"Written in a lively and humorous style, including many personal anecdotes, this book would be a good introduction to Finland."
― Scandinavian Journal of History

"Highly entertaining." ― Nordic Reach

A fascinating history of Finland from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century.

The modern nation of Finland is the heir to centuries of history, as a wilderness at the edge of early Europe, a borderland of the Swedish empire, and a Grand Duchy of tsarist Russia. And, as Jonathan Clements’s vivid, concise volume shows, it is a tale paved with oddities and excitements galore: from prehistoric reindeer herders to medieval barons, Christian martyrs to Viking queens, and, in the twentieth century, the war heroes who held off the Soviet Union against impossible odds.

Offering accounts of public artworks, literary giants, legends, folktales, and famous figures,

Clements provides an indispensable portrait of this fascinating nation.

This updated edition includes expanded coverage on the Second World War, as well as new sections on Finns in America and Russia, the centenary of the republic, and Finland’s battle with COVID-19, right up to its historic application to join NATO.

Jonathan Clements is an author and TV presenter specializing in the history and cultures of the Far East. Previous books by him include A Short History of Tokyo, The Emperor’s Feast, Anime: A History, and a biography of Gustaf Mannerheim, Mannerheim: President, Soldier, Spy. He lives in Finland.