Copyright

Tomi Huttunen, Marja Jänis, and Pekka Pesonen

Published On

2024-04-03

Page Range

pp. 67–82

Language

  • English

Print Length

16 pages

The Pendulum of Translating Russian Literature in Finland

Chapter of: Translating Russian Literature in the Global Context(pp. 67–82)
This essay examines the translation and reception of Russian literature in Finland from the early nineteenth century until today. Our research suggests that bilateral contacts and common history with Russia have influenced Finnish translation decisions more than the evident European context of Russian literature. In Finland, relationship with Russia and attitudes to its culture have always been politicized by geographical proximity. Hostile relations have impacted translations, but during more friendly times, resurgent curiosity about Russian culture has sparked more intensive translation activities. Since the early days of Finnish literature, only a few intellectuals mastered their Eastern neighbour’s language or knew its culture well enough to translate Russian literature into Finnish. Consequently, translating Russian literature has been highly dependent on individual mediators, often with a transnational identity. At the same time, translations of Russian literature have, for Finns, been a means to interpret the Russian mentality and culture, and to analyse, forecast or evaluate the political tendencies in their larger neighbour.

Contributors

Tomi Huttunen

(author)
Professor of Russian Literature and Culture at University of Helsinki
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5054-8080

Tomi Huttunen (PhD 2007) is a Professor of Russian literature and culture at the University of Helsinki. His research interests include the history of Russian literature; the historical avant-garde; the history of translations of Russian literature in Finland; and late and post-Soviet Leningrad/St Petersburg literature and culture.

Marja Jänis

(author)

Marja Jänis (PhD 1991) was a senior researcher in the Savonlinna School of Translation Studies at the University of Joensuu (now University of Eastern Finland). Her interests include the history of Soviet theatre; translating drama for study and performance; the history of drama translation in Finland; and teaching translating and interpreting from Russian to Finnish (and vice versa).

Pekka Pesonen

(author)
Professor Emeritus of Russian Literature at University of Helsinki

Pekka Pesonen (PhD 1987) is a Professor Emeritus of Russian literature at the University of Helsinki. His interests include the history of Russian literature and culture, especially modernism (symbolism), Russian contemporary literature and criticism. He recently directed an international project on ‘St Petersburg / Leningrad: History––Narration––Present’ funded by the Academy of Finland.