This is an interesting and thought provoking book from which general readers of Polar Record will gain much information, coupled with some important insights. It marks the 100th anniversary of Finland gaining independence from Russia. The stress is, of course, on the country's location, mainly between 60° and 70°N, and its overall Arctic character that has come to the fore relatively recently. In addition to the bulk of the text, written by the author herself, there are several ‘info boxes’ presenting an interesting range of relevant topics, mostly written by colleagues of the author at the University of Eastern Finland and other institutions in the country.

We find a preface, seven main chapters and an epilogue. The preface lays emphasis on ‘the long history of Finnish cold knowhow’ and is ‘a reminder. . . that Finland's interest in the north is not merely a product of the global switch of attention. . . that took place in the 1990s, but that interest in the region goes back several centuries. . .’ The first full chapter addresses the ‘irresistible lure of the north’ and goes back as far as it is possible to go, addressing such questions as what language was spoken by the first inhabitants of the area, where they came from and how they lived, and, a little later, the relations between the Finns and the Sámi. So far this reviewer was content to be aware that he was abreast of much of what he was reading but he was brought up short by the first ‘info box’ which was on the subject of ‘Finns in the sagas’. This short text by Sirpa Aalto was extremely interesting and has induced him to undertake a complete reading of the Saga of St Olaf in which they are mentioned. There are subsequent sections entitled ‘The north as the home of frosts’, which steps right back into the times of King Gustavus Vasa, Olaus Magnus and Mikael Agricola, followed, logically enough, by ‘The beginnings of Arctic policy’ and ‘Learning becomes more international’. In this, we are informed that no fewer than 4200 doctoral theses etc. were submitted at Turku Academy in the period 1640–1828. This seems a large number for what might have been regarded as a cultural backwater at the time. Clearly this perception is completely wrong.

Chapter 2 concerns ‘All eyes on the Arctic Ocean and Siberia’ and stresses the imaginative and important work of Finnish scholars, such as Matthias Alexander Castrén, concerning the northern area of Russia and especially the linguistics of its peoples. This naturally leads to Elias Lönnrot and Kalevala, the national epic. An interesting ‘info box’ relates to the Nordenskiölds of whom, quite apart from the leader of the Vega expedition, there appear to have been an almost bewildering number. The section on the ‘Politicization of research in the Arctic’ is thought provoking.

We then pass to Chapter 3 ‘Finland's access to the Arctic Ocean’ and this contains much about Petsamo and district that was Finnish until after World War 2, about the Skolt Sámi and about the projected railway that was to lead thither. This is one of the ‘meatier’ sections of the book and it filled in several gaps in this reviewer's ignorance, as one suspects it would do for most readers of our journal. The related ‘info box’ is by Pasi Tuunainen and on the fascinating topic ‘The Finns – experts in winter warfare’. This had particular resonance for this reviewer since I duly became such, or so I thought, in the winter of 1965–1966 in Canada. Readers with experience of the military mind worldwide will not be surprised to learn that after we had all ‘qualified’ in winter warfare we were duly shipped off to Aden, much hotter and much more unpleasant!

The book now moves towards the present. We have Chapter 4 ‘Re-profiling the north’, which includes sections on gold and then onto maritime matters generally. Then there is Chapter 5 ‘Communities opening up to the world’, the thrust of which is fairly obvious having much on the ‘mobilisation’ of the Sámi and an ‘info box’ on ‘The changing face of reindeer herding’. Chapter 6 addresses ‘Finland and sustainable development’, which is fairly self-explanatory but contains a section that brought this reviewer to a dead stop. This is entitled ‘The sauna emoji epitomises Finland’. I had not the faintest idea what an emoji is. Now I am aware that is just one more of those trivial ephemera that so bedevil life these days. We are informed that this one was ‘launched’ by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2016 and it seems clear that the people in that department are seriously under employed if they have time to waste on this sort of thing. Then we move, in the reversal of the usual direction, from the ridiculous to the sublime with a most interesting section on Sibelius.

The final chapter ‘Finland – a globally integrated Arctic country’ is an efficient summing up but it does contain the statement that the accession of Finland to the European Union (EU) meant that the EU was ‘extending its territory beyond the Arctic Circle for the first time’. However, reading further down the same page (177) we note that Greenland left the then community in 1985. Curious. There is a useful epilogue rounding off the whole work but it contains a statement that, as a loyal resident of the Isle of Man, this reviewer cannot allow to pass unchallenged. The author repeats the old canard that one hears very frequently in Finland, that Finnish women were the first in Europe to gain the right to vote and that this was in 1906. This is not so. Isle of Man women were voting from 1881 and our island is certainly in Europe.

These caveats apart, this is an excellent book. The author has demonstrated the breadth of her scholarship in a comprehensive way that is most convincing. At the same she demonstrates a lightness of touch that is welcome, particularly in a work of this kind, making it entertaining and easy to read. The book is well presented with skilfully chosen illustrations and it would be perfect for those with polar interests but who might not know very much about Finland. And mirabile dictu it is available free as a pdf. It should command the wide readership that it thoroughly deserves and the author can rightly expect our appreciation and thanks.