Customer Reviews (4)

(Used) A History of Finland
A very good book -- gives you a perspective and details on the Finnish history from the perspective of the Finnish settlers, versus the Swedish or Russian powers' view.Answered many questions for me about who my ancestors were and why they made decisions to relocate during wars, etc.

A Standard Text on the Subject
First published back in 1962, this review uses the dustjacket blurb from the new and revised edition.

"In AD 100 the Roman historian Tacitus described a wild and primitive people called Fenni -- the first mention of the Finnish people on record. Since that time, Finland has had one of the most bloody and strife-torn histories in Europe. Preyed on by aggressive neighbors, devastated by battles fought on its soil...it has tenaciously maintained its vital national culture."

"This volume, in tracing the long and intricate pattern, of Finland's history, particularly its complicated relationships with Sweden and Russia, the growth of Finnish nationalism and the development of a distinctively Finnish culture offers a comprehensive perspective on one of the little-known countries of Europe."

A standard text on the subject
First published back in 1962, this review uses the dustjacket blurb from the new and revised edition.

"In AD 100 the Roman historian Tacitus described a wild and primitive people called Fenni -- the first mention of the Finnish people on record. Since that time, Finland has had one of the most bloody and strife-torn histories in Europe. Preyed on by aggressive neighbors, devastated by battles fought on its soil...it has tenaciously maintained its vital national culture."

"This volume, in tracing the long and intricate pattern, of Finland's history, particularly its complicated relationships with Sweden and Russia, the growth of Finnish nationalism and the development of a distinctively Finnish culture offers a comprehensive perspective on one of the little-known countries of Europe."

Great country
Finland is cool.I like Finland.This book tell me a lot of the finland place.I like finland.The author say finland have lots of bombs.I disagree.Finland got a lot of (...) lard, but not a lot of bombs.

Overall,Helsinki is big.Detroit's city is more bigger. I like Norway.

Good book!Buy it! ... Read more

Product Description
Few countries in Europe have undergone such rapid social, political and economic changes as Finland has during the last fifty years.David Kirby here sets out the fascinating history of this northern country, for centuries on the east-west divide of Europe, a country not blessed by nature, most of whose inhabitants still earned a living from farming fifty years ago, but which today is one of the most prosperous members of the European Union. He shows how this small country was able not only to survive in peace and war but also to preserve and develop its own highly distinctive identity, neither Scandinavian nor Eastern European. He traces the evolution of the idea of a Finnish national state, from the long centuries as part of the Swedish realm, through self-government within the Russian Empire, and into the stormy and tragic birth of the independent state in the twentieth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Difficult Road to Nationhood
This book is an informative account of the development of a modern nation from its beginning as the home of a unique people with a unique language, the Finns. Overlaid on this were colonisation in the 12th centry by the Swedes who also brought with them western Christianity. This placed the new country at odds at many levels with its burgeoning neighbour, Russia. However, through some deft handling by the country's politicians, diplomats and occasionally its military, Finland managed to keep Russia pretty well at arm's length until well into the last centruy. In fact the last restrictive arrangement with Russia was not removed until 1995 with Finland's entry into the EU.

The book did concentrate on the vital political aspects which was probably necessary to remain "concise", but perhaps it would have been even more interesting to expand on other national aspects. For example the creation of the Nokia company was barely mentioned. Another improvement would have been a couple of larger scale maps for areas of interest.

My conclusion - it was well worth the purchase.

A Concise History of Finland
A splendidly well-researched history.David Kirby gives a refreshingly rare even-handed review of the civil war period.Also, he approaches the often-confusing politics of the post WW2 period with clarity and I particularly enjoyed his appraisal of the 'reign' of Urho Kekkonen. It is difficult to be sufficiently exhaustive in such a concise history and I would love to read a more expansive history by the same author.A Concise History of Finland (Cambridge Concise Histories)

Could be quite a bit better.
This book does what it says on the tin, in that it is concise history of Finland. However, that's about it. If you are looking for any sort of depth into the events, this is not the book for you. Secondly, if you are looking for something that's fairly readable, this is not the book for you. There are numerous sentence format errors throughout this book, which caused me to have to reread parts over and over again, and I still don't actually know what he was trying to communicate. There are also frequent spelling errors, which cause me to wonder if this book was edited by anyone.

