Kalevala is the soaring epic poem of Finland's people, a work rich in magic and myth which tells the story of a nation through the...

Kalevala is the soaring epic poem of Finland's 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. It has themes that reach beyond borders and search the heart of human existence.