Since its initial publication in the early nineteenth century, Elias Lonnrot’s Finnish epic Kalevala has attracted international interest and scholarship. However, the author comments that the distorting lenses of translation, cultural difference and historical distance, have rendered the work a cryptic and often misinterpreted text outside of its country of origin. Even within Finland, scholars have found it difficult at times to judge the relation of the Kalevala to its oral sources. Lonnrot’s meticulous notes and discussions of intent and accomplishment make clear what he changed and how he went about it, but give us less inkling of why. This study's view is that the key to understanding Lonnrot’s changes lies in Romantic aesthetics and in the intellectual and socio-political agendas which they encode. Lonnrot created a Romantic epic out of Baltic-Finnic folk poetry, an epic complete with the narrative, generic, gendered and political characteristics of literary epics in nineteenth century’ Europe.

This book presents an overview of Finnish folklore from the nineteenth century to the present. The Nordic country of Finland has been influenced by both east and west and serves as an excellent showcase of European folklore in general. Guided by Finnish Folklore, readers will learn how folklore has been collected and researched in Finland, what regional distinctions exist in the country's traditions, and how traditions have changed in the process of modernization. An extensive anthology section features ancient alliterative poetry, such as formed the basis of the Finnish national epic Kalevala. The book contains translated examples of rhymed folk songs, folktales, legends, and other narratives, proverbs, riddles, jokes, and contemporary genres like children's folklore, urban legends, and anecdotes. Tradition continues to live on in communications from person to person, sometimes travelling thousands of miles and over many national borders in the process. The same item of folklore may acquire new meanings in new contexts. What is the linking thread of tradition? Humour, sexuality, fear, or laughter? Is it our eternal longing for happiness or just the endless need of human beings to pass the time with each other?

'One of the great mythic poems of Europe' The New York Times Sharing its title with the poetic name for Finland - 'the land of heroes' - Kalevala is the soaring epic poem of its people, a work rich in magic and myth which tells the story of a nation through the ages from the dawn of creation. Sung by rural Finns since prehistoric times, and formally compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the nineteenth century, it is a landmark of Finnish culture and played a vital role in galvanizing its national identity in the decades leading to independence. Its themes, however, reach beyond borders and search the heart of human existence. Translated with an Introduction by Eino Friberg

It was the Kalevala that initiated the process leading to the foundation of Finnish identity during the nineteenth century and was, therefore, one of the crucial factors in the formation of Finland as a new nation in the twentieth century.

Aho's first novel Rautatie (Railroad), considered one of his main works, is a story of an elderly couple who hear about railroad first time ever and have a hard time imagining carriages with no horses. They eventually get around to trying it out.Juhani Ahon esikoisromaani vuodelta 1884, Rautatie, on kertomus maaseudun ukosta ja akasta, jotka kuulevat naapurikyl�lle saapuneesta uudesta ihmeest�, ilman hevosia kulkevasta vaunusta, ja p��tt�v�t pitk�n jahkailun j�lkeen l�hte� sit� katsomaan.First Page:RAUTATIEeli kertomus ukosta ja akasta, jotka eiv�t olleet sit� ennen n�hneetKirj.Juhani Aho1884.I.Pakkanen paukkaa nurkissa, r�isk�� pitkin aidan selki� ja seuloo huurua puihin ja pensaihin. Aurinko kultaa kirkon ja tapulin ristej�, paistaa hauskasti h�rm�iseen koivikkoon ja valaisee joka savupatsaan, joita kiemuroitellen kumpuilee piipuista ja lakeistorvista l�helt� ja kaukaa. Tie ei ihan juuri kuolemataankaan huuda reen jalaksen alla, vaikka surullisesti ja toivottomasti se valittelee.Kuusen latvassa kyyh�tt�� harakka, kaula lyhyen� ja paksuna, p�� h�yhenien sis�ss�. Se on jo p�iv�n valetessa m�nnik�st� y�puultaan pellon takaa liikkeelle l�htenyt, lent�nyt riihen per�itse ja navetan yli ja istuutunut pappilan puutarhaan, jossa aivan yksin��n seisoo kuusi koivujen keskess�.Ei ole harakka viel� aamiaista saanut, ei aukea ky�kin ovi eik� n�y ajavata pappilan pihalla. Eilen hyv� piika nakkeli t�hteit� harakalle, ja eilen kun yksi hevosensa kanssa kartanolta l�hti, niin toinen tuli...