Finlandia

Finland! Land of heroes, home to Santa, Mendelson, a significant chunk of Europe’s brown bear population, the Moomins, Linux and more midges than you can shake a stick at. Next month we’re all going to find a Finnish book – or poem, or short story or old instruction manual for a Nokia 3310 – bring it along and tell the group. For those needing inspiration, here is an algorithmically generated list of Finnish authors and works available in English:

1. Aleksis Kivi
   Considered the national author of Finland, Kivi is best known for his novel Seven Brothers (1870), the first significant novel written in Finnish. It humorously and humanely explores rural life and the struggle between tradition and progress. Though criticized in his time, he is now celebrated as a foundational figure in Finnish literature. His themes include individuality, community, and the clash of civilization and nature.
2. Tove Jansson
   Though best known internationally for her Moomin books, Jansson also wrote acclaimed adult fiction such as The Summer Book and The True Deceiver. Her work often explores solitude, familial bonds, and the fragility of human connection with a minimalist, lyrical style. She straddled Swedish and Finnish cultures and is beloved for her philosophical depth hidden in simple prose. Jansson also wrote short stories and memoirs.
3. Sofi Oksanen
   Oksanen’s internationally bestselling novel Purge (2008) examines Soviet oppression, human trafficking, and female trauma in Estonia. Her work blends historical fiction and psychological drama, often centered on women's experiences under political regimes. A strong feminist voice, Oksanen bridges Finnish and Estonian cultural histories. She is a major literary figure in contemporary Finland.
4. Arto Paasilinna
   A prolific novelist known for his humorous and absurdist style, Paasilinna's most famous work in English is The Year of the Hare. His novels often involve disillusioned men escaping urban life for quirky adventures in Finnish nature. Paasilinna critiques modernity and bureaucracy with wit and warmth. His accessible storytelling helped boost Finnish literature's international profile.
5. Eeva-Liisa Manner
   Manner was a groundbreaking poet and translator who helped introduce modernist poetry to Finland. Her major collection This Journey explores alienation, language, and metaphysics with intellectual rigor and emotional intensity. Manner also translated Rilke and Shakespeare into Finnish, expanding literary horizons. She remains one of the most important Finnish poets of the 20th century.
6. Leena Krohn
   Known for speculative fiction and philosophical allegory, Krohn’s Tainaron blends fantasy and science fiction to explore themes of transformation and consciousness. Her work defies genre boundaries and often raises questions about humanity’s relationship to technology, nature, and morality. Krohn’s writing appeals to fans of Borges and Calvino. She’s a key figure in Finnish intellectual fiction.
7. Rosa Liksom
   Liksom writes both short fiction and novels, blending absurdism, violence, and irony. Her Finlandia Prize-winning novel Compartment No. 6 depicts a tense train journey through Soviet Russia, reflecting political and personal displacement. Her stories often deal with outsiders, marginal lives, and cultural collisions. Liksom also works as a visual artist, infusing her prose with cinematic imagery.
8. Mika Waltari
   Best known internationally for The Egyptian, Waltari was a prolific historical novelist who explored moral and spiritual questions through richly detailed narratives. His works often grapple with individual conscience in the face of overwhelming historical forces. Waltari remains one of Finland’s most translated authors. His blend of scholarship and storytelling earned him global readership.
9. The Kalevala
   Compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century, The Kalevala is Finland’s national epic, composed of traditional oral poetry and mythic songs. It tells of heroes like Väinämöinen, Lemminkäinen, and Kullervo, blending folklore, shamanism, and cosmic creation myths. Its rhythmic trochaic verse influenced composers (like Sibelius) and authors (including Tolkien). The Kalevala played a vital role in shaping Finnish identity and inspiring the nation’s cultural independence.

There are various other suggestions at Finnish literature - Wikipedia