Providing a multifaceted view of modern Finland, this book describes its history, culture, language, geography, natural history and the mythology of early peoples. Topics include Fenno-Scandia inhabitants and their environment, traditional naturalism and modern environmentalism, and the salient features of "Finnishness," including an analysis of the Finnish educational system and gender equality. Finland's art, architecture and music are highlighted, along with its peace-keeping missions worldwide. The country's several ethnic groups and their languages are discussed--the Saami, Finns, Finland-Swedes, Russian-speaking peoples, Jews and Gypsies. The author examines Finland's late but rapid development in commerce and industry, with a focus on the history of Nokia Corporation, which grew from a 19th-century manufacturer of pulpwood and rubber boots to a 21st-century international digital communications company.

This Elibron Classics title is a reprint of the original edition published by M. Harland & Son in Hull, 1899. This book contains color illustrations.

The classic reference work that provides annually updated information on the countries of the world.

Excerpt from Finland: The Land of a Thousand Lakes I have quoted largely from the national epic the Kate vata, used illustrations by Finnish artists and extracts from Finnish authors, all with the idea of putting the reader in as close a touch as possible with the atmosphere of a singularly interesting country. I am much indebted to the publishers of Finland in the Nineteenth Century for permission to make whatever use I pleased of that valuable but generally inaccessible volume. The quotations from the K elevate are, unless otherwise indicated, from Mr. Kirby's translation, published in Dent's Everyman Library, and are here reproduced by the courtesy and kindness of the author and publishers. For some of the facts in the account of a Finnish wedding I am indebted to the proprietors of The Wide World Magazine, who allowed me to make use of them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.