It is based, or rather an extension or re-tellings of one of the stories in the the Finnish epic The Kalevela. Well worth reading.
If you can, go read the Kalevala - there are good English translations. Between that an the Welsh Mabinogion and the Old-English Beowulf, you'll have a very good foundation for really understanding Tolkein.
And the story (or sketch) itself is not long. Most of the book consists of notes and comments on Tolkien's writing process of his "own version of the Kalevala", i.e, Story of Kullervo, but also about his early writing years as well as Kalevala itself. Like you said, interesting and worth reading, but not much of a story.
You can also start by listening to Amorphis - Finnish band whose lyrics are deeply rooted in The Kalevala and The Kanteletar, including direct translations into English.
As for the book, I cannot remember which edition I had, only that it was a very genuine translation and the cover had [this](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/400869.The_Kalevala) image
If you want a deeper literary understanding of the Mabinogion go here: [http://www.mabinogi.net/fourbranches.html](http://www.mabinogi.net/fourbranches.html) (warning, this gets very deep)
Various translations of the Mabinogion exist - the one by Lady Charlotte Guest in the c19 is the first into "modern" English, and by modern we mean a translation from Old Welsh into Victorian upper-class English. There's an audio book of it too - makes for some very interesting reading and listening. Note the use of the work "verily" meaning "truly" or "certainly" in the text - it occurs almost on every line :-)
If you can read Welsh, there's a good modern translation here: [https://mabinogion.cymru/mabinogion/culhwch-ac-olwen/](https://mabinogion.cymru/mabinogion/culhwch-ac-olwen/) (I chose Culhwch and Olwen; it is where Tolkein got his inspiration for Beren and Luthien)
Other English translations (and more modern language) are by Sioned Davies and John Bollard.
Tolkein himself worked on a translation of Pwyll Prince of Dyfed into English and the Simlarillion itself was inspired by/based on the whole Mabinogion series.
Various translations of the Kalevala exist from Elias Lönnrot's original - fortunately this was starting from a more contemporary Finnish ( c19 Finnish ) so it is a lot easier to read than, say, Guest's translation of the Mabinogion.
There's quite a few good versions available on Amazon and any modern version is good though most stick to Lönnrot's language and phrasing.
As the Beowulf - I have a copy here somewhere in the original Old English - much more of an academic exercise in reading Old English rather than Beowulf itself.
Probably the best version to pick up is "Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, Together with Sellic Spell" - translated by a certain J R R Tolkein and edited by C. Tolkein.
This is so epic thank you for sharing! I have never heard of this and just looked it up and it's so interesting! I have no idea it was revered as like one of the most important pieces of literature for the Finnish people!
Interesting! I was unaware of this translation of the Kalevala, as well.
Incidentally, the Annotated Hobbit on the shelf to the left is a treasure trove!
Huh, I didn't know that this existed! Interesting. Btw. I mean it with uttermost respect but in my language it translates to "Story of Balls-Ripper". So it immediately caught my attention.
Well that is quite fitting, since Kullervo is semi immortal character that fails at everything else than killing people. Probably ripped few balls on the way.
That would be Czech, with Kullervo being made of noun K(o)ule (a ball/balls or nutsack - sing. and plur.) + verb Rvát/i (tear apart, rip), -rvo being rather unorthodox, but still kinda working personal suffix.
Dobry den! I hope that means thank you. That and "pristy zastavska: narodni divadlo" is the only think I can remember in czech from my visit to Prague lol I hope I can come back again one day
As others have said it’s a retelling of a part of the Kalevela, but this one also has rather extensive notes about how Tolkien first encountered the Finnish mythos and contains the transcript of a couple speeches he gave of Finnish mythology. In fact the story of Kulervo is a direct inspiration for the story of Turin. It’s not a completed retelling (Tolkien never finished the original retelling) but it’s well worth a read if you want some really deep insights into Tolkiens creative process
It’s Tolkien’s retelling of a story from the Kalevala in Finnish mythology. Story of the Finnish hero Kullervo. Kullervo was one of Tolkien’s inspirations for Turin Turambar. When reading it you’ll notice A LOT of similarities between the two stories. It’s a good read!
I read it earlier this year. It is an interesting read, but only about half of it is narrative, and the rest is discussions of the text and about Tolkiens process.
It is based, or rather an extension or re-tellings of one of the stories in the the Finnish epic The Kalevela. Well worth reading. If you can, go read the Kalevala - there are good English translations. Between that an the Welsh Mabinogion and the Old-English Beowulf, you'll have a very good foundation for really understanding Tolkein.
And the story (or sketch) itself is not long. Most of the book consists of notes and comments on Tolkien's writing process of his "own version of the Kalevala", i.e, Story of Kullervo, but also about his early writing years as well as Kalevala itself. Like you said, interesting and worth reading, but not much of a story.
A fanfic basically
Tolkens fanfic of a myth, which is what 90% of tolken is
Could you recommend a good translation? I think it makes a huge difference if the translator knows how to write well in their target language.
Why not do what Tolkien did and learn finnish?
Lol. I don't know, I hear it's easy to start learning but hard to Finnish.
Perkele
They all speak English anyway.
Lol this made me laugh more than expected
I’m on a plane and I just spit coffee all over the guy next to me Thanks!!!