Mr. Kirby's focus is very clearly academia, as he frequently goes into depth about the various happenings at the primary universities. The most notable was a full two pages about a number of papers, which Mr. Kirby dismisses as fairly unimportant. However, a major political and cultural turning point (acknowledged as such by Mr. Kirby) gets a sentence. This sort of imbalance in focus is consistent throughout all chapters of the book. I was specifically hoping that this book would give me an overview of the major points of their history, so that I would then know which areas and aspects I wished to delve further into, but sadly this book did not deliver as I wanted. I would not purchase this item again.

Finding Finland on a Map
I can't say I ever had a pressing desire to learn about Finland but when I found out I'd be heading there this June, I ordered this book and it's a worthwhile investment whether you are visiting Finland or just want to know more about the country and the Finnish people and culture.

I'm glad I bought this book!
For those who love Finland and would love to know the history of this small nation which is having such an impact on the world right now, this is the book for you. You can read with a curiosity that is guaranteed to be satisfied. You'll find yourself turning pages eager to know more. But you must be prepared for lengthy spells of academic reading. It is not an easy quick "read." You must surely have a love for Finnish people and for all things Finnish and a great abiding interest in the discipline of history, especially political history. You will find out how Finland has come to be. It has excellent appendices, including a list of the nation's key dates of events in history, political statistics, an extensive guide to further reading, a comprehensive index, and good notes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Historical writing at its dismal worst.
Without a doubt, one of the most boring books I've ever tried reading.

This is virtually nothing but an endless litany of names, dates, and places, barely held together by nebulous chapter themes (ex: "Monarchies in Equipoise").

My wife and I are taking a three week trip throughout Scandinavia, and I sought an interesting historical overview as background. This book is not it. I was a bit concerned since it originally published in 1977, but with 12 printings, I assumed it must have been updated (...wrong...) and was an interesting read (...wrong again...). There's only one illustration in the entire 400 page tome, and it's an out-of-date map.

Definitely written by a scholar for other scholars. Perhaps this book would be of interest to someone willing to spend a year deciphiring some runic inscription ... but for anyone seeking an interesting understanding of Scandinavian history, peoples and culture, this is death by detail.

A thorough, wide-ranging, scholarly work
This is a thorough, wide-ranging, scholarly work - a useful and insightful review that stretches over a millenium in time. Although the book charts the course in history of this geographically and culturally linked collection of peoples, it still emphasises the individuality of each.I hadn't realised just how complex a relationship of inter-dependence and rivalry existed between these nations for so long. Among the more fascinating discussions in the book, I would list: church-state relations especially in the period following the reformation, the impact of the industrial revolution and the development of the welfare state, the period leading up to the second world war and the relationship between the various countries and the major powers during the war (i.e. Finland with Russia, Denmark with Germany, etc.) and the historical contribution of each nation to the arts and sciences. One small criticism: I would have liked to have seen some maps in the book - my knowledge of Scandinavia is not so extensive that I could picture the geographical relationship of the many places mentioned.I especially found the early part of the book very heavy going, and difficult to follow the many movements of people that were detailed.

Excellent coverage of the war years
The author does an excellent job of covering Scandinavia during the war years. His use of information from Eisenhowers private papers brings a whole new dimension to understanding what was going on in each country.Iwas not aware that near the end of the war Ike had a serious plan toliberate the Norwegian Allies from the NAZIS, by first liberating Denmark,then proceeding overland across Sweden. (I wonder if he would have giventhe job to Patton?)

A concise and complete history of all of Scandinavia
In reading this book it becomes very apparent at how much the state-church relation influenced much of Scandinavia, and also it's people.It was also incredibly interesting to read about how the countries of Denmark, Swedenand Norway kept separating, and uniting.For anyone who is interested inScandinavian history, that delves way beneath the surface, look no further,TK Derry writes a book that can't be ignored. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a second edition of the successful study of Finland in the English language. A Short History of Finland traces the historical development of the country from its settlement by the Finns in the first millennium AD to the present time, exploring Finland's earlier connection with Sweden, the complex relationship with Russia that has dominated Finnish history in the past two centuries, and the postwar achievements of the second republic. This second edition has been revised and updated by Emeritus Professor A. F. Upton, a leading scholar of Scandinavian history. It covers the impact of the break-up of the Soviet Union and brings events up to Finland's admission to the European Union in 1995. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Finland - in a nutshell
This book provides a brief, but very comprehensive, history of Finland from the bronze age to the twentieth century. I found the extensive details on the early history of Swedish-Finnish expansion extremely helpful, although the book is a bit skimpy on the topic of the Finnish civil war. The book rightfully calls itself a "short" history, but it's a satisfying overview.

