"Kalevala, The Land of the Heroes, Volume Two" by Elias Lönnrot is a 19th-century compilation of epic poetry first published in 1849. Drawing from Finnish, Karelian, and Ingrian folklore, this national epic tells of Earth's creation and chronicles conflicts between the land of Kalevala and Pohjola. At its center lies the Sampo, a mythical wealth-making machine whose construction and theft drive the narrative. This monumental work shaped Finnish national identity and influenced writers worldwide, including J.R.R. Tolkien. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
These books are free to read. Each is in the public domain in the United States; check your own country's rules before you copy or share one.
