The Kalevala

In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, host Robert Douglas-Fairhurst leads a discussion with Daniel Abondolo, Thomas Dubois, and Rita Balayavi about "The Kalevala," the Finnish epic poem compiled by Elias Lernroot. The panel explores Lernroot's background, the historical context of the Finnish language, and the poem's narrative, including key characters like Väinämöinen and the mythical Sampo. They delve into the poem's structure, its roots in peasant culture, and its impact on Finnish national identity, as well as its broader influence on national epics worldwide, and its continued relevance in Finnish culture today.