Lord Peter and Little Kerstin

Medieval Ballads from Sweden

A collection of medieval Swedish narrative ballads in a new English verse translation. 

It was foreseen that Little Kerstin would drown on her wedding morning. Lord Peter sets sail, even though he was warned to avoid the sea. Sir Olof happens upon an elf-dance on the day before his wedding. Little Kerstin falls for the Mountain King and runs away with him to live in the high fells. 

The ballads in this book tell tales of love and death, kings and knights, and the supernatural spirits of the water and the woods. These lyrical songs were part of a tradition in Scandinavia that combined folk music and storytelling. These new translations make these medieval Swedish folk ballads accessible to an English-speaking audience. 

The ballads included are: 
Little Kerstin and Her Man; Lord Peter and Little Kerstin; The Power of the Harp; Sir Olof and the Elves; Lord Peter's Sea-Voyage; Little Kerstin the Stable-Boy; Little Kerstin's Enchantment; The Mermaid; Sir Arvid; Little Kerstin and the Mountain King.