Preface to the book 100 Faces from Finland. A Biographical Kaleidoscope
100 Faces from Finland constitutes a selection of significant individuals who, in their own spheres of life, have made important contributions to the development of Finnish society.
The articles came into being as part of Suomen kansallisbiografia, the National Biography of Finland, which contains 6000 brief biographies edited by Suomen Historiallinen Seura, the Finnish Historical Society. Publication of Kansallisbiografia articles on the Internet began in 1997. English-language pages were added in 1999, and the biographies thus acquired readers beyond the borders of Finland. These 100 articles published in English on the Internet were published in book form in 2000 (Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura).
The historical personages portrayed in the book have been chosen from various eras and walks of life in such a way that half of them stem from the period of an independent Finland, a quarter from the country's time (1809–1917) as a Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire and a quarter from that of the Swedish Realm (12th century to 1809).
The selection includes the most famous national figures, such as Mikael Agricola, Urho Kekkonen, Aleksis Kivi, Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, Paavo Nurmi, Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Jean Sibelius, Johan Vilhelm Snellman, Zachris Topelius and Minna Canth. About a dozen of the persons portrayed are still living.
Influential political and social figures account for about half the total, while about half may be described as representatives of culture. Together, the biographies of the country's presidents make up a brief political history of independent Finland. In the military sphere, Finnish soldiers ranging from the 'Hakkapelites' of Thirty Years War to UN peacekeepers are presented.
The collection covers artists of international renown, explorers, athletes and Nobel Prize winners. It also presents the creators of such successful Finnish phenomena as Marimekko, the Moomins, Fazer Blue chocolate and Nokia. The builders of Suomenlinna and Petäjävesi Church, structures now on UNESCO's World Heritage list, and the man responsible for the A. E. Nordenskiöld map collection at the University of Helsinki are also presented.
The articles on Hemming, the bishop of Turku proclaimed beautus, and on Sergei and Herman, the founders of the Valaam Orthodox monastery, who are revered as saints, acquaint readers with the early phases of the Finns' history and with the encounter of East and West in medieval Finland. The ecclesiastical thread that begins with these men ends with three bishops of different denominations in a Finland regarded as a "model ecumenical country".
No doubt some of the book's 24 women are unknown figures to the reader. The articles on a 16th-century Viipuri merchant, an ironworks proprietor of the 17th century and an Imperial lady-in-waiting of the 19th are tales of competent and talented 'survivors'. A witch burned at the stake in the 17th century and a singer of lyrical popular poems who inspired artists in the 19th century were – however different they were as persons – both potent word smiths. The founder of a handicraft school, the first woman MA and the first female professor were pioneers on women's path to professional recognition and equality. Figures who worked on behalf of women in international organisations are represented by Alexandra Gripenberg, a member of the leadership of the International Council of Women, and UN assistant secretary-general Helvi Sipilä.
The biographies of today's most famous Finns – the Formula 1 driver, the orchestral conductor, the inventor of computer technology and the manager of a telecommunications enterprise – are missing from this book. Their life's work is still in progress, so that it has not been possible to paint a complete picture of their careers.
At various stages, the Kansallisbiografia project has been supported by the Ministry of Education, by the following funds and foundations: Suomen Kulttuurirahasto (The Finnish Cultural Foundation), Alfred Kordelinin säätiö (The Alfred Kordelin Foundation) Jenny ja Antti Wihurin rahasto, Emil Aaltosen Säätiö, Karjalaisen kulltuurin edistämissäätiö, Kansan sivistysrahasto and Jalmari Finnen Säätiö and by the Agronomiliitto (The Finnish Association of Academic Agronomists), to all of which we express our warmest thanks. Roderick Fletcher translated 92 of the biographies; Auli Kämäräinen five. We thank them for their very careful work. The final form of the articles on Toivo Kärki, Martti Simoki and Edith Södergran are the responsibility of the authors. We also want to thank the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which has financed the translation. Thanks are also due to the writers of the articles, to the project's editorial advisory committee and to those who worked on the editing.
Aulikki Litzen
managing editor of Kansallisbiografia (1993–2002)
© Biografiakeskus, Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, PL 259, 00171 HELSINKI