In the dense forests and cold waves lives the wise Väinämöinen, whose songs transform the world, the smith-demiurge Ilmarinen, and the sorcerer Lemminkäinen.
Their reality is filled with magic: the wind and the spirits of the forest obey music, a treacherous witch sends cold and mist, and the magical mill Sampo bestows wealth and happiness.
The life of the heroes, full of trials and feats, is described in the ancient runes of the "Kalevala" — a majestic Karelian-Finnish epic that ranks alongside such works as the "Iliad," the "Song of the Nibelungs," and "Beowulf." In this edition, the original text of the "Kalevala" is presented with a parallel translation by L. P. Belsky, marked by the Pushkin Prize.
The work is accompanied by expressive illustrations by such artists as A. Gallén-Kallela, D. Alnanen, V. Blumstedt, P. Halonen, A. Siegfried, R. Ekman.
For reading convenience, each line in Russian is placed opposite the corresponding stanza in Finnish.
This arrangement allows for easy comparison of the original text with the translation, to notice the difficulties faced by the translator, and to highlight the most accurately translated fragments. The hardcover binding with gold embossing, illustrations, gift formatting inside, and scarlet ribbon bookmark add sophistication and appeal to the book.
It can be purchased not only for one's own collection but also as a gift for dear and beloved people.
