Fw from Jyri: Finnish world-view ca. 1870

Hunter, 
I trust you are well.
Here’s a quote from an English translation of a Finnish novel from 1870 entitled “Seven Brothers” by Aleksis Kivi. The book is regarded as one of the cornerstones of Finnish-language literature, which began to evolve at a very late stage historically. Brief description of the book here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Brothers  It gives quite an unflattering, realistic, or naturalistic, picture of Finns and was very strongly criticized in idealistically minded cultural circles at the time. The book went on to become a classic, and required reading for generations of high-school students.

In this passage from a translation of the book by the American Finn Richard A. Impola ( a bit dated but still useful), brother Simeoni (Simeon) is recovering from a bout of drinking (DT’s more or less), and has the vision of climbing high up to the top of a tower made of “boot leather” and looking out over the world. He is taken there by none other than Mephistopheles himself, and I quote: 

“I got up enough nerve to pluck at Satan’s side and ask, “What is it that we can see way down below us?” He glared at me and snapped angrily: “Sacramento, boy! What have I got to with you? But that is the world we left behind. Look and consider.” Thus he spoke, and I could see the whole sphere of the earth. I saw the British Empire, the city of Paris, and the country of America. I saw the Grand Turk rise and wreak havoc and destruction everywhere, with huge horned Mammon on his heels driving mankind over the whole world like a wolf going after sheep. Thus he ravaged and rampaged until he held the whole world and America in his grasp.” 

Though published in 1870, I think it’s still a fair description of the international situation, despite the author’s intentional semi-comic effect of an illiterate young man of the wiIderness describing the world while recovering from his drinking bout. I had to quote this passage in a translation today, and thought I’d send it along.

Bests,
Jyri