Kalevala
The Land of the Heroes
Translated by W.F. Kirby
First published in the Everyman's Library, 1907
Published by the Athlone Press, 1985
Kalevala is the great Finnish epic of ancient life in the Far North.
It tells how with magic and sword the Northern heroes fought for
surival against the powers of darkness. It recounts dangerous
journeys over land and sea; the boisterous celebration of weddings
and rituals; the hunting of the bear and journeying with the shaman
to the Otherworld. Finally, we share the heroes' joy as they celebrate
in song and music the taming of the land of Kalevala and its salvation
from its enemies.
Kalevala became for the Finns a cornerstone of their struggle for a
national culture and identity; and a continuing source of inspiration
both in the arts and in national life.
Today, leading poets, artists, composers and film directors make it the
subject of their work; this stimulates fast and furious debate in the
media. Nor has the Kalevala lost its power to captivate the world at
large. in 1983 a Finnish TV film of the adventures of a Kalevala hero
won the coveted Prix d'Italia at the Naples Film Festival.
The text is based on W.F. Kirby's translation, still unmatched in
communicating the sweep and grandeur of the original. It has a new
Introduction and commentary by Dr. M.A. Branch, Director of the
School of Slavonic and East European Studies in the University of
London. Dr. Branch is the author of several works on Finnish cultural
history and Folklore.
(The text above comes from the back of the book)