Finland turns 100 today. Although it’s the darkest and coldest time of the year, consuming the hottest chilli you can get your hands on might not be the obvious way to celebrate. Until you read this book and understand how horribly…
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Finland 100: The Core of the Sun
Tagged with: books, Dublin Literary Award, Finland 100, Finnish, Finnish Weird, Johanna Sinisalo, Lola Rogers, Suomi100, The Core of the Sun, Translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, gender, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, gender, translation
Finland 100: Unknown Soldiers
This is one of those books you start reading because you feel you ought to, because everyone tells you you really should, which is actually rather annoying, and you’re pretty sure it’s not your thing, it’s the sort of thing…
Tagged with: Finland 100, Finnish, Liesl Yamaguchi, Second World War, Suomi100, Translation, Tuntematon sotilas, Unknown Soldiers, Väinö Linna
Posted in books, Finland 100, history, Suomi 100, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, history, Suomi 100, translation
Finland 100: Norma
“The past is the past. No good will come of digging it up.” The story starts with a funeral. Norma Ross’s mother is run over by an underground train in the middle of Kallio, Helsinki’s Kreuzberg. Was it suicide or…
Tagged with: books, Finland 100, Finnish, Norma, Owen Witesman, Penguin, Sofi Oksanen, Suomi100, Translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, gender, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, gender, translation
Finland 100: The oak grove
The civil war that followed hot on the heels of independence is both very present and very absent from Finnish consciousness. It tore families and communities apart and is still difficult to talk about. Earlier this year, someone had the…
Tagged with: Asko Sahlberg, civil war, Emily Jeremiah, Finland 100, Finnish, Fleur Jeremiah, Suomi100, Tammilehto, The Brothers
Posted in books, Finland 100, history, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, history, translation
Finland 100: The wolf’s bride
If you’re still looking for somewhere to go on holiday this summer, why not try Estonia’s second largest island, Hiiumaa, which looks like a lovely peaceful place where you can get really close to nature? Read this book before you…
Tagged with: 101 kirjaa, Aino Kallas, Alex Matson, Finland 100, Finnish, Sudenmorsian, The Wolf's Bride
Posted in books, Finland 100, Folklore, gender, theatre, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, Folklore, gender, theatre, translation
Finland 100: a midsummer train ride
“Have you heard about the iron road?” “Iron road?” “yes, iron tracks, and on it, an iron horse that eats whole logs instead of hay, it’s a bit like the Suomela steam boat, only of course it doesn’t have paddles, it…
Tagged with: books, Finland 100, Finnish, Juhani Aho, midsummer, railway, Rautatie, Translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, translation
Finland 100: Minna Canth
This beautiful book (cover design by Anu Tuominen) is one of 12 classics republished by WSOY to celebrate Finland’s 100th anniversary. Minna Canth, the author of Työmiehen vaimo/The worker’s wife, died 120 years ago this Friday, so she didn’t live to…
Tagged with: Anu Tuominen, Finland 100, Finnish, Minna Canth, theatre, Translation, Työmiehen vaimo, WSOY
Posted in books, Finland 100, theatre, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, theatre, translation
Finland 100: The year of the hunger
Leaving everything behind is not always a free choice – this isn’t the year of the hare, the open road doesn’t necessarily lead to freedom. When hunger and death drive you out of your home in the depths of winter, you might…
Tagged with: Aki Ollikainen, Emily Jeremiah, Finland 100, Finnish, Fleur Jeremiah, Nälkävuosi, Peirene Press, Translation, White Hunger
Posted in books, Finland 100, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, translation
Finland 100: The Year of the Hare
Sometimes – especially in January? – it’s all too much, and you just want to get away from it all. Quit the job, leave your partner and home behind, and escape. Just head north and live in the forest, from…
Tagged with: Arto Paasilinna, Finland 100, Finnish, Gasellit, Herbert Lomas, Jäniksen vuosi, The Year of the Hare, Translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, translation
Posted in books, Finland 100, translation
the carol that travelled
This is one of the most beloved carols in the Nordic countries, but the tune is from Central Europe and it has travelled across the Atlantic in English translations. So why haven’t you heard of it yet? Maybe it’s because…
Tagged with: Aarberg, Bernhard Ingemann, Christmas Carols, Danish, Dejlig er jorden, Fairest Lord Jesus, Finnish, German, Härlig är jorden, maa on niin kaunis, Schönster Herr Jesu, Swedish
Posted in Christmas, history, international, music, translation
Posted in Christmas, history, international, music, translation
