Kullervo

Aleksis KiviProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.6

Word count: 136K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971, and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Kullervo by Aleksis Kivi. Author: Kivi, Aleksis, 1834-1872. Language: Finnish. Class: PH: Language and Literatures: Finno-Ugrian and Basque languages and literatures. Release Date: Apr 1, 2004

Editor's review

Kullervo is a tragic work written in Finnish by the Finnish author Aleksis Kivi. It draws on the Kullervo legend from the Finnish national epic Kalevala and is a significant text in Finnish-language literature and in Finno-Ugric literary studies. The work presents fate, revenge, and family destiny in the form of a verse tragedy; its language is condensed and carries the rhythm of folk epic, making it a window into nineteenth-century Finnish national literary awakening and dramatic writing. This Project Gutenberg edition is the original Finnish text and is suitable as a primary source for linguistic and literary research. The main barriers to entry are ability in Finnish and familiarity with the Kalevala background; readers without Finnish will need a translation for comparison, as this edition itself provides neither bilingual comparison nor notes. It is suitable for researchers of Finnish literature, language learners, and enthusiasts of epic-derived drama.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Intermediate and advanced language learners of Finnish who wish to encounter literary texts in the original
Researchers of the Finnish national epic and nineteenth-century national literature
Readers interested in Kalevala-derived drama and tragic themes
Comparative literature students who need primary texts in Finno-Ugric literature

Not a good fit for

General readers with no Finnish who do not plan to use a translation
Readers seeking modern novel-style narrative and smooth plotting
Beginners to classical literature who need detailed notes and introductions

Reading tips

First learn the basic plot of the Kullervo legend in the Kalevala before entering the text; this greatly reduces difficulty.
Language learners can read aloud act by act, attending to verse rhythm and repetitive structures and building literary vocabulary.
Readers without Finnish should read alongside a reliable translation, using this edition as the original-language reference.
After reading, return to the turning points in Kullervo's fate and trace how the tragic conflict develops.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

In what language is this book written?

This edition is the original Finnish text, a public-domain electronic text provided by Project Gutenberg. It contains no bilingual comparison or modern notes, so non-Finnish readers will need a translation to assist their reading.

Can I understand it without having read the Kalevala?

You can follow the general plot, but you will miss many intertextual references and character backgrounds. The Kullervo legend has a relatively complete storyline of its own; it is advisable to read the relevant section of the epic or a plot summary before entering the play.

Is this a novel or a play?

This is a verse tragedy that presents Kullervo's story in dramatic form, not a prose novel. When reading, follow the development of conflict by act and scene and attend to the rhythm of the verse and dialogue.

Comments

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About the author

Aleksis Kivi Author · Finnish · 1834–1872

Aleksis Kivi (1834–1872), originally named Alexis Stenvall, was a Finnish writer hailed as the father of Finnish national literature. His masterpiece Seitsemän veljestä (1870) is the first important novel in Finnish, and he also wrote more than ten plays, including Nummisuutarit and Kullervo, as well as poetry and short stories; ten of his works are held in this collection. His writing draws largely on Finnish rural life and national tradition, with plain, vivid language and careful character portrayal, and it has had a profound influence on the establishment and development of Finnish-language literature. He lived in poverty and gained wide renown only after his death; his birthday, October 10, is observed as Finnish Literature Day. Public information on his early life and education is limited, so no speculation is offered here.