REGARDER VERS LE NORD. RELATIONS LITTÉRAIRES ET CULTURELLES FINNO-ROUMAINES
WATCHING TOWARDS THE NORTH. FINNISH-ROMANIAN LITERARY AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

Summary/Abstract: Sharing similar historical development, fairly equally placed under the eastern bloc pressure, Romania and Finland became gradually involved in a process of mutual cultural reception. Two relatively exotic presences, with short literary traditions, the Romanian and Finnish cultures, inherently and abruptly divergent, have undergone important changes during the past century, specifically the period during which they managed to acknowledge each other the most. The present article focuses on key aspects of literary and cultural relations, historical constraints and topics related to diplomacy. The emphasis is set on Finland as seen from a Romanian perspective and the paper presents some highlights of the activity of Raoul Bossy, Romanian ambassador to Finland between the Worlds Wars. Part of Scandinavia, from a cultural and geographical point of view, Finland does not have a clear image in Romania; it is often assimilated to the other northern countries. There confusions are not few, yet Finland represents for Romania a unique and, more importantly, respectable place. It is worth mentioning that there is no real reason for this surprising matter of fact; Romanians and Finns know very little of each other, yet Finland holds a serious advantage in terms of brand. Regarding the necessity of this research, it should be noted that there are no extended papers published on the topic of Finnish literature and culture reception in Romania. Articles and reviews have been published and volumes were dedicated more to the historic or diplomatic sector, but Finnish literature for instance, has only been approached in a fragmentary manner, never through a synthesis, despite the strengthening of cultural relations between the last two countries in the last period of time.

• Details
• Contents