Lord Peter and Little Kerstin

Lord Peter and Little Kerstin is a collection of medieval Swedish narrative ballads in a new English verse translation. 


The ballads in this book tell tales of love and death, kings and knights, and the wild things of the water and the woods. These lyrical songs formed part of an early oral folk music tradition in Scandinavia. Some of the stories they tell are related to the stories of traditional ballads of England and Scotland. Others are like old folk tales, with appearances from supernatural creatures of the forgotten North. These new translations make these medieval Swedish folk ballads accessible to an English-speaking audience. 


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 on 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 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.