'Grendel prowled in, hating all men and all joy, and hungry for humanlife. So swift was his attack that no man heard an outcry; but when thedawn came, thirty of Hothgar's best and noblest thanes were missing.' OnlyBeowulf, foremost among warriors, has the strength and courage to battlewith Grendel the Night-stalker. In this thrilling re-telling of theAnglo-Saxon legend, Rosemary Sutcliffrecounts Beowulfs most terrifyingquests: against Grendel the man-wolf, against the hideous sea-hag and,most courageous of all - his fight to the death with the monstrousfire-drake.