Helsinki in Early Twentieth-Century Literature

This first monograph to examine experiences of Helsinki in literature written in Finnish shows that rich descriptions of urban life have formed an integral part of Finnish literature from the late nineteenth century onward. Based on an analysis of more than sixty novels and collections of short stories that appeared between 1890 and 1940, it tells the naturally evolving story of how Helsinki was experienced in literature, from the first tentative steps in the confusing capital to the gradual emergence of strong feelings of attachment to the city.