Kalevala: The Epic of the Finnish People

Description

The great epic poem of Northern Europe, born deep in the heart of ancient Karelian forests Sharing its title with the poetic name for Finland - 'the land of heroes' - Kalevala is the soaring epic poem of the Finnish people. Born of an ancient tradition of folklore and song, Kalevala is a work rich in magic, cosmic mystery and myth, presenting a story of a people through the ages, from the dawn of creation. Sung by rural Finns since prehistoric times, and formally compiled by Elias L nnrot in the nineteenth century, it is a landmark of Finnish culture and it played a vital role in galvanizing Finland's national identity in the decades leading up to independence. And yet its tales of tragedy and triumph, adventure and ambition, hope, lust, death and birth, reach far beyond the region's borders, searching the heart of human existence.

Elias L nnrot (1802-1884) was a Finnish physician, philologist and collector of traditional Finnish oral poetry. L nnrot created the Kalevala, Finland's national epic, by recording and compiling fragments of folk tales, ballads, and other oral poems. Following the publication of the Kalevala, L nnrot served as Professor of Finnish Language and Literature at the University of Helsinki. He tirelessly promoted the Finnish language and is credited with paving the way for modern Finnish literature. Jukka Korpela is Professor of History at the University of Eastern Finland. He has published ten monographs and more than 150 scientific articles on East European culture and history, including The World of Ladoga (Lit. Verlag- Berlin, 2008). Eino Friberg (1901-95) was a Finnish-born American author, noted for his 1989 translation the Kalevala.

A masterpiece * Spectator * One of the great mythic poems of Europe * New York Times * The Kalevala is a fabulous narrative spiced with exotic images and much hilarity -- Jennifer Cooke * Melbourne Sunday Herald *