Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Henrik Meinander reignites interest in Finland with this brisk and bold portrait, recounting the country's early beginnings as a member of the Swedish kingdom to its later years as an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian empire. It concludes with Finland's gradual transformation into a conscious nation and its current flourishing as an independent, modernized state. Meinander concentrates on the Baltic region, connecting his history to major turning points in Europe's social, political, and structural development. He blends politics, economy, and culture to illuminate how other countries have utilized Finland's natural resources and have coopted its cultural heritage and technological innovations. Meinander devotes a large section of his work to the country's contemporary history, reasserting Finland's role in recent Baltic and European history and the impact of these events on the country's future development.