The Book Of Finnish Elves

By Mauri Kunnas

A captivating chronicle in words and pictures of Finland’s bygone elfin past.

Back in the good old days, there dwelt in Finnish households guardian spirits known as elves. Each type of building had its own sort of elf. There were household elves, sauna elves, stable elves, storehouse elves, barn elves and mill elves. When treated with respect, they brought good fortune to home and hearth; but if they took offence, there was no predicting the consequences. Though all held in common the habit of moving about only after nightfall, individual elves were sometimes notorious for their eccentricities.

This book is the culmination of many years of painstaking research. Its fun and fascinating tales recall not only the most common types of Finnish elves, but also rare varieties such as the fiddler elf. The engagingly homespun and fairytale-like illustrations are certain to spark the imagination.

Publishing information

About the author

Mauri Kunnas (b. 1950) is Finland’s most successful children’s book author today. He has published over 50 books, which have been translated into over 40 languages and sold nearly 10 million copies.His books for children have aroused enormous interest around the world. The best-known book internationally is Santa Claus. The book has been translated into 29 languages and sold nearly two million copies. The sales of all Kunnas translations already exceed 2,5 million copies. Santa Claus is the bestselling Finnish title of all time, and the same Top 20 list included five more Mauri Kunnas titles.Kunnas is also widely aprreciated by adults, particularly for his comics about The Beatles.Mauri Kunnas offers the reader an unparalleled joy of discovery: his brilliantly coloured illustrations are filled with rich and humorous detail. He has an unrivalled gift for taking history and casting it in a new and hilarious way, as well as for giving old stories and legends his own delightful twist. His books always exude an atmosphere which is contagiously warm and happy.“My most important hobby is my drawings and making up stories to go with them – and that’s also my work. I must be a lucky dog to be able to mix the two.”– Mauri Kunnas