Green light

One of the greatest poets of the (early) English language, and we know next to nothing about him: Frank Kermode discusses two new translations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and compares them to Tolkien's classic version:

"[Once this point is made] one can see how it happens that we have before us two translations that are about as far apart as they could possibly be while each retaining its own fidelity to the original. Both positions are defensible; both allow for the variety of the content and for flexibility in its delivery; above all, both are continually aware that they are handling a rather beautiful object."