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"Kalevipoeg : jutustus noortele Eesti muinaskangelase elust ja seiklustest" ed. Otto J. Kiesel, Stockholm : Eesti Post, 1953, 56 pp
"Kalevipoeg : eesti rahva eepos" Tallinn : Eesti Raamat, 1975, 296 pp
Raud, Eno "Kalevipoeg" Tallinn : Tiritamm, 1998, 95 pp
Estonian Libraries' Ctalogue
That's what I thought, so I actually copied it here so that we can giggle on Anglo-Saxon ignorance! ;-)
BTW, adaheid,
How is it possible to publish something what is 500 pages in Hungarian in only 56/95 pages in Estonian?
I know you were talking about people reading shorter versions - but THIS MUCH shorter???
Isn't it complusory to read such a national epos in original in Estonian schools (and the Kalevala in Finland, come to think of it)?
In Hungary we have to read an awful lot of classics even in elementary schools - all in original.
As for reading the epic, I am of course terrbily ashamed...
Apparently children read the short version in the 4th grade and the big thing in 9th-10th grade. Somehow I managed to escape that part.
My only excuse is that runo verse was originally never meant for reading but for singing (along) or listening. And the epic was written rather to encourage the national self-awareness of Estonians than for reading pleasure :)
You might be surprised to hear (after your dismissive comments) that all my Hungarian books on Finno-Ugric literature actually give very favourable reviews to Kalevipoeg even when comparing it to Kalevala! Appearently it has more the feeling of a continuous work, following more of a clear and logical single story line.
And while more of it was actually written by the author than is the case with Kalevala, this has appearently served to fill in the gaps well, and in any case the writing of that doctor is said to be so excellent that it can hardly be told from the actual folk poetry!
That said, I must admit that after having had a good look at the archaic looking verses running through over 19 thousand short lines, I placed the book on my shelf among other Finno-Ugric poetry and can't see myself getting through its 500 pages anytime soon - I think this would be an ideal book to take on another long Trans-siberian train-ride or something similar.
Regarding illustrations: my copy is illustrated with beautiful photos of Estonian ethnographic objects, which I think also matches the content well.
OK, I will not say it's actually bad or worthless. Neither in literary or general cultural sense. But for me (I admit it's my personal problem) it
just feels strange. The whole spirit of authentic Estonian folk song is so much lyrical, not at all epical. And of course, as I said, runo verse was a purely oral tradition, never meant for reading and writing.
László, please don't let my dismissive comments prevent you from reading the epic and making up the mind for yourself!
Btw, a small but interesting fact: to commemorate Fr.R.Kreutzwald's 200th birthday, a public declamation of "Kalevipoeg" was organised in a small Estonian town Rakvere, April 29, 2004. Over 100 volunteers participated, the event lasted for 13 hours and was transmitted on the internet. A CD was made with an mp3 file, which can be ordered from andres.kukk@mail.ee
You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.
It is supposedly based on a 1961 Tallin edition of Eesti Riklik Kiriastus, photos by Jüri Karm.
It is also the first complete translation in Hungarian.
A funny thing about it is that while there has never been a really short, children's version published here, the first, 1929 translation did exclude 700+ lines from the original appearently largely because their "erotic" content was considered indecent for the strict, Victorian morals of the time!
Now, this might motivate some people to take it into their hands... ;-)
Well, I don't know the Kalevala illustrations Yaroslav referred to, but looking at these pictures in the Estonian editions' link it does seem that the Kalevipoeg did inspire Estonian artists representing a really wide range of styles - complete with socialist realism! :-)
BTW, any idea what those things on the cover of my copy are?
Objects inside are named but those on the cover aren't - and I just haven't got a clue...
Kalevala pictures by Gallen-Kallela - incomplete
Couple of more illustrations:
Kullervo departs for the war (Ateneum National Gallery, Helsinki)
The defence of the Sampo (Turku Art Museum) - probably the most famous one.
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15
Yes, they are all in Estonian:"Kalevipoeg : jutustus noortele Eesti muinaskangelase elust ja seiklustest" ed. Otto J. Kiesel, Stockholm : Eesti Post, 1953, 56 pp
"Kalevipoeg : eesti rahva eepos" Tallinn : Eesti Raamat, 1975, 296 pp
Raud, Eno "Kalevipoeg" Tallinn : Tiritamm, 1998, 95 pp
Estonian Libraries' Ctalogue
16
Quote
But what the heck, all three are small countries and people speak funny.
