Review of "Grendel"

"And so begins the twelfth year of my idiotic war."

     If you ever attended college, or if you are interested in classical literature, you have probably read the epic poem "Beowulf", which follows a great hero on his journey to rid the Danes of two horrible monsters, rule his kingdom wisely, and eventually slay a dragon. But his is not the only side of the story. In 1971, author John Gardner published a novel entitled Grendel, which follows the life of Beowulf's first nemesis, the monster Grendel, up until his role in the poem. Grendel is a hairy, troll-like creature who constantly attacks the Danes but does not, according to Gardner, want to destroy them. In this novel, we explore the inner depths of a character who may be more than meets the eye--and get a front-row seat for all of his pillaging.

     You do not need to have read "Beowulf" to understand this story, as the vast majority of its twelve chapters takes place before the Danes welcome the hero to their lands. However, if you have read the poem you may find an added interest in Grendel, though you'll know how the story ends. I will not spoil the ending for those who are as yet unaware of it, but rest assured that the final two chapters, which document Grendel and Beowulf's confrontation, follow the original storyline closely.

     I must admit that I was rather disappointed with Grendel. Although I have not read the poem, pieces of metafiction have always interested me, especially if they are written from the perspective of a secondary character or the antagonist. However, from the beginning it became obvious that there would be no attempts to make Grendel relatable. He is morose, unstable, and isolated, and he hates anyone who is otherwise; nothing in him is human enough for me to truly connect with. At various points in the book, Grendel thinks back to parts of his life that have made him who he is; and while some of them make him a bit sympathetic, all of that is overshadowed by the gore, violence, and hatred in the others.

     The other characters in this book are interesting, however. We have Hrothgar, the king Grendel hates; Unferth, the hero Grendel refuses to kill out of spite, and who is perhaps the most sympathetic character in the book; Wealtheow, who is not explored much in the poem but whose backstory is much expanded in Grendel; and the Shaper, a blind harpist whose captivating songs infuriate Grendel. These characters are intriguing, and might be very fun to read about from another viewpoint, but unfortunately we only ever see them through the eyes of Grendel, the monster who hates them all.

     Gardner's writing style is very good--nearly fantastical without losing any of the gritty, harsh reality the narrator thinks in. Most characters don't curse--with the exception of Grendel, who uses some very crude and insulting terms to describe certain characters; there are a few sexual references, made mostly by the priests who go out at night to offer prayers to the idols they don't believe in. There is plenty of gore, from simple stabbings to scenes where Grendel breaks open heads and eats the brains. Trust me when I say that this is not a book for the faint of heart.

     I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cruel, heartless characters who hate humans as a rule. It is graphic and it is morose, but it is also well-written. Do not read Grendel if you're looking for a deep, fulfilling read about misunderstood villains, because you will not find one within these pages. Because of the writing and the side characters, I grant John Gardner's Grendel two star.