The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country

Heroes, house-spirits and talking trees appear throughout W. F. Kirby's selection of Estonian traditional literature. Drawing on Estonian and German sources, Kirby gives a prose account of the Kalevipoeg before presenting folk tales, ballads and short poems. His preface explains how work on Finnish literature prompted him to explore the stories of a neighbouring country and bring a representative selection into English.

The collection groups its tales by subject, including orphans and foundlings, lake legends, hidden treasures and spirits of the elements. Cinderella and other familiar figures appear among stories rooted in local tradition. An introduction describes Estonia's landscape, while explanatory notes discuss names, beliefs and recurring objects, such as boats made from mussel-shells. Comparisons with other literary works help readers trace shared story patterns. For someone interested in folklore, this combination of storytelling and commentary offers a way to explore the tales alongside the customs and ideas surrounding them.