Heroes of the Kalevala

by Babette Deutsch, Fritz Eichenberg (Illustrator)

1949 Julian Messner Hardcover

Genres: Mythology, Childrens, Classics

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

1895-1982

Reviews

[Susanna Natti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had very mixed reactions to Heroes of the Kalevala, published in 1940. The negative reactions first: reading this in 2019, when entrenched assumptions about women's roles have been brought out of the shadows into the light, was shocking sometimes. All the old tropes are there: Louhi, the crafty and evil sorceress of the North Country offers up the stereotype of woman as witch and her beautiful (and cold) daughter offers up the opposite stereotype, the unattainable object of desire. In referring to the talk and stories of women, the male characters dismiss them is foolish and diminished. The sheer baldness of these sections in their misogyny were really a slap which I really couldn't quite get over, despite wanting to read these in the context of the times these stories were created. Context here is trumped by the centuries of women being treated badly. Most of the stories are of plots and vengeance. Lots of sword blades and armies getting wiped out. The ambivalent reactions: reading this written version left me a little cold, but, huzzah - when I started reading it out loud, everything changed. All the fantastical details suddenly made sense, and I could imagine people gathered around the ancient rune singers, spinning these tales, everyone leaning forward to hear what the next amazing adventure would be, no matter how farfetched. The positive: Fritz Eichenberg's illustrations are wonderful. He made Vainomoinen come alive. I was glad to become more educated about the Kalevala's characters. I have been familiar with some of their names because of my Finnish ancestry, and have wanted to understand better who they are. So in that way, the book is instructive - easy to follow and read, and the narrative is strung together very well.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's prose version of the Finnish national epic. Refreshingly weird, with that great old book of folk tales feel to it. Only recommended for folk tale fanatics or fascinated Finns. Ages 9-12.

[jack]

non prose tales from finlands national epic