A History of Finland's Literature (Histories of Scandinavian Literature) [Hardcover]

George C. Schoolfield (Editor, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1998 | Series: Histories of Scandinavian Literature (Book 4)

The literature of Finland is bilingual, with lively and extensive traditions in both Finnish and Swedish. This history covers both literary traditions in detail. The volume’s first section, on Finnish-language literature, consists of a series of connected chapters by leading authorities within the field. It opens with a consideration of the folk literature in Finnish that flourished during the Middle Ages and then examines the more recent history of Finnish-language literature, with special emphasis placed on writings from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The second part of the book provides an examination of Finland’s Swedish-language literature from the late fifteenth century through the early nineteenth century. Subsequent chapters trace developments in Finland’s Swedish-language literature during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

A survey of children’s literature—from both the Finnish- and Swedish-language traditions—concludes this exceptionally thorough volume.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George C. Schoolfield is a professor emeritus of German and Scandinavian literatures at Yale University. He is the former editor of Scandinavian Studies and author of many books on Finland’s literature and cultural history, most recently Helsinki of the Czars: A Cultural History, 1808–1918.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 877 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803241895
• ISBN-13: 978-0803241893
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,722,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Readable, March 2, 2010

By 

Theseus "theseus" (US of A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Finland's Literature (Histories of Scandinavian Literature) (Hardcover)

This is one of the entries in the History of Scandinavian Literatures series which were, I believe, all published in the late 1990's.

Well-written and comprehensive, this can serve as a reference book or be consumed for its narrative content. I'm impressed by the breadth and depth on display here: 877 pp with a 70 p bibliography, a 43 p index, maps, and a glossary of Finnish and Swedish place names.

As far as approach goes, here's some dustjacket blurbage...

This book "covers both literary traditions [Finnish and Swedish] in detail. The volume's first section, on Finnish-language literature, consists of a series of connected chapters by leading authorities within the field. It opens with a consideration of the folk literature in Finnish that flourished during the Middle Ages and then examines the more recent history of Finnish-language literature, with special emphasis placed on writings from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries."

"The second part of the book provides an examination of Finland's Swedish-language literature from the late fifteenth century through the early nineteenth century. Subsequent chapters trace developments in Finland's Swedish-language literature during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries."

"A survey of children's literature--from both the Finnish- and Swedish-language traditions--concludes this exceptionally thorough volume."

TABLE OF CONTENTS HIGHLIGHTS
Finnish Oral Poetry, Kalevala and Kanteletar (Michael Branch)
New Beginnings Latin and Finnish (Kai Laitinen and George C. Schoolfield)
The Rise of Finnish-Language Literature (Kai Laitinen)
The Period of Independence (Markku Envall)
A Part of Sweden (George C. Schoolfield)
National Romanticism -- A Golden Age (George C. Schoolfield)
A Sense of Minority (George C. Schoolfield)
The Age of Modernism (George C. Schoolfield)
A Startling Growth (George C. Schoolfield)
Children's Literature (Maija Lehtonen)