H. K. Riikonen

Kirjojen monitahoinen elämä

Introduction

Kirjojen monitahoinen elämä. Arvostelu teoksesta "Kirjojen kaipuu". Tutustu 1800-luvun alun Suomen kirjakulttuuriin ja kirjojen monitahoiseen elämään. Syväsukellus historiaan.

Abstract

Kirjallisuusarvostelu teoksesta Heli Rantala, Jukka Sarjala, Janne Tunturi, Ulla Ijäs & Heidi Hakkarainen, Kirjojen kaipuu. Kirjakulttuuria 1800-luvun alun Suomessa. Helsinki: Gaudeamus, 2024.

Review

This article, "Kirjojen monitahoinen elämä" (The multifaceted life of books), serves as a dedicated literature review of the recently published work, *Kirjojen kaipuu. Kirjakulttuuria 1800-luvun alun Suomessa* (Longing for Books. Book Culture in Early 19th Century Finland) by Heli Rantala, Jukka Sarjala, Janne Tunturi, Ulla Ijäs & Heidi Hakkarainen. Published by Gaudeamus in 2024, the original book evidently delves into a rich period of Finnish cultural history, exploring the nuanced relationship between society and print during the formative years of the early 19th century. This review article positions itself not as original research, but as an essential scholarly engagement with a new contribution to the field, offering critical insights into its themes and arguments. Given its title, "The multifaceted life of books," the review is poised to critically examine how Rantala et al. portray the various dimensions of book culture—from production and dissemination to reception and individual experiences—within early 19th-century Finland. It will likely evaluate the strengths of the original work's collaborative approach, assessing how a multi-authored volume addresses the complexities of historical book consumption and the "longing" associated with it. Readers can expect an analytical discussion that highlights the original book's methodological choices, its use of primary sources, and its interpretations of the social, intellectual, and material aspects contributing to the titular "book culture" of the period. The review should therefore provide a valuable synthesis and critique of the original authors' arguments. Ultimately, this review article makes a significant contribution by offering an expert perspective on a key new publication in Finnish cultural and book history. For scholars and students interested in the history of print, reading, and national identity formation in Finland, this review provides a crucial initial assessment of *Kirjojen kaipuu*. It helps to contextualize the original work's findings, highlight its potential impact on future research, and identify areas of particular insight or perhaps further discussion. By critically engaging with the "multifaceted life of books" as presented by Rantala et al., this review article itself becomes an important node in the ongoing scholarly discourse surrounding the cultural significance of literature and print in historical contexts.

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