ditto
Ditto what the reader from Las Vegas said.It seemed a little bit too thin, but then it is called "A Short History".Given that it is so short, there should have been a little bit less about politicalmachinations and the Left, and the space saved should have been used to saya little bit more about the military history, economics, culture,emigratin, etc.Also, the prose style, while readable, does not sparkle. But these are minor quibbles.For the most part, the book is what itclaims to be.

Finnish History in 170 (!) pages
This book delivers exactly what its title suggests, "A Short History of Finland".From the earliest prehistoric beginnings to the sea-change in Finnish foreign policy with its membership in the EU in '95,this work outlines all significant events in Finnish history.Containsseveral appendices with Tsar Alexander's declaration, petition to theBolshevik government for independence, and the 1948 Treaty of Friendshipand Cooperation.The second edition was completed by a different author,but the revisions are seamless- the reader cannot detect any changes ofstyle or editing.

I would have given this book 5-stars, except for whatI believe is an inordinate amount of paper given to the rise andmachinations of the left in Finnish politics.Given the original author'sadmitted interest in left-wing politics, this is probably unavoidable. However, the space could have been better used to flesh out chapters on theRusso-Finnish war, Continuation War and the involvement of the Soviets inFinnish politics post-war.For future editions, the author may wish toinclude the 1947 peace treaty along with the 1948 treaty in the Appendices. So maybe 4 1/2 is more accurate.

If you are a tourist or business personwho wants more history than is presented in the usual tour guide, or are astudent looking for background on aspects of Scandinavian history, get thisbook.Besides, you can probably finish it on the flight to Helsinki... ... Read more

Product Description
Why is Finland number one in Global Competitiveness? Why is Finland number onein mobile phones? Why is Finland regularly voted as the least corrupt country in theworld? How did Finland become the world leader in managing water resources? Whyare Finns regarded as the ideal "peacekeepers"? Why are Finns the world's biggestconsumers of coffee and alcohol? Why are Finns the most silent people in Europe?Why is the future Finnish?

Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf is the story of an accomplished nation and her extraordinarypeople. Pursuing a "Lone Wolf" policy, Finland raised itself from a struggling,war-battered state in 1945 to one of the most developed countries in theworld. Finland, blending the individualism of the West with cultural characteristicsof the East, has retained its reputation as a stand-alone nation. These remarkableFinns speak a language unique in its origins and have kept their cultural identityintact despite the influences of powerful neighbors, Sweden and Russia.As business partners Finns are unsurpassed in leadership qualities yet inspire thesuccessful team building that created the largest company in Europe. The exponentialrise of Nokia from tire and timbers to leading the world's telecommunicationindustry is indicative of the Finns and their characteristic business style.Uniquely qualified to write about Finland, best-selling author Richard Lewis tracesthe fascinating Finnish origins, as well as her history and geography. He comparescommunication styles among the Finns and other cultures, including Asians,Americans and Europeans, and he explores the most dominant cultural values thatdefine the Finns. His extensive experience with Finnish business allows him keeninsight on leadership style, negotiation strategies and the uniquely Finnish suomi kuva(Finland image). And Lewis shines when describing the Finnish humor, completewith hilarious jokes and stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Repetitive!
I bought this book to help familiarize myself with everyday Finnish-ness and thought that I would get a good perspective from an outsider.
The author says in 200 pages what he could have said in 10: the Finns are quiet; the Finns like solitude; the Finns are good people beneath their cold exteriors.He drove these points home over and over and over again.
His analysis was superficial and relied very heavily on cultural generalizations and stereotypes.
Nevertheless, if a person knows absolutely zero about Finland and Finns, this book will ram home some of the most basics.

Cultural Lone Wolf - A Good Book
I did appreciate very much the author and his book. He's a fine Professor and understands everything people must know to understand finnish way of life.

