Life and sun: the writer and his time
Frans Emil Sillanpää (1888–1964), one of Finland’s most read authors, was born in the parish of Hämeenkyrö, amid the farmlands of Western Finland. In forty years he published twenty works: novels and...
View ArticleBuilder of words
The poet Lauri Viita (1916–1965) was a master of rhyme and rhythm, a linguistic sorcerer who, for that reason, has been little translated into other languages. He also gave his home of Pispala, a...
View ArticleA writer and his conscience
In the autumn of 1891 the brilliant young law graduate Arvid Järnefelt, 30, was just embarking on his pupillage in the lower courts of justice when he suddenly changed his mind. He broke off his...
View ArticleOn not translating Volter Kilpi
Volter Kilpi’s classic novel Alastalon salissa (‘In Alastalo’s parlour’, 1933) has a reputation as a ‘difficult’ book. A Swedish translation is finally ready, but no one has ever succeeded in...
View ArticleA poet’s perspective
Aila Meriluoto. Photo: Pertti Nisonen When Aila Meriluoto burst on to the world of Finnish poetry 40 years ago in the autumn of 1946 she was at once hailed as a youthful prodigy. Praised lavishly by...
View ArticleThe man and his work
Aleksis Kivi. Drawn in 1873 almost certainly by Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905). Aleksis Kivi’s Seitsemän veljestä (Seven Brothers, English translation 1929), is the best known and the most beloved in...
View ArticleOn Bo Carpelan
Bo Carpelan. Photo: Ulla Montan For a small country Finland is richly endowed with poets. Of particular interest, in view of the smallness of the Finland-Swedish population (about 7% of the total), is...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....