“The Kalevala” is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature.
The Kalevala is presented here in an English translation that is both scholarly and eminently readable. The lyrical passages and poetic images, the wry humor, the tall-tale extravagance, and the homely realism of the work come through with extraordinary effectiveness.
