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In Finnish law there was until 1999 a phrase in the criminal law that makes blasphemy illegal, originating from 1734. One writer, Hannu Salama, was actually the last one sentenced for it in 1964 when elaboratorily depicting the religious get-togethers as orgies filled with booze and wild sex in his classic novel "The Dance on Midsummer". Salama was actually convicted, recieved a 3-month suspended jail sentence for the novel, but later pardoned and the sentence was decreed null and void by President Kekkonen. Interestingly, the "The Dance on Midsummer" got unanimously positive reviews by critics when published. I've read the novel, and it's considered one of the "must read" novels in Finnish literature. And to be frank, it's not more shocking than an average episode of Game of Thrones.
Luckily no foreigner decided "well, Finland has this archaic law, let's boycott the country". And as we saw in the case where a Dutch citizen was seemed guilty of defamation of the King, some laws in European countries are really archaic and more or less forgotten.
In Finnish law there was until 1999 a phrase in the criminal law that makes blasphemy illegal, originating from 1734. One writer, Hannu Salama, was actually the last one sentenced for it in 1964 when elaboratorily depicting the religious get-togethers as orgies filled with booze and wild sex in his classic novel "The Dance on Midsummer". Salama was actually convicted, recieved a 3-month suspended jail sentence for the novel, but later pardoned and the sentence was decreed null and void by President Kekkonen. Interestingly, the "The Dance on Midsummer" got unanimously positive reviews by critics when published. I've read the novel, and it's considered one of the "must read" novels in Finnish literature. And to be frank, it's not more shocking than an average episode of Game of Thrones.
Luckily no foreigner decided "well, Finland has this archaic law, let's boycott the country". And as we saw in the case where a Dutch citizen was seemed guilty of defamation of the King, some laws in European countries are really archaic and more or less forgotten.
Lived in the US all of my 57 years. Number of times I've seen someone other than a cop or security guard with a weapon, ZERO. Might be different in other places, but if Europeans think the typical American is walking around with a gun on their hip they are mistaken.
It's quite good, yes, but not if you think it as in a 21st century perspective, you have to put yourself into the 50's and 60's bourgeoisie prudish society. When published in 1964 it was rebellious, hedonistic and blasphemous. It was a forefather to many of the hippie movements later that decade.
It has never been translated to other languages, as it focuses only on post WWII Finnish culture.
It's quite good, yes, but not if you think it as in a 21st century perspective, you have to put yourself into the 50's and 60's bourgeoisie prudish society. When published in 1964 it was rebellious, hedonistic and blasphemous. It was a forefather to many of the hippie movements later that decade.
It has never been translated to other languages, as it focuses only on post WWII Finnish culture.
Prudish stories don't bother me. There's ancient Chinese stuff that I've read and I don't think anything can get pruder than that lol.
Americans will have the last laugh when those pesky aliens come in their spaceships to destroy the planet. What will the Europeans do, throw their French bread at them?
Americans will have the last laugh when those pesky aliens come in their spaceships to destroy the planet. What will the Europeans do, throw their French bread at them?
Prudish stories don't bother me. There's ancient Chinese stuff that I've read and I don't think anything can get pruder than that lol.
But not even English? Pity.
If you want a book hint, read Mika Waltari's 'The Egyptian'. It's an epic novel based in antique Egypt, but has some protests of the Western European Society of the time. (widely translated in English.)
'The Dark Knight' of Mika Waltari is one of the best novels I've ever read. It's about a Byzantine soldier in the last months before the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. (widely translated in English.)
The last hint is 'Talvisota'. It's not that widely translated but came into attention of the TV series. The novel is great, but I consider this one of the best novels ever adapted on a TV screen. The 'Talvisota' miniseries and movie was the first to implement realistic POV and viewpoints "like you were there". Iconic movies like Saving Private Ryan and the series Band of Brothers both took lessons from 'Talvisota' to make their scenes more realistic.
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