Finnish Literature - Swedish-language Literature

Swedish-language Literature

Even after the establishment of the Finnish as the primary language of administration and education, Swedish remained important in Finland.

Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804—1877) was the most famous Swedish-speaking writer of the nineteenth century. The opening poem Our Land (from The Tales of Ensign Stål) was dedicated as the national anthem as early as seventy years before Finnish independence. During the early 20th century, the Swedish-language modernism emerged in Finland as one of the most acclaimed literal movements in the history of the country. The best-known representative of the movement was Edith Södergran.

The most famous Swedish-language works from Finland are probably the Moomin books by writer Tove Jansson. They are also known in comic strip or cartoon forms.