Reading the
Finnish mind Written by Pauliina Eriksson Translated by Anna Eloaho
Have you ever pondered what the Finns are like? What is the Finnish sense of humour like, what makes a Finn weep, how do Finns see the world?
The literary tradition is strong in Finland. The headway of literary works written and published in Finnish language began in the late 19th century and nowadays this small country with its 5,5 million inhabitants is the second biggest publisher of books in the world per capita. Is it possible to get a grip of this nation by reading books? Author and teacher of Finnish language and literature Tommi Kinnunen recommends reading for anyone interested in foreign cultures. He emphasizes that literature does not merge from emptiness but “reflects the society and the social situation of a certain region, country or continent”. Through literature a reader gains an opportunity to get to know new cultures, certain geographical regions or specific epochs. Seven Brothers by Aleksis Kivi, considered to be the first significant novel written in Finnish language, is the ultimate classic of the Finnish literature. First published in 1870, Seven Brothers celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2020. With seven brothers as protagonists, the bildnungsroman tells the tale of seven freedom-loving and uncivilized village youth to respectable members of society. Kivi’s novel is often among the first ones mentioned when Finnish literature is introduced and it has been translated to numerous languages. Surprisingly Kinnunen doesn’t recommend a foreign reader to start from a classic. According to him the classics do give an accurate account of how the Finnish culture has developed from the past to our days, yet he recommends to start from a more contemporary work. Whereas Seven Brothers is set in an agricultural era, the awarded author Kjell Westö is known for his novels set in an urban environment, more specifically Helsinki. His works, too, have been translated widely. However, there is one interesting phenomenon Kinnunen wants to bring about when Finnish literary classics are discussed. The tradition
of strong women within Finnish literature can be traced throughout the tradition, starting from the national epic Kaleva, all through the plays by Hella Wuolijoki depicting ordinary people and continuing to the contemporary works like The Midwife by Katja Kettu. Also children’s literature is widely read and published in Finland. The Finnish kids love Tatu and Patu -series by Aino Havukainen and Sami Toivonen, with two wacky brothers from Oddville as protagonists. Tommi Kinnunen recommends Me Rosvolat -series by Siri Kolu as an example of an anarchist approach within the children’s book genre. Kinnunen emphasizes the meaning of literature in understanding phenomena that might otherwise be difficult to grasp. He gives being silent as an example of this and defines it as the ability of the Finnish people to feel relaxed in company without saying a word. “One doesn’t need to be distressed about being silent in Finland” he says. Yet another good example of specifically Finnish phenomenon is the dark, laconic and often bizarre humour of Arto Paasilinna’s novels. Got interested? There is a good selection of Finnish fiction available at the bookstores. Seven Brothers, Kalevala and The Midwife can be found in bookstores in English, German or Russian. Kjell Westö’s novels, too, have been translated to German. Tatu and Patu -books are available for kids in English and in German. Arto Paasilinna’s humour is available for those who read in French. The path to Finnish mind is open. s
Sharing silence in Finnish literature "Tuomas eyes the old childhood playgrounds from the cottage roof top. […] Tapio sits down by his side on the ridge and together they share a silent moment only brothers can have. The other one is looking at the lake and the other knows him to be counting the number of new cottages hiding behind the pine trees on the opposite shore. The other one glances at his side, which is enough to tell his brother that he is pondering the state of the dried up gray pine tree. Without saying a word, without looking at each other they both come to the conclusion that it should be felled and made to firewood. " Tommi Kinnunen: The Light Behind the Eyes (Lopotti). WSOY 2016. 30