That's what I thought, so I actually copied it here so that we can giggle on Anglo-Saxon ignorance! ;-)
BTW, adaheid,
How is it possible to publish something what is 500 pages in Hungarian in only 56/95 pages in Estonian?
I know you were talking about people reading shorter versions - but THIS MUCH shorter???
Isn't it complusory to read such a national epos in original in Estonian schools (and the Kalevala in Finland, come to think of it)?
In Hungary we have to read an awful lot of classics even in elementary schools - all in original.
18
The short ones are indeed both children's versions. And yes, it's that same Eno Raud.As for reading the epic, I am of course terrbily ashamed...
Apparently children read the short version in the 4th grade and the big thing in 9th-10th grade. Somehow I managed to escape that part.
My only excuse is that runo verse was originally never meant for reading but for singing (along) or listening. And the epic was written rather to encourage the national self-awareness of Estonians than for reading pleasure :)
19
adaheid,You might be surprised to hear (after your dismissive comments) that all my Hungarian books on Finno-Ugric literature actually give very favourable reviews to Kalevipoeg even when comparing it to Kalevala! Appearently it has more the feeling of a continuous work, following more of a clear and logical single story line.
And while more of it was actually written by the author than is the case with Kalevala, this has appearently served to fill in the gaps well, and in any case the writing of that doctor is said to be so excellent that it can hardly be told from the actual folk poetry!
That said, I must admit that after having had a good look at the archaic looking verses running through over 19 thousand short lines, I placed the book on my shelf among other Finno-Ugric poetry and can't see myself getting through its 500 pages anytime soon - I think this would be an ideal book to take on another long Trans-siberian train-ride or something similar.
Regarding illustrations: my copy is illustrated with beautiful photos of Estonian ethnographic objects, which I think also matches the content well.
20
Now I'm feeling even worse...OK, I will not say it's actually bad or worthless. Neither in literary or general cultural sense. But for me (I admit it's my personal problem) it
just feels strange. The whole spirit of authentic Estonian folk song is so much lyrical, not at all epical. And of course, as I said, runo verse was a purely oral tradition, never meant for reading and writing.
László, please don't let my dismissive comments prevent you from reading the epic and making up the mind for yourself!
Btw, a small but interesting fact: to commemorate Fr.R.Kreutzwald's 200th birthday, a public declamation of "Kalevipoeg" was organised in a small Estonian town Rakvere, April 29, 2004. Over 100 volunteers participated, the event lasted for 13 hours and was transmitted on the internet. A CD was made with an mp3 file, which can be ordered from andres.kukk@mail.ee
21
This is what the Hungarian book looks like!You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.
It is supposedly based on a 1961 Tallin edition of Eesti Riklik Kiriastus, photos by Jüri Karm.
It is also the first complete translation in Hungarian.
A funny thing about it is that while there has never been a really short, children's version published here, the first, 1929 translation did exclude 700+ lines from the original appearently largely because their "erotic" content was considered indecent for the strict, Victorian morals of the time!
Now, this might motivate some people to take it into their hands... ;-)
23
Quote
we still have to see an artist of this scale getting interest in illustrating Kalevipoeg
Well, I don't know the Kalevala illustrations Yaroslav referred to, but looking at these pictures in the Estonian editions' link it does seem that the Kalevipoeg did inspire Estonian artists representing a really wide range of styles - complete with socialist realism! :-)
BTW, any idea what those things on the cover of my copy are?
Objects inside are named but those on the cover aren't - and I just haven't got a clue...
24
Akseli Gallen-KallelaKalevala pictures by Gallen-Kallela - incomplete
Couple of more illustrations:
Kullervo departs for the war (Ateneum National Gallery, Helsinki)
The defence of the Sampo (Turku Art Museum) - probably the most famous one.
25
Oops, out of the two illustrations I have given the first is already in my second reference, and for the second, I have given a wrong address. Here is the right one: The defense of the Sampo.ADVERTISEMENT
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