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Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland Volume 01
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386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1966
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143 people want to read
About the author
Elias Lönnrot
91 books69 followersElias Lönnrot was a Finnish philologist and collector of traditional Finnish oral poetry. He is best known for composing the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic compiled from national folklore.
Lönnrot was born in Sammatti, in the province of Uusimaa in Finland. He studied medicine at the Academy of Turku. To his misfortune the year he joined was the year of the Great Fire of Turku, burning down half the town – and the University. Lönnrot (and many of the rest of the University) moved to Helsinki, where he graduated in 1832.
He got a job as district doctor of Kajaani in Northern Finland during a time of famine in the district. The famine had prompted the previous doctor to resign, making it possible for a very young doctor to get such a position. Several consecutive years of crop failure resulted in enormous losses of population and livestock; Lönnrot wrote letters to the State departments, asking for food, not medicines. He was the sole doctor for the 4,000 or so people of his district, at a time where doctors were rare and very expensive, and where people did not buy medicines from equally rare and expensive pharmacies, but rather trusted to their village healers and locally available remedies.
His true passion lay in his native Finnish language. He began writing about the early Finnish language in 1827 and began collecting folk tales from the rural people about that time.
Lönnrot went on extended leaves of absence from his doctor's office; he toured the countryside of Finland, Sapmi (Lapland), and nearby portions of Russian Karelia to support his collecting efforts. This led to a series of books: Kantele, 1829–1831 (the kantele is a Finnish traditional instrument); Kalevala, 1835–1836 (possibly Land of Heroes; better known as the "old" Kalevala); Kanteletar, 1840 (the Kantele Maiden); Sananlaskuja, 1842 (Proverbs); an expanded second edition of Kalevala, 1849 (the "new" Kalevala); and Finsk-Svenskt lexikon, 1866–1880 (Finnish-Swedish Dictionary).
Lönnrot was recognised for his part in preserving Finland's oral traditions by appointment to the Chair of Finnish Literature at the University of Helsinki. He died on March 19, 1884 in Sammatti, in the province of Uusimaa.
Lönnrot was born in Sammatti, in the province of Uusimaa in Finland. He studied medicine at the Academy of Turku. To his misfortune the year he joined was the year of the Great Fire of Turku, burning down half the town – and the University. Lönnrot (and many of the rest of the University) moved to Helsinki, where he graduated in 1832.
He got a job as district doctor of Kajaani in Northern Finland during a time of famine in the district. The famine had prompted the previous doctor to resign, making it possible for a very young doctor to get such a position. Several consecutive years of crop failure resulted in enormous losses of population and livestock; Lönnrot wrote letters to the State departments, asking for food, not medicines. He was the sole doctor for the 4,000 or so people of his district, at a time where doctors were rare and very expensive, and where people did not buy medicines from equally rare and expensive pharmacies, but rather trusted to their village healers and locally available remedies.
His true passion lay in his native Finnish language. He began writing about the early Finnish language in 1827 and began collecting folk tales from the rural people about that time.
Lönnrot went on extended leaves of absence from his doctor's office; he toured the countryside of Finland, Sapmi (Lapland), and nearby portions of Russian Karelia to support his collecting efforts. This led to a series of books: Kantele, 1829–1831 (the kantele is a Finnish traditional instrument); Kalevala, 1835–1836 (possibly Land of Heroes; better known as the "old" Kalevala); Kanteletar, 1840 (the Kantele Maiden); Sananlaskuja, 1842 (Proverbs); an expanded second edition of Kalevala, 1849 (the "new" Kalevala); and Finsk-Svenskt lexikon, 1866–1880 (Finnish-Swedish Dictionary).
Lönnrot was recognised for his part in preserving Finland's oral traditions by appointment to the Chair of Finnish Literature at the University of Helsinki. He died on March 19, 1884 in Sammatti, in the province of Uusimaa.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 9, 2021
Story time! ! When I was a teenager I was getting into Finnish metal. Of course many of the songs referenced characters or events from the Kalevala. I found an illustrated Children's version and read it. But I felt that some parts were either cleaned up or not accurate. Years later, I became the owner of these volumes. This book belonged to my partner's father. He was a history teacher, he loved mythologies, fantasy and horror. I wish I could have met this man because he sounds lovely. He passed away. I was helping my partner organize the house. I managed to save a couple boxes of his books. His legacy now lives on my bookshelves. Don't worry sir, your books will be read and loved.
