Translating the Kalevala into English is a story of how the linguistically well-functioning and good translations are a part of the result of a long process. The translations are based on earlier translations or they function as counter translations. At different points of time, they aimed, in different ways, at translations that were superior to previous translations. The many English translations of the Kalevala give us an opportunity to study how much the translation consisted of something else than just translating the epic from one language into another. When we compare the prefaces and introductions of different editions, we can, for example, see that it was not only a question of translating words but also an aspiration to translate or present cultural perceptions and interpretations of different time periods. Thus, the Kalevala also became, at least in part, a work that was adapted to the translator’s own purpose. It was a question of multifaceted translation work and of conveying cultural meaning and ideas in different directions.