Grendel


Beowulf has become a favorite story of mine over the last several years, one that I’ll reread once a year or so. Thing is, its really Grendel that interests me. Frequently I don’t read the second part of the story (Grendel has left the saga at that point). How does one become Grendel—what has to happen in your life?

This Spring I’ve become very interested in Ty Cobb. I’ve watched the Tommy Lee Jones movie based on Al Stump’s dubious biography. Currently I’m reading Charles Leershen’s Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty at home while listening to Charles Alexander’s Ty Cobb at work. 


What seems to be unfolding is a lot of conflicting information. There is Ty Cobb the myth and Ty Cobb the man. What turns a boy into Grendel, an outsider? What turns an overzealous, naive boy into the violent, short-tempered racist that is Ty Cobb the myth? How much of it is true? 

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