The Story of Kullervo: J.R.R. Tolkien : Tolkien, J. R. R., Flieger, Verlyn by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Story of Kullervo: J.R.R. Tolkien : Tolkien, J. R. R., Flieger, Verlyn Reviews

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  Modern Viking

  What you get if you buy this book: Introduction by editor Verlyn Flieger (15 pages). The latest edition of JRR Tolkien's previously published unfinished manuscript 'The Story of Kullervo' (46 pages + 14 pages of Flieger's notes), written some time between 1912 and 1916. Two unfinished drafts of the text of Tolkien's talk 'On “The Kalevala” or Land of Heroes' (24 and 27 pages respectively + 13 pages of Flieger's notes). Flieger's own essay 'Tolkien, Kalevala, and “The Story of Kullervo”' (31 pages).As something of a Tolkien completist (and most definitely a Tolkien enthusiast of the deepest dye) _and_ as someone very fond of Finnish mythology, I was delighted to discover that Tolkien had written an unfinished treatment of the story of Kullervo, a tragic anti hero from the Kalevala, the nineteenth century compilation of Finnish mythology, who was himself part of the stuff that later inspired Tolkien to create the memorable character of Túrin Turambar. I pre ordered this book without hesitation and plunged straight into the Master's 'The Story of Kullervo'which proved such a hard slog that after 11 pages (of 46) I actually gave up. The thing about challenging mythological texts is that I am quite fond of them (to say the least), and than willing to put in the effort required to immerse myself in them, whether we're talking about Homer, or Ovid's Metamorphoses, or the Kalevala, or Snorri Sturluson's Edda, to name just a few. But reading a modern author trying to imitate the style of an old mythological text (of which the most repulsive example must surely be Lord Dunsany's 'The Gods of Pegana') strikes me as rather pointless, not least as I could usefully divert the energy I was initially prepared to expend on digging into Tolkien's pastiche into making a renewed attempt at the real Kalevala. In Tolkien's defence I would however quote from Flieger's otherwise rather superfluous concluding essay: 'we can see The Story of Kullervo as the work of a beginning writer. it is best understood as a trial piece, that of someone learning his craft and consciously imitating existing material. The Story of Kullervo was written by a very young man' – and was very obviously not intended for publication!Nevertheless, what _is_ rewarding about this volume is the two highly readable (and, despite many similarities, different enough to warrant the inclusion of both) drafts of the text of a talk Tolkien gave at least twice about the appeal of the Kalevala. I myself remember how, as a child or teenager, I discovered that there was even such a thing as Finnish mythology (wildly distinct and separate from Norse mythology, to which it is wholly unrelated) – how wonderful then to suddenly read the Master articulating his own feelings following his own, similar, discovery: 'you are at once in a new world; and can revel in an amazing new excitement. You feel like Columbus on a new Continent or Thorfinn in Vinland it is likely to be the often almost indefinable sense of newness and strangeness that will either perturb or delight you.'In fact I could easily just quote the whole of pages 68 74 of this text, they're that good, and they absolutely and unequivocally make this book worth getting just for the sheer and highly incisive delight they convey. Worth getting, that is, if you are a Tolkien completist, or enamoured of all things Kalevala, or, if like me, you think Tolkien's masterly 'On Fairy Stories' is one of the greatest things ever written.
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  Dr. Lynn E. Forest-hill

  Delight depends on what you want as an approach to Tolkien. I'd rather read the story of Kullervo in the Kalavala itself, but this book is fascinating as an insight into Tolkien's development of his version of the story, which is the basis for his story of Turin. This book is probably one for the specialist Tolkien enthusiast. Beginners might be better reading the Turin story in The Silmarillion first, then The Children of Hurin, and then Kullervo.
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  Tristan Sherwin

  You can’t beat a bit of Tolkien!For those who enjoy reading about how Tolkien’s mind worked, and how his stories evolved, then The Story of Kullervo is an absolute, fascinating must.For those who just want to read a story, then this probably isn’t what you’re looking for.
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  A F.

  This is a great priced, Harper Collins Deluxe version.Perfect addition the Tolkien deluxe collection.
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  Carol Bradford

  This Deluxe Edition is for the devotees of Tolkien's work, scholars' of the master. It is beautifully printed and annotated and uses fine materials. It is for the purists' and the collector and not the beach reader.