Kalevala, The Land of the Heroes (Kirby translation)

The Kalevala, compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century, is an epic poem that draws from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. First published in 1835 and revised in 1849, it consists of 22,795 verses across fifty songs, making it a cornerstone of Finnish literature and national identity. The work has influenced notable writers, including J.R.R. Tolkien, and is recognized for its unique trochaic tetrameter, which inspired American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The Kirby translation is one of the few that adheres closely to the original Kalevala meter.