Helsinki: A Cultural and Literary History

Helsinki is one of the world's most northerly capitals, but it is by no means a city frozen in northern wastes. Situated along the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, magnificent lakes and forests reach into Helsinki's urban heart. The Finnish capital offers a spectacular display of architecture and design: from the neoclassical magnificence imposed by a Russian Czar to the modernist chic of Nordic functionalism. Neil Kent explores the history and culture of the "Daughter of the Baltic," a small fishing village that became a powerhouse of design and technology. Through such differing cultural phenomena as saunas, railway stations and tango, he explains why Helsinki is a distinctive mix of tradition and innovation. THE CITY OF ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS: Engel, Czar Alexander I and the creation of an imperial metropolis; Alvar Aaalto and the birth of the modern; functionalism and high-tech innovation. THE CITY OF MUSIC AND THE ARTS: Sibelius, the national composer; conductors and performers; art galleries and installations. THE CITY OF HOSPITALITY: Art Nouveau hotels and cafes; sauna culture; famous visitors and refugees: Lenin and Hitler: multicultural Helsinki and a history of migration.

Commercial Helsinki : from herrings to hi-tech — Imperial Helsinki : the Czar, the architect, and the new city — Military Helsinki : war and warriors — Ethnic Helsinki : language, identity, and community — God and Helsinki : churches, faiths, and religious diversity — Helsinki and nature : weather, sports, and public health — Helsinki and romanticism : myth, epic, and architecture — Helsinki and modernity : urban growth, architecture, and design — Intellectual Helsinki : science and learning — Helsinki and hospitality : hotels, drinking, and saunas — Helsinki and the visual arts : museums, galleries, and artists — Helsinki and the performing arts : music, opera, and ballet.