishers Weekly called it "(p)art slapstick, part fantasy (...and) all entertainment" and "unforced and inventive".[1]

Kirkus Reviews found it to be "sprightly (and) well-plotted", and "grinworthy", but faulted Holt's portrayal of Hildy, stating that "(i)n neither speech nor deed is (she)a very convincing American".[2]

References

  1. ^ Who's Afraid of Beowulf? , reviewed at Publishers Weekly; published January 1, 1989; retrieved April 14, 2019
  2. ^ WHO'S AFRAID OF BEOWULF?, reviewed at Kirkus Reviews, published January 10, 1988; retrieved April 14, 2019


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