Finland — books & literature

The story of Finland

Finland's roots trace to Finnic-speaking peoples who settled the region thousands of years ago, developing a distinct language unrelated to its Scandinavian neighbours. From the 12th century, Finland was absorbed into the Kingdom of Sweden and remained under Swedish rule for over 600 years, shaping its legal system, Lutheran faith, and western institutions. The Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809 ended Swedish control after Russia's victory in the Finnish War, and Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, with Helsinki named its new capital. Growing national identity, a Finnish-language literary movement, and unrest following the Russian Revolution led Finland to declare independence on 6 December 1917. A brief but bitter civil war followed in 1918, and Finland then fought the Soviet Union twice during World War II (the Winter War and Continuation War) to defend its sovereignty. Postwar Finland rebuilt rapidly, built a Nordic welfare state, joined the European Union in 1995, and became a NATO member in 2023 , emerging as one of the world's most stable, educated, and technologically advanced nations.

Timeline — key moments

1. circa 1150-1249

   Swedish crusades bring Finland gradually under Swedish rule.

2. 1323

   Treaty of Noteborg sets an early border between Sweden and Novgorod.

3. 1809

   Treaty of Fredrikshamn: Sweden cedes Finland to Russia; Finland becomes an autonomous Grand Duchy.

4. 1906

   Finland grants universal suffrage and a unicameral parliament, among the first in the world to include women.

5. 1917

   Finland declares independence from Russia on 6 December.

6. 1918

   Finnish Civil War between "Reds" and "Whites" follows independence.

7. 1939-1940

   The Winter War: Finland resists Soviet invasion, retaining independence despite territorial losses.

8. 1941-1944

   The Continuation War against the Soviet Union during World War II.

9. 1995

   Finland joins the European Union.

10. 2023

    Finland becomes a member of NATO.

Top 10 things to know about Finland

1. Finland has been ranked among the happiest countries in the world in the UN World Happiness Report for several consecutive years.
2. Finnish is a Uralic language, unrelated to Swedish, Russian, or most other European languages.
3. Finland is one of the most forested countries on Earth, with forest covering most of its land area.
4. Finland is home to an extraordinary number of lakes , commonly cited as nearing 188,000 , giving it the nickname "Land of a Thousand Lakes."
5. The sauna is a Finnish cultural institution , there are said to be more saunas than cars in the country.
6. Finland shares a long land border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023.
7. Finnish and Swedish are both official languages of Finland.
8. Finland is regularly ranked among the top countries in the world for education outcomes.
9. Santa Claus' official hometown, Rovaniemi, is located in Finnish Lapland.
10. Finland was part of Sweden for over 600 years before becoming a Russian Grand Duchy in 1809.

Famous people from Finland

Say it in Finland's language

Did you know?

• ★Finland's national epic, the Kalevala, was compiled from oral folk poetry in the 19th century and helped spark the country's national awakening.
• ★Finland was one of the first countries in the world to grant women full political rights, including the right to stand for parliament, in 1906.
• ★The midnight sun means parts of northern Finland see continuous daylight for weeks during summer.

Finland culture

• The sauna is central to Finnish life, used for relaxation, socialising, and tradition, nearly year-round.
• Juhannus (Midsummer) in June is one of Finland's most important holidays, celebrated with bonfires and time at summer cottages.
• Nordic design and functional minimalism, exemplified by figures like Alvar Aalto, are a point of national pride.
• Finland's deep connection to nature includes "everyman's right" (jokamiehenoikeus), allowing public access to forests and lakes.

Why read Finland's books

Finnish literature grew from a rich oral folk-poetry tradition, most famously gathered into the national epic the Kalevala, before flowering into a modern literary voice with writers like Aleksis Kivi and Tove Jansson. Explore that story through Finland's books below.