J. R. R. Tolkien's adaptation of the Old English poem into modern times and his inspiration for his own verse drama "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth." England in the 10th century. A Viking army encounters the defenders of Essex near the town of Maldon. Two men stumble across the battlefield at night. One is a young lad with his head full of dreams. The other is an old farmer who has seen many battles. As they search in the dark for the body of their lord, they explore in conversation the tensions between youth and age, pagan and Christian worldviews, the ideals of loyalty and community, and the question of what heroism means. The dramatic dialogue is complemented by the verse epic "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth," written by J. R. R. Tolkien, which also addresses the Battle of Maldon and focuses on the hero's return. Both epics ultimately flow into the world of "The Lord of the Rings." Unabridged reading with Gert Heidenreich, Timmo Niesner, Johannes Steck, 1 MP3-CD, 8h 37min.