Very enlightening
Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf
Bought this to get a better undertanding of Finland and it's people to put in perspective the family stories of family members who emigrated to the US at the turn or the century.
Got more than I asked for.I am beginning to understand why I get along with some people better than others.I also can understand why some do not like "Americans".
This was written in an easy to read style. It was written by someone who likes and understands Finland and its people while not being Finnish.
I would recommend it highly.

Disappointing
The author has a business which provides training in languages and cross-cultural communication, primarily to business persons.I can imagine this book stemming from a series of Powerpoint slides, with bulleted lists, from a course on doing business in Finland.It has a narrow agenda, focusing on patterns of communication and leadership.There is very little on Finnish life and culture - on marriage, family, religion, work life... You will come away from it with a lot of generalizations about the Finnish people but no clue as to how they live their lives. The book begins with a brief introductory sketch of the history and geography of Finland and the Finnish language.This is followed by a more detailed discussion of communication, leadership, national character or identity, humor, and comparisons of Finns with other peoples.The author presents a very favorable image of Finns and Finland.In particular, he ceaselessly cites ways in which Finland leads the world.One thing that annoyed me is an excessive reliance on stereotypes and cliches, which are confidently presented as facts, when in fact there are no citations or references to research to support them.Also annoying is the frequent reduction of complex patterns of behavior to simplistic diagrams and typologies (such as "linear-active," "multi-active," and "reactive cultures").The book is easy to read but redundant and simplistic.I can't recommend it.Try Culture Smart Finland instead.

KNOW THE FINNS AND FINLAND
This book if for anybody who has been to Finland or has dealt with Finns or plans to do either of the above. The author is an Englishman who has dealt with Finns for years in business ventures. He is also somewhat of a social historian and that makes his book very enjoyable. The book is a fast read filled with anecdotes and jokes and also covers how many other
cultures do business in contrast to the Finns including Americans and Japanese. I have dealt with Finns in business and in teaching and this expained a lot of my observations and added some insights.

If vacation or business brings you to Finland this is a must read.

I immediately lent my copy to a friend who has been mystified by his occasionl dealings with this interesting culture. ... Read more

Product Description

Finland has occupied the political, religious, cultural and economic border between eastern and western Europe since prehistoric times. Despite its peripheral location, the country has found itself in the mainstream of developments that created modern Europe, such as nationalism, world wars, industrialization, and the current political and economic integration. The first evidence of human life in Finland began sometime in the millennium 7,000-8,000 B.C. when small, tribal groups populated the area. In 1155, Finland became a part of the Swedish kingdom, when most of the Finnish peninsula came under the rule of the Swedish king. Finland was annexed to Russia as a result of wars between the Swedish king and Russian rulers in 1809, bringing about the Age of Autonomy or Imperial Era. The Age of Independence came when Finland's leaders declared the country's political independence in 1917 as a result of turmoil in Russia after World War I. Finland, along with several newly independent countries, had to find its place in the new Europe. The country not only did that, but created a secure and prosperous country during times of turmoil. It has emerged into a place of privilege, with high levels of prosperity, cultural achievements, and social peace.

Ideal for students and general readers, the History of Finland is part of Greenwood's Histories of Modern Nations series. With over thirty nation's histories in print, these books provide readers with a concise, up-to-date history of countries throughout the world. Reference features include a biographical section highlighting notable figures in Finland's history, a timeline of important historical events, and a bibliographical essay.

Customer Reviews (2)

Good But Limited
Good overview ofSocial and Economic History of Finland.
Too light in detail of the Russian-German-Finland interactions and fighting leading up to and during WWII.

Superb book
This is a well-written book that covers Finnish history from the settlement after the last ice age up to now. It reads easily and is very entertaining. ... Read more