Now onto the actual story....
I love creation stories. They're my favorite. Every good story starts with how the world was created. I think the Finnish and the Aztec creation stories are the most unique. Air goddess is lonely. She floats and randomly gets pregnant. Becomes a home for an eagle. Bam! The ocean and land is created. Honestly, I feel sorry for Ilmatar. I'd be bored out of my mind too. Even Gods get bored.
Väinämöinen isn't that old. He's only 30. By the time he meets Aino he's probably 35. In an epic, days are hours, years are months, etc. Time is elongated to make it more dramatic. The world is already created for Väino. He just needs to make it work for him.
So for Aino to think that Väino is ancient she must have been 12 or 15. I remember thinking people in their 20s-30s were adults. 🤣 If that's the case I wouldn't want to get married either. Aino is just a kid. What teenager girl doesn't want to be a mermaid?! Her brother is a real jerk to pawn her off like she's a pokemon card to be traded.
Poor Väinö is the original sad boi. He just wants to be loved. His "brother" Ilmarinen is just as awkward. Neither of them know how to talk to women. Or know what women want. I guess that's what happens when your parents are air, water, and fire.
No wonder Finnish men can't speak their emotions unless it's through a song. They're all born as adults, but are emotionally stunted like their hero, Väinämöinen.
The men in the Kalevala are all stubborn idiots. They never listen to their mother's or the wives they stole. And get mad when they're saved by their independent, brave women.
I can compare Lemminkainen to Cú Cuchulain from Irish mythology. They're both arrogant a**holes who don't care about who they hurt or the consequences of their actions.
But the real yaaaasss queen is Louhi. She's is goals. She doesn't let anybody boss her around. She refuses to give her daughters away to any idiot. Only wants the best for her children. Tests all her daughter's suitors, gives her children advice, isn't overprotective like Lemminkainen's mother, is a witch and rules over Pohjola.
The Kalevala is one of the most beautiful epics and mythologies I have ever read. Each line or runos is written like music lyrics. I can tell how hard it must have been to translate this poem story into English. I've been learning Finnish for 2 years now. Gods it is hard. Mostly because they use fewer words than English does. And each word can mean something different if you don't get the accents right. No prepositions. Their language is simple but hard.
I cannot wait to read the next volume.
Now onto the actual story....
I love creation stories. They're my favorite. Every good story starts with how the world was created. I think the Finnish and the Aztec creation stories are the most unique. Air goddess is lonely. She floats and randomly gets pregnant. Becomes a home for an eagle. Bam! The ocean and land is created. Honestly, I feel sorry for Ilmatar. I'd be bored out of my mind too. Even Gods get bored.
Väinämöinen isn't that old. He's only 30. By the time he meets Aino he's probably 35. In an epic, days are hours, years are months, etc. Time is elongated to make it more dramatic. The world is already created for Väino. He just needs to make it work for him.
So for Aino to think that Väino is ancient she must have been 12 or 15. I remember thinking people in their 20s-30s were adults. 🤣 If that's the case I wouldn't want to get married either. Aino is just a kid. What teenager girl doesn't want to be a mermaid?! Her brother is a real jerk to pawn her off like she's a pokemon card to be traded.
Poor Väinö is the original sad boi. He just wants to be loved. His "brother" Ilmarinen is just as awkward. Neither of them know how to talk to women. Or know what women want. I guess that's what happens when your parents are air, water, and fire.
No wonder Finnish men can't speak their emotions unless it's through a song. They're all born as adults, but are emotionally stunted like their hero, Väinämöinen.
The men in the Kalevala are all stubborn idiots. They never listen to their mother's or the wives they stole. And get mad when they're saved by their independent, brave women.
I can compare Lemminkainen to Cú Cuchulain from Irish mythology. They're both arrogant a**holes who don't care about who they hurt or the consequences of their actions.
