The Kalevala: Epic of the Finnish People

Rating:
Summary: A readable translation
Review: Friberg does a good job of translating the Kalevala into a readable English form. The Kalevala is a collection of 'Runos' or poems that were sung by storytellers. Friberg's translation is of the spirit of the stories. Some translations have tried to translate both the verse and the story making both dry and uninteresting. Frieberg concentrates on making the story read well in current English.

Rating:
Summary: By far the best
Review: I read Friberg's translation, along with every other available one in English, as research for my picture book retelling _The Maiden of Northland_. Friberg's was simply the best, by far. Someone please bring it back into print!

Rating:
Summary: Some of My Favourite Tales
Review: My grandmother gave this book to be years ago and it sat in my closet for a long time. I never realized how interested I would become in stuff like this until the last few years. This collection of Finish folktales, mythology, and magic and the such is a very interesting read. Not a whole lot is known about this. Most of the tales and legends were spread by word of mouth throughout the snowy and forest filled country throughout time. I love reading these translations alooking at the pictures. I came upon this book again while searching through my closet the other day and I started to look at it again instead of finding what I was looking for. I wish my grandmother was still alive so I could thank her for this.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent translation
Review: This translation if folksy and sensitive to the feel of the original. Although not encumbered with scholarly precision, it is right on the mark for continuing the ancient tradtions of the Finns. This was a major resource for me in the writing of my book Finnish Magic. The illustrations too are delightful