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Finnish Legends for English Children
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119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1893
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 22, 2014
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
Opening lines:
THE following stories cover almost all of the songs of the Kalevala, the epic of the Finnish people. They will lead the English child into a new region in the fairy world, yet one where he will recognise many an old friend in a new form. The very fact that they do open up a new portion of the world of the marvellous, will, it is hoped, render them all the more acceptable, and perhaps, when the child who reads them grows up to manhood, will inspire an actual interest in the race that has composed them.
Opening lines:
THE following stories cover almost all of the songs of the Kalevala, the epic of the Finnish people. They will lead the English child into a new region in the fairy world, yet one where he will recognise many an old friend in a new form. The very fact that they do open up a new portion of the world of the marvellous, will, it is hoped, render them all the more acceptable, and perhaps, when the child who reads them grows up to manhood, will inspire an actual interest in the race that has composed them.
November 18, 2018
I really enjoyed these stories. I don't know anything about Finland, their history or literature so can only assume they are correctly translated.
I only gave 4 stars because they are badly formatted. Which is what makes me concerned about the quality of the translation. There were only a couple of illustrations and they did not seem to be related to the stories.
I would definitely read them to children and think they would hold their interest because they are full of that old time heroes, magic and adversity.
I only gave 4 stars because they are badly formatted. Which is what makes me concerned about the quality of the translation. There were only a couple of illustrations and they did not seem to be related to the stories.
I would definitely read them to children and think they would hold their interest because they are full of that old time heroes, magic and adversity.
June 10, 2019
Finnish Legends for English Children (1983) by R. Eivind contains stories from the Kalevala, the Finnish epic. I felt charmed, from beginning to end, with these stories. I listened to it, which I think made a difference to my experience, for these are paced and written as bedtime stories. (I also fell asleep while listening to them, but not because they were bad stories.)
There's a few details which need noting. The magicians of the stories are very shaman-like, but not in the way that the modern West understands shaman. They are sometimes like men, sometimes like gods, and sometimes like epic heroes. Heroes frequently take up their copper weapons and armor, but I think that would be better understood as bronze (a copper alloy).
The tales rampantly mix myth, legend, and adventure, with people who may or may not be gods, depending, each doing their own thing.
Don't take the book too seriously.
I loved how this fantasy is nothing like our modern fantasies in any way, shape for form. Half my enjoyment was gained simply from this tale ignoring all my expectations. Who writes this sort of crazy stuff? I loved it.
There's a few details which need noting. The magicians of the stories are very shaman-like, but not in the way that the modern West understands shaman. They are sometimes like men, sometimes like gods, and sometimes like epic heroes. Heroes frequently take up their copper weapons and armor, but I think that would be better understood as bronze (a copper alloy).
The tales rampantly mix myth, legend, and adventure, with people who may or may not be gods, depending, each doing their own thing.
Don't take the book too seriously.
I loved how this fantasy is nothing like our modern fantasies in any way, shape for form. Half my enjoyment was gained simply from this tale ignoring all my expectations. Who writes this sort of crazy stuff? I loved it.
December 9, 2021
if you want to tell the oral history of the kalevala to your children, read each story five or so times and practice saying it aloud in a mirror before telling it to your children from memory.
this book is perfect for those who don’t want to go through all that trouble yet want to share these culturally-significant creation stories. :)
this book is perfect for those who don’t want to go through all that trouble yet want to share these culturally-significant creation stories. :)
April 9, 2019
Not epic, boring and is always the same throughout the book
September 6, 2022
I was able to see why it is said to have inspired Tolkien but he did some much more with his plots and character development
June 17, 2010
I was able to see why it is said to have inspired Tolkien but he did some much more with his plots and character development
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews