A review by nsfinch
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Benedict Flynn

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Four stars. I did read the Jessie L. Weston translation. It's prose, which is disappointing, and the footnotes indicate that some material has been abridged. The analyses I've read about the poem specifically discuss the alliteration in the original, and this translation seems to make no effort to maintain that, although alliteration seems to happen accidentally in the prose. It tells the story, though, so at least I have that basic understanding. It's a good story! I can see why it would make a good movie, and I'm looking forward to seeing the new film. I have the audiobook of a new translation in verse that I'm going to listen to to compare.

++++++++++++++++++++

Okay, goodreads won’t let me review the two different editions separately. The paragraph above refers to the Weston translation. This is about the Benedict Flynn translation narrated by Jasper Britton.

Five stars! This translation was so lively and fun, and the narrator brought the poetry to life. I seriously couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I listened to the alliteration and the rhythm and the rhyme. It also didn’t abridge the sections on hunting, which Weston thought would be too graphic for people. *eyeroll* Anyway, this was great, and I’m hyped for the movie now.