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Editorial: The most beautiful word

This'n'that
On hibernation; Helsinki Book Fair 2006; Jari Järvelä's new novel introduced by Tuomas Juntunen; Books from Finland, 40, and editorial changes; literary prizes; the 2006 Finnish Government Translation Prize to Hildi Hawkins; Reko Lundán in memoriam

Jari Järvelä
Man and boy
Extracts from the novel Kansallismaisema ('National landscape', Tammi, 2006), translated by David Hackston
In 1930s Europe, the borders of education sometimes stretched to include fascism. In the final part of this trilogy by Jari Järvelä (born 1965), boys are made into men in the swamps of eastern Finland in 1938; but the process includes humour — as well as elks

Anna-Leena Ekroos
Classroom capers
Trained originally as a teacher, Timo Parvela (born 1964) listens to his inner eight-year: he writes books for kids, who like them because they are silly. In conversation with Anna-Leena Ekroos, he remarks: 'all's fair in love, war, and stimulating your children's interest in reading.'

Timo Parvela
In a class of their own
Extracts from the children's book Ella. Varokaa lapsia! ('Ella. Look out for children!', Tammi, 2006), translated by Lola Rogers
Eight-year olds have not yet lost their innocence, and this quality can drive their teachers to distraction. Glue, lines from the Kalevala and school inspectors are factors for yet another razzmatazz in Ella's school

Fredrik Hertzberg
Live fast, die young
During his short existence, Henry Parland (1908—1930) dived deep into the hectic modern world of cars, jazz and movies — and produced 150 pages of concentrated poetry that captured the new era. Fredrik Hertzberg explores his literary landscape

Henry Parland
The devil has no clothes
Poems, translated by David McDuff
A young dandy spends his time sitting in cafés, listening to melodies of female legs; in Henry Parland's short poems, the brave new world of the 1920s appears in fleeting images.
This is the sixth part in a series of portraits of classic Finnish authors

Tuomas Nevanlinna & Jukka Relander
Words for words
Extracts from the collection of etymological articles, Työn sanat ('Work-words', Teos, 2006), translated by Hildi Hawkins
The philosophers and writers Tuomas Nevanlinna (born 1960) and Jukka Relander (born 1967) observe the usage of work-related words of the era of the 'new economy'. What do words like bonus, dynamic or wealth really mean?

Tuomas M.S. Lehtonen
In a strange land: on language and identity
Translated by Hildi Hawkins
Is language the foundation of identity? Is it always a necessary part of the creation of identity? Tuomas M.S. Lehtonen, Secretary General of the Finnish Literature Society — this year celebrating its 175th anniversary — discusses the subject with reference to a medieval poem written in Latin, published in Piae Cantiones (Turku, 1582)

Reviews

Risto Alapuro
Local heroes
Klinge, Matti: Iisalmen ruhtinaskunta. Modernin projekti sukuverkos-tojen periferiassa [The principality of Iisalmi. The project of modernity at the periphery of ancestral networks]

Hannu Marttila
Crème de la crème
Ilamo, Tuija & Jokiniemi, Kimmo & Kuisma, Markku: Kaupungin paras keittiö [The city's best kitchen]; Lindgren, Christer & Konttinen, Hannu: Pyttipannu [Hash]

New translations

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Sinikka Nopola
My favourite thing
The writer Sinikka Nopola (whose latest book, a collection of humorous Häme dialect dialogues, entitled Kyä tossa jotain häikkää o ['It's fishy alright'], appeared this autumn) has chosen pulla, an ancient treat traditionally baked by mothers — still going strong, despite by being threated by soulless products from industrial ovens. And there is a recipe as well!