Prefaces

Summary

From the Swedish Edition

MY INTEREST IN BEOWULF goes back a long way, but it was only with advancing years that I really got to grips with the subject. It has now kept me occupied for a good many years, albeit alongside a host of other things. The only deadline I have had is the one which nature, uninvited, sets before us.

The list of colleagues and friends I have pestered with questions and requests to review manuscripts at various stages of incompleteness, and who have generously shared constructive criticism, information, ideas, suggestions for further reading, helpful advice, general assistance, and encouragement, is a long one: Magnus Alkarp, Anders Andrén, Birgit Arrhenius, Ylva Bäckström, Stefan Brink, Göran Burenhult, Bryony Coles, François-Xavier Dillmann, Rune Edberg, Torsten Edgren, Kristina Ekero Eriksson, Lennart Elmevik, Johan Engström, Lotta Fernstål, Per Frölund, Hans Göthberg, Anne-Sofie Gräslund, Elisabeth Gräslund Berg, Pekka Hakamies, Hans Helander, Frands Herschend, Helena Hulth, Peter Jackson, Magnus Källström, Lars-Gunnar Larsson, Thomas Lindkvist, Jonathan Lindström, John Ljungkvist, Tomas Matsson, Lotta Mejsholm, Jan Mispelaere, Håkan Möller, Agneta Ney, Jenny Nygren, Neil Price, Thure Stenström, Anneli Sundkvist, Olle Sundqvist, Gustav Svedjemo, Rolf Torstendahl, Gustaf Trotzig, Lisa Wahlbom, Per Widerström, Per-Axel Wiktorsson, Jonas Wikborg, Henrik Williams, Torun Zachrisson, and Arne Zettersten. Should any names unfortunately have been omitted, I reserve my warmest thanks for the individuals concerned.

An academic lone wolf like myself is no more than a sheep in wolf's clothing. Without the support of the rest of the flock, ewes as well as rams, I would never have made it to my destination. The fact that, for want of good sense, I have not always followed your advice does not detract in any way from your contribution.

Special and heartfelt thanks go to Lennart Elmevik. Without his generous and patient help and guidance in the final phase of the work, I would never have escaped the claws of Germanic ablaut and been able to knock Chapter 7 and Appendix 2 into some sort of shape. The fixed base for my work has been the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Uppsala University, along with Uppsala University Library and its Karin Boye branch, all in the most pleasant symbiosis with the Fågelsången Café. My sincere thanks to them all, management and staff alike.