Argo: J.R.R. Tolkien and Finland

One of J. R. R. Tolkien’s key sources of inspiration was Finnish epic Kalevala and its hero, Kullervo, the prototype Túrin Turambara. The Story of Kullervo Compiled from Tolkien’s estate by Tolkien scholar Verlyn Flieger, it was published in the spring in a translation by Jan Čermák. The text was written in 1914 and foreshadows Tolkien’s lifelong creating your own world with its own distinct mythology, history and language. The volume also includes two studies on the subject itself Kalevala, which bear witness to Tolkien’s interest in this mythological material.

The Story of Kullervo is not the only link between J. R. R. Tolkien and Finland. In 1960, she received the Finnish-Swedish artist Tove Jansson, who, as well as writing (The Book of Summer, The sculptor’s daughter, Travelling light, Fair play, Doll’s house, Moomin stories, etc.) devoted herself to visual art, offering to provide illustrations from the Swedish edition The Hobbit. Astrid Lindgren, who was then an editor at the publishing house Rabén & Sjögren, approached her at the time. We should see the Czech edition later this year.

A debate with by Jan Čermák a Lenka Fárová will lead to Michal Švec.

 The event is organised by the Scandinavian House and Argo Publishing.

Admission fee voluntary