Beowulf vs Hrolf Kraki
Following on from a previous post about coincidental cover designs, here’s another one:
Both LGF for their French translation of Beowulf and Penguin for their English translation of The Saga of Hrolf Kraki have gone with the same image to illustrate their respective covers. The coincidence is perhaps more readily understandable in this case, however, as both tales are derived from the same Germanic legend.
Penguin describes the image as follows
Detail from a bronze plaque showing a hero struggling with two bears found at Torslunda, Öland in the Statens Historiska Museet, Stockholm.
and LGF simply states
Deux loups avalant le vieux ciel. Cachet de bronze, VIe siècle.
The Penguin description says the animals are bears, and the LGF says they are wolves. Considering that wolves rarely stand on two feet, I am placing my bets on Penguin’s interpretation.