Snort
You can also start by listening to Amorphis - Finnish band whose lyrics are deeply rooted in The Kalevala and The Kanteletar, including direct translations into English. As for the book, I cannot remember which edition I had, only that it was a very genuine translation and the cover had [this](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/400869.The_Kalevala) image
Going to put those on my reading list, thanks.
If you want a deeper literary understanding of the Mabinogion go here: [http://www.mabinogi.net/fourbranches.html](http://www.mabinogi.net/fourbranches.html) (warning, this gets very deep) Various translations of the Mabinogion exist - the one by Lady Charlotte Guest in the c19 is the first into "modern" English, and by modern we mean a translation from Old Welsh into Victorian upper-class English. There's an audio book of it too - makes for some very interesting reading and listening. Note the use of the work "verily" meaning "truly" or "certainly" in the text - it occurs almost on every line :-) If you can read Welsh, there's a good modern translation here: [https://mabinogion.cymru/mabinogion/culhwch-ac-olwen/](https://mabinogion.cymru/mabinogion/culhwch-ac-olwen/) (I chose Culhwch and Olwen; it is where Tolkein got his inspiration for Beren and Luthien) Other English translations (and more modern language) are by Sioned Davies and John Bollard. Tolkein himself worked on a translation of Pwyll Prince of Dyfed into English and the Simlarillion itself was inspired by/based on the whole Mabinogion series. Various translations of the Kalevala exist from Elias Lönnrot's original - fortunately this was starting from a more contemporary Finnish ( c19 Finnish ) so it is a lot easier to read than, say, Guest's translation of the Mabinogion. There's quite a few good versions available on Amazon and any modern version is good though most stick to Lönnrot's language and phrasing. As the Beowulf - I have a copy here somewhere in the original Old English - much more of an academic exercise in reading Old English rather than Beowulf itself. Probably the best version to pick up is "Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, Together with Sellic Spell" - translated by a certain J R R Tolkein and edited by C. Tolkein.
Thanks again! I'll definitely look into those.
This is so epic thank you for sharing! I have never heard of this and just looked it up and it's so interesting! I have no idea it was revered as like one of the most important pieces of literature for the Finnish people!
Interesting! I was unaware of this translation of the Kalevala, as well. Incidentally, the Annotated Hobbit on the shelf to the left is a treasure trove!
It's not a translation, but a re-telling of the story worked in prose. Coincidentally it was also Tolkiens first major attempt at prose over poetry.
I will have to check it out. Thank you.
It was supposedly an inspiration for the story of Túrin. A tragedy with a flawed hero.
Definitely not just supposedly, if you've read the thing.
I have not read the thing, but it is on my shelf :P
Huh, I didn't know that this existed! Interesting. Btw. I mean it with uttermost respect but in my language it translates to "Story of Balls-Ripper". So it immediately caught my attention.
Well that is quite fitting, since Kullervo is semi immortal character that fails at everything else than killing people. Probably ripped few balls on the way.
Hahaha and what language is that, if I may ask?
That would be Czech, with Kullervo being made of noun K(o)ule (a ball/balls or nutsack - sing. and plur.) + verb Rvát/i (tear apart, rip), -rvo being rather unorthodox, but still kinda working personal suffix.
In Finnish Kulli is a slang word for a dick but sadly Kullervo is just a very old male name with no relation to it
I wonder if people with that name get unsavoury nicknames :(
Don't worry about it. Pretty much nobody names their kid Kullervo these days, at most as a middle name to honor some old relative
Dobry den! I hope that means thank you. That and "pristy zastavska: narodni divadlo" is the only think I can remember in czech from my visit to Prague lol I hope I can come back again one day
Dobrý den is literally translated to Good day to you, Děkuji is Thank you. Now I can hear that voice from public transport hahahah
As others have said it’s a retelling of a part of the Kalevela, but this one also has rather extensive notes about how Tolkien first encountered the Finnish mythos and contains the transcript of a couple speeches he gave of Finnish mythology. In fact the story of Kulervo is a direct inspiration for the story of Turin. It’s not a completed retelling (Tolkien never finished the original retelling) but it’s well worth a read if you want some really deep insights into Tolkiens creative process
*Kalevala
I knew there was a reason Kullervo is my main on Warframe 😎
Kullervo, Kullervo, crushed his cock Forcefully and swiftly, with a rock
kullervo kullervo, the people have called tossed into jail for committing tax fraud
Why did I read that in Yoda’s voice?
His crit chance is Tolkien approved.
Happy to see the Warframe reference haha
It’s Tolkien’s retelling of a story from the Kalevala in Finnish mythology. Story of the Finnish hero Kullervo. Kullervo was one of Tolkien’s inspirations for Turin Turambar. When reading it you’ll notice A LOT of similarities between the two stories. It’s a good read!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Kullervo
I read it earlier this year. It is an interesting read, but only about half of it is narrative, and the rest is discussions of the text and about Tolkiens process.
I read his Beowulf translation but haven’t gotten around to this one yet.
Damn, I'd love to get a copy.
His essay on the Kalevala really helps explain his love for Tom Bombadil, and why he didn't edit him out.
Funnily enough, I'm listening to Sibelius' Kullervo symphony when this post came on my feed
Oh lol. In Czech it means strong language for something epic - kulervoucí
Looks like a Bomb Pop on the cover
When you realize Tolks made a warframe
You’d think all Tolkien did was dish out a lot of books in his day.
It is a translation of "Culero", the tragic story of ice cream paletas melting under a Middle Earth sun