The Heliand

"One of my own teachers, Father Murphy gives us a look at how the Gospel was spread into Central Europe. What he shows us is a different kind of warrior epic, and a look at how civilization began in a savage place."--Tom Clancy "The specialists will appreciate Murphy's fine and very readable version, in view of the difficulties he had to overcome in creating an adequate modern text that can be used in the classroom. Students will value it as an exciting text for the modern interest in crosscultural studies."--Theological Studies "A great translation. I recommend it highly."--S.L. Clark, Rice University "An excellent translation which captures the spirit of the times and the people who listened to this unique blend of the traditional gospel message with the trappings of the heroic sagas which formed the other part of their literature. The text is readable and understandable and yet representative of the original. The notes on the translation were invaluable as is the material in the appendices."--Charles W. Nelson, Michigan Technological University "Very useful for demonstrating the pagan and heroic influence on religious work."--G.N. Berqquist, Creighton University "Fascinating addition to medieval literature in translation. Notes and introduction very helpful in considering cultural influences on translation of the Gospel into Saxon. The English version itself is clear, yet captures the Saxon style well."--Elizabeth L. Rambo, Biola University "A valuable resource for the history of Christian piety and for the study of how Christianity was affected by transplantation to Northern Europe. Having such works available in translation is a real boon to teaching and to scholarship."--Richard Kieckhefer, Northwestern University "Richly annotated. A provocative companion for students working with the original text."--Ray Wakefield, University of Minnesota "A vivid retelling of the Gospel story from an early Saxon perspective. Ideal reading as a component of a culture and civilization course in translation....Also for the general reader who is interested in Germanic history of the dissemination of Christianity."--David J. Parent, Illinois State University "An interesting and remarkable text, full of possibilities for defining epic machinery, and a welcome addition to the Old English canon."--R.E. Stratton, University of Alaska, Fairbanks "We can be grateful to the author for the care taken in the translation and for the detailed notes....The supporting material should be required reading; it is both concise and stimulating."--John M. Jeep, Miami University "Those who love the gospel will find it recounted in The Heliand in a way that will provoke and inspire."--Worship Works "The translator is to be heartily commended for providing a highly readable prose rendering, carefully annotated, of a largely neglected yet important literary work from early Saxon missionary times."--Otto J. Zitzelsberger, Rutgers University "Readable and accurate. The comments are informative and can serve as a springboard for further discussion. The select bibliography is useful. All in all, a valuable book."--Hubert Heinen, The University of Texas at Austin "Murphy manages both to translate into a smooth modern English, and to preserve the historical sense through a careful choice of words and expressions for specific terms in the original."--Albrecht Classen, University of Arizona "Excellent book."--James V. McMahon, Emory University "Superb, long-awaited, vibrant translation of an essential medieval primary source."--D. McCaffrey, Providence College "We...can only be grateful to Ronald Murphy for this 'light-shining' translation. It is a labor of love that anyone...will find irresistible."--James V. Schall, S.J., Crisis "As well as putting the work in historical perspective, Murphy's commentary also helps readers understand where changes to the canonical Gospels reflect the poet's propaganistic interests."--The Times of Trenton "This fine translation establishes the Heliand on the map of our literary interests and endeavors."--Theological Studies "In his skillful translation Murphy has serendipitously addressed a major crux which has engaged scholars over the years."--American Journal of Germanic Literatures "Murphy's English rendering is itself poetic and moving...A wonderful starting place for all readers to enter the mysterious world of early medieval culture."--Koinonia Journal "Has always been and remains a focus of interest for historical linguists and for students of the Germanic languages more particularly...indispensable for the academic to whose work The Heliand is relevant."--Early Medieval Europe "This translation succeeds so admirably in communicating a real affection."--The German Quarterly "Provides a fascinating insight into a world of which we knew little."--The Expository Times "There is an overwhelming sense of light and brightness associated with the Good News and a sense of shadows and darkness associated with missing it."--Crisis "An excellent translation with very good notes on the Saxon Heliand. Very accessible to students with little background. I plan to use it in all my seminars on Anglo-Saxon England as comparative material."--Lisi Oliver, Louisiana State University