Books from Finland celebrates its 40th volume

'XL', the volume number of this year's issues of Books from Finland, does not not mean 'extra large' — it is the Latin number 40. This is indeed Books from Finland's fortieth birthday year; the journal's first issue was published in early 1967.
     The first volume, published by the Publishers'Association, was a slim one of a mere 32 pages, consisting mainly of bibliographical data. In his short preface of the issue 1/1967, the then Minister of Education, R.H.Oittinen, opined modestly: 'Finland has not been entirely omitted from the world-map of culture, but a more complex and detailed picture of our literature should be made available to those interested in it.'
     Ten years later the publication was taken over by Helsinki University Library. The new editors stated that 'more space will be given to translations of recent prose and verse, and to articles and reviews, while the amount of bibliographical minutiae will be reduced.'
     The editors of the larger, more literary Books from Finland had 'no illusions about the significance of Finland's contribution to world literature. It has been small, is small, and will remain small.'
     On the other hand, they emphasised they did not wish to 'thrust information upon people', just to make it readily available, and 'perhaps, even whet the appetite for more.'
     In 1977 the Information Centre for Finnish Literature (now named FILI) was founded to promote Finnish literature and its translation; it was attached to the Finnish Literature Society (which itself celebrates its 175th anniversary this year). In 2003 the Finnish Literature Society became Books from Finland's publisher.
     Over the years the number of books published in Finland has nearly quadrupled (the total in 1966 was 3,388; in 2004, 12,977). There has been no lack of material for the journal — and it has been great fun to try to whet the appetites.
     The prose and verse published in translation in this journal — whether it is written in Finnish, Swedish or Sámi — has always been chosen by the editors because of its value as original, interesting and significant writing — otherwise, of course, Books from Finland would not be a literary magazine but just a vehicle of thrusting information upon people.
     And without our passionate, skilful and persistent translators nothing of this would have been possible.
     Please stay with us — for the next 40 years too!