But the real yaaaasss queen is Louhi. She's is goals. She doesn't let anybody boss her around. She refuses to give her daughters away to any idiot. Only wants the best for her children. Tests all her daughter's suitors, gives her children advice, isn't overprotective like Lemminkainen's mother, is a witch and rules over Pohjola.
The Kalevala is one of the most beautiful epics and mythologies I have ever read. Each line or runos is written like music lyrics. I can tell how hard it must have been to translate this poem story into English. I've been learning Finnish for 2 years now. Gods it is hard. Mostly because they use fewer words than English does. And each word can mean something different if you don't get the accents right. No prepositions. Their language is simple but hard.
I cannot wait to read the next volume.
January 22, 2022
A really interesting glimpse into the life and priorities of the ancient Finns. It's especially eye-opening how they view gender roles in and out of marriage. It's also fascinating as a brewer, to read about their mythical origin of beer, and also their understanding of how yeast works.
I'm still trying to piece together what makes Lemminkainen a hero, exhibits a lot of characteristics you would not normally ascribe to heroism. I'm interested to see how in the second volume he redeems himself (or doesn't).
This book is definitely worth a second read, and a more intense study, as I feel I missed a lot.
I'm still trying to piece together what makes Lemminkainen a hero, exhibits a lot of characteristics you would not normally ascribe to heroism. I'm interested to see how in the second volume he redeems himself (or doesn't).
This book is definitely worth a second read, and a more intense study, as I feel I missed a lot.
June 22, 2018
Ik las Kalevala door Elias Lönrott, het Finse nationale epos. Lönrott verzamelde oude Finse gedichten en liederen, en smeedde ze samen tot een lang epos, bestaande uit 50 zangen. De schepping van de wereld komt aan bod, en de avonturen van de helden Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen, Lemminkainen en Kullerva. Het is van grote invloed geweest op de Finse identiteit en kunst, maar ook buiten Finland (op Tolkien bijvoorbeeld). Ik las de Engelse vertaling van William Forsell Kirby die in twee delen op Gutenberg.org te vinden is.
Het is een prachtig boek, enigszins verwant met verhalen als de Edda en de Siegfried-legenden, maar veel minder bekend. Weinig goden, maar veel helden met magische krachten. Terugkerende thema’s zijn helden die van wat bij elkaar geraapte rommeltjes hele schepen en en dergelijke maken, en helden die door te zingen dingen creëren. Dat het van oorsprong uit een orale traditie komt blijkt uit het aangenaam stampende ritme vol herhalingen en refreinen.
Ik vond het heerlijk om te lezen.
Het is een prachtig boek, enigszins verwant met verhalen als de Edda en de Siegfried-legenden, maar veel minder bekend. Weinig goden, maar veel helden met magische krachten. Terugkerende thema’s zijn helden die van wat bij elkaar geraapte rommeltjes hele schepen en en dergelijke maken, en helden die door te zingen dingen creëren. Dat het van oorsprong uit een orale traditie komt blijkt uit het aangenaam stampende ritme vol herhalingen en refreinen.
Ik vond het heerlijk om te lezen.
December 1, 2012
Totalmente ignorante di epica finnica, ho accostato questo libro spinto dalle canzoni degli Amorphis, che hanno dedicato a queste storie ben tre cd.
Dopo aver letto la prima metà del Kalevala, posso dire di apprezzare molto di più l’epica più nostra.
Iliade, Odissea, Eneide. Ma anche il Beowulf, il ciclo arturiano, l’Orlando.
Mi lascia perplesso la magia di questi runi, una magia che vede i potenti e saggi bardi cantare, e il loro canto si avvera.
Ma devono conoscere bene un elemento per utilizzarlo o combatterlo, altrimenti saranno totalmente inermi.
Non mi ha nemmeno convinto la natura molto episodica dei runi, sopratutto nella prima metà dell’opera.
E devo ammettere di avere apprezzato molto più certi eventi narrati nelle canzoni, piuttosto che l’originale trascritto nel libro.
