The Kalevala

Kalevala: The Epic Poem of Finland by Elias Lönnrot, translated by John Martin Crawford

The Kalevala is an epic poem which Elias Lönnrot compiled from Finnish folk lore in the 19th century. It is commonly called the Finnish national epic and is traditionally thought of as one of the most significant works of Finnish-language literature. The Kalevala is credited with some of the inspiration for the national awakening that ultimately led to Finland's independence from Russia in 1917.

John Martin Crawford's Translation

This was first complete translation of the Kalevala in English, translated from Franz Anton Schiefner's German translation of the original Finnish.

• Preface.

The First Vainamoinen Cycle

• Proem.
• Rune I. Birth of Wainamoinen.
• Rune II. Wainamoinen's Sowing.
• Rune III. Wainamoinen and Youkahainen.
• Rune IV. The Fate of Aino.
• Rune V. Wainamoinen's Lamentation.
• Rune IV. Wainamoinen's Hapless Journey.
• Rune VII. Wainamoinen's Rescue.
• Rune VIII. Maiden of the Rainbow.
• Rune XI. Origin of Iron.
• Rune X. Ilmarinen Forges the Sampo.

The First Lemminkainen Cycle

• Rune XI. Lemminkainen's Lament.
• Rune XII. Kyllikki's Broken Vow.
• Rune XIII. Lemminikainen's Second Wooing.
• Rune XIV. Death of Lemminkainen.
• Rune XV. Lemminkainen's Restoration.

The Second Vainamoinen Cycle

• Rune XVI. Wainamoinen's Boat-building.
• Rune XVII. Wainamoinen Finds the Lost-word.
• Rune XVIII. The Rival Suitors.
• Rune XIX. Ilmarinen's Wooing.
• Rune XX. The Brewing of Beer.
• Rune XXI. Ilmarinen's Wedding-feast.
• RUne XXII. The Bride's Farewell.
• Rune XXIII. Osmotar the Bride-adviser.
• Rune XXIV. The Bride's Farewell.
• Rune XXV. Wainamoinen's Wedding-songs.

The Second Lemminkainen Cycle

• Rune XXVI. Origin of the Serpent.
• Rune XXVII. The Unwelcome Guest.
• Rune XXVIII. The Mother's Counsel
• Rune XXIX. The Isle of Refuge.
• Rune XXX. The Frost-fiend.

The Kullervo Cycle

• Rune XXXI. Kullerwoinen Son of Evil.
• Rune XXXII. Kullervo As A Sheperd.
• Rune XXXIII. Kullervo and the Cheat-cake.
• Rune XXXIV. Kullervo Finds His Tribe-folk.
• Rune XXXV. Kullervo's Evil Deeds.
• Rune XXXVI. Kullerwoinen's Victory and Death.

The Ilmarinen Cycle

• Rune XXXVII. Ilmarinen's Bride of Gold.
• Rune XXXVIII. Ilmarinen's Fruitless Wooing.

The Third Vainamoinen Cycle

• Rune XXXIX. Wainamoinen's Sailing.
• Rune XL. Birth of the Harp.
• Rune XLI. Wainamoinen's Harp-songs.
• Rune XLII. Capture of the Sampo.
• Rune XLIII. The Sampo Lost In the Sea.
• Rune XLIV. Birth of the Second Harp.
• Rune XLV. Birth of the Nine Diseases.
• Rune XLVI. Otso the Honey-eater.
• Rune XLVII. Louhi Steals Sun, Moon, and Fire.
• Rune XLVIII. Capture of the Fire-fish.
• Rune XLIX. Restoration of the Sun and Moon.

The Marjatta Cycle

• Rune L. Mariatta--Wainamoinen's Departure.
• Epilogue

This is a translation and has a separate copyright status from the original text. The license for the translation applies to this edition only.
Original:	This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Translation:	This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. The author died in 1916, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.