Product Description
This book describes the odd coalition between Germany and Finland in World War II, and their joint military operations from 1941 to 1945. This is a topic often missing in English, though in stark contrast to the numerous books on the shorter and less bloody Winter War. That conflict represented a gallant fight of a democratic "David" against a totalitarian "Goliath" that caught the imagination of the world. The story of Finland fighting alongside a "Goliath" of its own has not brought pride to that nation and was a period many Finns would rather forget.The prologue of this book brings the reader up to speed by briefly examining the difficult history of Finland, from its separation from the Soviet Union in 1917 to its isolation after being bludgeoned in 1939-40. It then examines both Finnish and German motives for forming a coalition against the USSR, and how-as logical as a common enemy would seem-the lack of true planning and preparation would doom the alliance. This book posits that it was mind-boggling how the highly professional German General Staff allowed itself to accept the militarily unsound and shaky coalition that resulted. The war aims were not discussed or harmonized, there were no campaign plans with tasks and missions spelled out past the initial assault, no effective main effort established, inadequate force levels, and an unsound command structure with various headquarters. Practically every rule in the book was broken. The objective of linking up with the Finns in the Leningrad area was an important factor in Hitler opting for three main drives into the Soviet Union rather than an earlier OKH plan that called for only two.After describing the operations during and after Barbarossa, this book describes how the Finnish theater became a blind ally for the Germans. Their strongest and best army was trapped both operationally and geographically in central and northern Finland, making virtually no contribution to the war effort. The Germans could not bring to bear enough forces to accomplish their objectives without substantial Finnish assistance, and that was not forthcoming.The final chapters deal with the Soviet counteroffensive against the Finns in 1944. The Finns lost all their gains and quickly concluded a separate armistice. This left the German forces in Finland to simply vacate the territory, fighting between the Finns and Soviets alike as they tried to return to the main war. Jointly suffering 291,000 casualties, the only consolation was that the coalition had inflicted some 830,000 on the Soviets.In this book, Henrik Lunde, a former US Special Operations colonel, and the renowned author of Hitler's Pre-emptive War: The Battle for Norway, 1940, once again fills a profound gap in our understanding of World War II. ... Read more

Product Description
Finland's fight to defend her independence earned this tiny nation of just 3 million people a distinct place in history. Invaded by Stalin before World War II, Finland held out for months and inflicted huge losses on the invaders, but she was eventually crushed by the weight of Soviet numbers. When Germany invaded the USSR in 1941 the Finns fought alongside the Wehrmacht on the northern Russian Front, with great skill and courage in an attempt to regain their lost territories. When the German armies were forced to retreat in 1944, Finland managed to conclude a separate peace with the USSR – uniquely, without being forced to accept renewed Russian occupation. This book details the organisation, uniforms and equipment of this remarkable force. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Finland at War
Some good pictures; detailed color plates of various uniforms,a couple of helpful maps, but only a cursory history of the war."Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-40" by William R. Trotter is a fine and detailed history of that war - "Finland at War" is a somewhat useful companion and does tell a little about the Continuation War.

norway at war
title is readily available in shops in england at a cheaper price. delivery was a little lengthy.content of book: not the best osprey title but useful considering lack of material on this subject.

Great overview
This book is very well written and easy to read.It gives a very good overview of the Finnish military during WWII.If you don't know about heroic little Finland, and their fight for survival against Russia, then you are missing some great inspirational history.I consider this book a must-have for the Finnish military history buff.

Best Summary and Illustrations
This book has the best illustrations I've ever seen. It includes black and white photographs, colored illustrations, clearly defined timelines and some very taut, straightforward writing.

I'm not Finnish and my interest in it and its role in World War II was slow developing.I'd read bits and pieces about Finland's stand against impossible odds in military histories.

One thing led to another and I finally ended up buying some books and trying to figure out how this tiny Nordic nation managed to fight off the Red Army and survive the vicissitudes of World War II.Jowett and Snodgrass bring a clear, well-organized summary of this very complicated period of history.

When did the "Winter War" end? What was the "Continuation War" and the "Lapland War?"How did Finland manage to avoid being occupied by the Red Army like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were?

This brief (64 page) book provides very clear answers to these questions.It's easy to read and organized so that it makes a great quick reference.

If you're interested in military history, Finland, World War II, Germany, Russia, 20th century European History, collecting militaria, or if you like a good David and Goliath story, this book's for you. I like it and gave it five stars.

Excellent Addition to Elite Series
Finland at War 1939-45, # 141 in Osprey's Elite series, is an excellent introduction to the role of the Finnish Army in the Second World War. Authors Philip Jowett and Brent Snodgrass demonstrate a firm grip of this subject and provide a wealth of useful and hard-to-find information on the Finns. This volume belongs on the bookshelves of anyone seriously interested in the Eastern Front.

The opening section spends about 12 pages outlining the chronology of the three wars that Finland fought in the period 1939-45; the 1939-40 Winter War and 1941-44 Continuation War against the Soviet Union and the 1944-45 Lapland War against the Germans. However the chronology section actually has a fair amount of detail and provides a good introduction to the subject. The heart of the volume lies in the 25-page section which discusses the organization of the Finnish army, covering all the major branches as well as paramilitary formations such as the Civil Guard and Foreign Volunteers. A brief section discusses tactics, including the use of "motti" encirclement attacks and snipers. A final section discusses weapons, including small arms, machineguns, anti-tank weapons and artillery (unfortunately, mortars were omitted). Overall, there is a wealth of information in this thin volume and it is one of the better of Osprey's Elite titles.

Eight pages of color plates by artist Raffaele Ruggeri depict the Finnish military and para-military forces from 1939-45. The photographs in the volume are also very good and most have not been printed in English-language books before. Perhaps the only area that gets a bit skimped on is in the areas of training and higher staff functions at corps-level, but this is understandable given the size restraints. Overall, a superb volume.
... Read more

Product Description
The first comprehensive survey of Finnish ceramic art, covering its pioneers, personalities, techniques, and unique works, with over 130 color photographs of key pieces.

Beautifully illustrated, Ceramic Art in Finland presents a wide range of work by ceramic artists, from late-nineteenth-century masters through internationally recognized designers of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, to emerging talents in the twenty-first century.

More than 170 ceramists are included, and the book examines their use of materials, individual techniques, working environments, and sources of inspiration. The entire spectrum of ceramic art is covered from traditional vessels to free forms, sculpture, and architectural installations.

In addition to artists working in individual studios, the book also examines the role of Arabia, the leading Finnish producer of domestic ware, in whose art department individuals such as Birger Kaipiainen, Toini Muona, Rut Bryk, Michael Schilkin, Aune Siimes, and many others have had exceptional opportunities to develop and display their creative talents.

The specially commissioned color photographs of ceramic pieces are complemented by more than 100 photos of artists at work in their studios, exhibition installations, and unique works in their original interiors. A comprehensive section on artists' signatures and stamps used by studios and cooperatives complete this book, which will be an indispensable reference for ceramic artists and collectors, museum curators, art and antique dealers, designers, and architects. 264 illustrations, 137 in color. ... Read more

Product Description
In this very personal book, Mead explains on the basis of more than half a century's experience how his interests in Finland developed in parallel with its transformation from a pre-war agrarian economy to a modern welfare state with an advanced technological base. An interpretation of the landscape is accompanied by descriptions of the features - often peculiar to Finland - that stir the five senses. Reactions to daily life and labour are balanced by the response to the state of the arts. There is an introduction to Finland's rich demographic and cartographic sources, there are vignettes of Finns from the past who have been the subject of the author's research, and there is much about Anglo-Finnish relations. The book is not a comprehensive survey, but illustrates familiar topics with a mass of "unconsidered trifles" - a diary here, a manuscript there; an idea here, a critical observation there - to produce an unusual and often intimate picture of Finland and its people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A riveting and moving story, very highly recommended
The Finnish have their own story of trying to make it through the wars. "The Lapp King's Daughter: A Family's Journey Through Finland's Wars" is a memoir from Stina Katchadourian as she tells her families story of how they were in Germany when the war broke out and how they fled through Europe trying to keep their heads above the war. Through the eyes of a little girl at the time, "The Lapp King's Daughter" is a riveting and moving story, very highly recommended.

My favorite way to learn some more history

My favorite way to learn more about the world we live in is to read a well-written and compelling memoir!Stina Katchadourian's memoir, "The Lapp King's Daughter", based on her parent's letters written to each other while separated during World War II, fulfills both requirements.I got caught up in the story immediately.

Finland during World War II was a war theater trapped in a power struggle between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Both monsters had designs on a rather innocent Finland-- literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea!This story gets to the heart of what it is like to be a child in a stalwart family forced to flee from bombs in Helsinki and survive in the countryside with little food.There are many charming anecdotes that you will not want to miss. The author has a great sense of humor which not only helps her survive the war but also contributes to her ingenuity as a writer.

The Lapp King had a marvelous and inventive little daughter! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

History of Communism from the great literary critic
Edmund Wilson's "To The Finland Station" is a history of communism from Michelet to Lenin.Well that's not exactly correct-this book is many books rolled into one.First it is a history of the idea of a Marxist interpretation of history.Second it is a first-hand account of the efforts by Marx and Engels to start a communist revolution.Third it is a literary criticism of "Das Kapital", the books of Michelet and other writers.

Edmund Wilson was the book reviewer for "The New Yorker" magazine for many years.I picked up this book wanting to read something, anything from the literary critic who many consider the finest since, say, Samuel Johnson. Wilson is famous for, among other things, writing about the literature of the Civil War, "Patriotic Gore", and learning Hebrew so that he could write "The Dead Sea Scrolls".(He must have understood French and German too since he seems to have read Michelet and Marx in the original.)Wilson was also notorious for panning "The Maltese Falcon" and all mystery writing in general.Perhaps his greatest contribution was to revive from obscurity and make famous the writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of "The Great Gatsby", who books had gone out of print.

"To the Finland Station" is a long book that is often difficult to read.The long discussion of Hegel and Dialectical Materialism-while no doubt important to the idea of a Marxist interpretation of history-had me rereading the same paragraphs over and over.Still I don't understand any of it.But the terse nature of this prose and the theories they contain render one of the most startling ideas in the book.Marx says that most shallow readers-I guess he had me in mind-have missed the idea of communism completely.It is not simply the progression from capitalism to a struggle between the proletarian and bourgeois.

Wilson writes that Marx says "To many simple minded persons who have just heard about Marxism, it means something extremely simple: it means that people always act from motives of economic interest and the everything that everything mankind has thought or done is susceptible of being explained in those terms".Yes, that is my precise understanding of Marxism and I learned it in high school.

Until I read this book I did not know that Marx and Engels were not just pointy headed intellectuals working away in the safety of a university.No, they were front-line politicians and revolutionaries who risked their necks and their money to foment revolution.As Wilson points out, Marx used his inherited money to buy weapons for revolutionaries in Belgium.Both were expelled from Belgium, Prussia, France, and Marx finally settled in London.He and Engels spent much of their efforts trying re-ignite the Paris Commune (a French civil war in the 1870's where the communists actually took Paris for a few days) in revolutions in Austria and elsewhere.

It is interesting to note that capitalism and the lack of money caused Marx and his family great suffering.Marx was broke during most of his life in London.He and his family were evicted from their homes even while Mrs. Engles was suckling her child.The child later died.Marx made a little money writing articles for newspapers such as Horace Greeley's New York City newspaper "The World".But he mainly lived off charity from Engles and financial bailouts from Lasalle.Lasalle was another revolutionary.Marx was jealous of any rival to his position as leader of the movement.Engels was jealous of any rival to the affections of Marx.

For me the most interesting character in the book is Jules Michelet.Wilson takes you into his study as he labors away at his great "History of the French Revolution".Michelet was lucky to have been the first historian granted access to the French version of the national archives.(I think he founded the Academie Française?)Michelet today might be best known for popularizing the feats of the young French maiden, Jean D'Arc.

Other extremely interesting sections of the book were descriptions of early efforts to build idealistic communistic communes in the young country, The United States.All of these efforts failed.The most famous were the Brook Farm and others based on the writing of Fourier.(You can read Susan Sontag's "In America" for a description of one such commune.)I did not know that early efforts at communism were launched right here in the USA.Fancy that!

To his credit Edmund Wilson went back into his book years after it's publication and wrote a new introduction.There he derides the evils of Stalinism.While it's conception might have been pure and elegant like some subtle mathematical proof-to the writer Saint Simon communism was even a new religion--it's implementation was bloody and ridiculous.Today most people would agree that it has been totally discredited.But we should all read "To the Finland Station" to understand what all the fuss was about. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
As the Scandinavian nations rarely participated in warfare during the 20th century, little has been written about their armed forces. However, they have employed formidable forces in many wars, as this study demonstrates. The volume includes discussion of: prehistoric warriors, Vikings; wars between Denmark and Sweden; the Thirty Years War; the Great Northern War; the Russo-Swedish Wars; the German Confederation reduces Denmark; the dilemma of World War I; the invasion of Scandinavia in 1940; the Russo-Finnish Wars; Sweden mobilizes for four invasion threats; the Scandinavians fight with the Allies and Axis; and postwar Scandinavia armed forces. There are photographs and illustrations of weapons and uniforms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent!
This is an outstanding look at Scandinavian military prowess.Very impressive and seems to be very complete and well researched.Highly recommended for all students of military history or Scandinavians who just need a dose of pride! ... Read more

Product Description
The German army's first campaign in the far north was an outstanding success: Between April and June 1940, German forces of less than 20,000 seized Norway, a state of three million people, while suffering only minimal losses. The army learned new skills to fight effectively in snow and ice. Since the terrain prohibited the use of tanks and heavy artillery, and lack of airfields restricted the employ-ment of aircraft, the war became an infantry duel waged across a frozen landscape. While the war in the far north was an effec-tive campaign that resulted in significant losses to the Red Army and Allied convoys, the Wahrmacht resources com--mitted there ultimately drained the German war effort. In the end, Hitler's obsession with preventing an Allied invasion of Norway contributed heavily to the German collapse of 1944-45. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent and Chilling
a total picture of the cold and bitter fighting with pictures included.Comprhensive while still remaining a good read with an easy understanding of a sometimes complex situation.

Hitlers Artic War
Having recently returned from Norway I was interested in how the Norweigians repelled the Nazis. The book detailed the information I was seeking.Amazon found the title for me, and made delivery in a very timely manner.

Picture book of all aspects of Northern War
This is a picture book covering all aspects of the Northern Campaign including the 1939 Russo-Finnish War, the 1940 invasion of Norway, the campaigns in Finland and Karelia from 1941-1944, and all aspects of the naval war in the Barents and Arctic over the same period.As a history of the events and campaigns, this is little more than a brief overview.The topics are so broad and the text so short that only the merest overview is given.All of the information can be found elsewhere, there is virtually nothing new.If you want to know anything about any of the campaigns nominally covered in this work, I strongly recommend that you find other books that are better written and more narrowly focused (such as Trotter's book on the 1939 Winter War or Ziemke's book if you are interested in the Karelia).There are lots of great (and rare) photos in this book, but little more.One thing that really annoyed me about this book was that the authors openly present a strong pro-Soviet bias.This is unacceptable in a scholarly historical publication by two professional historians (both have Ph.D.s).This should have been written with more balance, I can only conclude that this is not a serious work.My rating of three stars is, I believe, generous and I would not disagree with anyone who gave it two.This is a picture book of the Arctic war, and if you are looking for more than this, you will disappointed by this volume.Not recommended for a serious student of the era.

A good primer on the arctic theater in WWII
Hitler's Arctic War is a useful introduction to that theater of WWII.The book starts by covering the Soviet invasion of Finland in 1939.Although this seems odd, given the title, it makes sense since strategically that war was important for later actions in Scandinavia.Next, the invasion of Norway is fairly well-covered, although without a lot of detail.

The German/Finn invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 is covered in much more detail.Included is a chapter on the naval convoys to send Lend-Lease material to the USSR via the arctic port of Murmansk.This is very interesting stuff, and is a topic that is only lightly addressed elsewhere.This is probably the main contribution of the book.The Soviet (re)invasion of Finnland in 1944 is also covered in solid fashion.Glantz provides more detail in his Battle for Leningrad, but this book will do if you just want the general overview and highlights of the battle.The book concludes with by examining covert operations and commando raids in Norway during the war.

If you are looking for an exhaustive source on WWII in Scandinavia, this is not for you.If you're looking for a solid introduction to the topic, this book will do nicely.

Hitler's Arctic War
I was surprised when I read this book, at the number of errors, inaccuracies, and untruths I found in it. It is painfully apparent that no one with any knowledge of that theater checked this book before it was published.

I also had a problem with reading it. It felt like the authors each wrote what they wanted, and didn't bother to compare their efforts before putting them together. There is nothing wrong with reinforcing information in previous chapters. Telling it to the reader again, though, is a different matter.

I ordered this book to aid my own research into the campaigns in the North. I kept it only as a reminder of what not to publish. I was sorely disappointed with this product. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive and Readable
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) ... Read more