Voglio dire, la creazione del Sanpo nel testo non ha l’aura epica che acquisisce nell’omonima canzone, così come il fabbro Ilmarinen viene descritto come un ottimo manovale, mancando totalmente della maestosità degna di colui che ha forgiato il cielo e ha creato il paradiso.
Vainamoinen, il primo e il più potente degli eroi, è un vecchio intristito che corre dietro alle ragazzine cercando una moglie e venendo comprensibilmente rifiutato.
Lemminkainen per ora si è visto molto poco.
La vergine di Phojola è la preda ambita da tutti quanti, con la madre che impone le prove più disparate agli aspiranti sposi, lei che decide di aiutare Ilmarinen a vincerla… e a questo punto scattano un numero assurdo di runi relativi alla preparazione del banchetto, alla scoperta della birra, all’arrivo degli ospiti, ai consigli alla sposa, ai consigli allo sposo, alle paure della sposa… e basta, suvvia!
La parte finale del libro è stata di una noia portentosa.
Del proseguio mi interessa continuare a seguire Ilmarinen, dato che stando alle canzoni la moglie dovrebbe morire e lui, alla fine, arriverà a crearsene una riproduzione d’oro e d’argento, artificiale. Quasi un primo automa, se si muovesse.
Dopo aver letto la prima metà del Kalevala, posso dire di apprezzare molto di più l’epica più nostra.
Iliade, Odissea, Eneide. Ma anche il Beowulf, il ciclo arturiano, l’Orlando.
Mi lascia perplesso la magia di questi runi, una magia che vede i potenti e saggi bardi cantare, e il loro canto si avvera.
Ma devono conoscere bene un elemento per utilizzarlo o combatterlo, altrimenti saranno totalmente inermi.
Non mi ha nemmeno convinto la natura molto episodica dei runi, sopratutto nella prima metà dell’opera.
E devo ammettere di avere apprezzato molto più certi eventi narrati nelle canzoni, piuttosto che l’originale trascritto nel libro.
Voglio dire, la creazione del Sanpo nel testo non ha l’aura epica che acquisisce nell’omonima canzone, così come il fabbro Ilmarinen viene descritto come un ottimo manovale, mancando totalmente della maestosità degna di colui che ha forgiato il cielo e ha creato il paradiso.
Vainamoinen, il primo e il più potente degli eroi, è un vecchio intristito che corre dietro alle ragazzine cercando una moglie e venendo comprensibilmente rifiutato.
Lemminkainen per ora si è visto molto poco.
La vergine di Phojola è la preda ambita da tutti quanti, con la madre che impone le prove più disparate agli aspiranti sposi, lei che decide di aiutare Ilmarinen a vincerla… e a questo punto scattano un numero assurdo di runi relativi alla preparazione del banchetto, alla scoperta della birra, all’arrivo degli ospiti, ai consigli alla sposa, ai consigli allo sposo, alle paure della sposa… e basta, suvvia!
La parte finale del libro è stata di una noia portentosa.
Del proseguio mi interessa continuare a seguire Ilmarinen, dato che stando alle canzoni la moglie dovrebbe morire e lui, alla fine, arriverà a crearsene una riproduzione d’oro e d’argento, artificiale. Quasi un primo automa, se si muovesse.
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June 1, 2015Truely beautiful, epic, masterful. I'm sure it's even better in Finnish, but even in English, it's a work of art. The meter and rhyme scheme are so lyrical that you will find yourself wanting to read the verses aloud, just to hear them spoken, and they paint such a vivid picture that I easily became lost in the world of song and legend and magic and glorious battle. It's unlike any other mythology I've encountered. You'd do yourself a service to readi it if you get the chance.
August 12, 2014
It is interesting to read these Finnish myths as they are so distinct to those of the rest of the Nordic countries that largely overlap. The Finns seem to have developed a very different culture and these tales of Vainamoinen show this differences.
August 23, 2011
Brilliant, stirring - onto Volume 2 - not sure I got all the Runos about dealing with your new wife and husband may need to re-read that. Still musing on the sampo!!!
June 12, 2016
Le chant du peuple finnois : magique! Et magnifique traduction! Chapeau!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews