Review
Winner: Words on Wings Book Award for young adult fiction, a Literary Classics Top Honors Award 2016.
Finalist for the 2016 Wishing Shelf Book Award in the category of Adult Fiction
Finalist for the 2014-2015 Sarton Literary Award for Historical Fiction
Finalist for Foreward Reviews' 2015 Indiefab Book of the Year Award: Historical (Adult Fiction).
Recipient of Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
"What a gift! Grendel's Mother is sure to become an integral part of every class on Beowulf.
~ Candace Robb, author of the Owen Archer Mystery Series and, as Emma Campion, A Triple Knot
"This fascinating narrative is to readers today what John Gardner's Grendel was to readers of the 1970s."
~ Haruko Momma, Professor of English, New York University
"I wish I'd had Morrison's novel when I was teaching Beowulf...It is a rare glimpse into a world that is both profoundly alien and surprisingly, wrenchingly, our own."
~ Susan Wittig Albert, NYT bestselling author, reviewing for Story Circle Book Reviews
"[M]asterfully incorporating an old world flair, this book transportsreaders tomedieval Denmark and the fascinating world of Grendel....Excellent companion piece as a prequel for those seeking greater depth, or an alternate view, of Beowulf. Grendel's Mother is highly recommended for home and school libraries and as a teachingtool for educators. "
~Literary Classics Seal of Approval
"[F]ascinating... beautifullywritten reimagining of Beowulf....Morrison's writing style....give the story an Anglo Saxon flavour and a haunting, eloquent feel to the narrative. ...[M]ust-read book to add to any medieval reading list."
~Sandra Alvarez Medievalists.net
"[A] gritty, no-holds-barred epic....[A]n English Prof. doing 'Conan the Barbarian'""
~ Andy Lloyd's Book Reviews
"What a gift!Grendel's Mother is sure to become an integral part of every class onBeowulf."
~ Candace Robb, author of the Owen Archer Mystery Series and, as Emma Campion, A Triple Knot 2015
"This fascinating narrative is to readers today what John Gardner's Grendel was to readers of the 1970s."
~ Haruko Momma, Professor of English, New York University
"Morrison writes in alliterative, lyric prose that evokes the Old English of hersource text... An incredible world is spunout of blunt, staccatowords... Morrison manages to update themedieval morality of the original poem while preserving its mournfulsense of the old ways passing away.An enchanting, poignant reimaginingof Beowulf."
~ Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1st, 2015
"Finally, a creator in the long afterlife of Beowulf who putsGrendel's Mother at the centre of our consideration-just exactly whereshe belongs!"
~ M. J. Toswell, Professor in the Department of English at the University of Western Ontario
"Grendel's mother ...finds new life in Susan Morrison's fascinating narrative oflove, strife, and sorrow in the age of theScyldings....Morrison hasgiven us a "monstrous" woman worthy of our fear, our respect, and ourlove."
~ Robert T. Tally Jr., Texas State University, author of Poe and the Subversion of American Literature: Satire, Fantasy, Critique, CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 2014
"Morrison has a scholar's command of Beowulf...[incorporating] material fromrelated songs and sagas to create acompelling story with the specialappeal of a window on the past."
~ Geoffrey Russom, Professor Emeritus of English and Medieval Studies, Brown University
"I found this story to an emotional and poignant read. ...Grendel's Mother is sure to linger with you even after you have finished the last page."
~ Lauralee Jacks, History from a Woman's Perspective: A Book Blog
"I was captivated by the prose...Grendel's Mother is definitely a book that I will be recommending to any of my friends who enjoy historical fiction."
~ A Book Geek
"[O]verall the use of alliteration, epithets, and kenning was beautifully crafted. All in all a definite, recommended read!"
~ Seize the Words
"Grendel's Mother is no doubt one of the most captivating medieval tales I have ever read."
~ Faridah Nassozi, Readers' Favorite
"Put this on the syllabus next time you teach Beowulf."
~Times Higher Education, May 12, 2016~Peter J. Smith, reader in Renaissance literature, Nottingham Trent University
About the Author
Professor of English at Texas State University, Susan Signe Morrison lives in Austin, Texas, and writes on topics lurking in the margins of history, ranging from recently uncovered diaries of a teenaged girl in World War II to medieval women pilgrims, excrement in the Middle Ages, and waste.
