Vanhan päiväkirjan lehtiä Episodi J. L. Runebergin elämästä

This volume opens a modest yet vivid window onto the private side of a famed 19th‑century poet, using selected pages from his own diary and the recollections of those who knew him best. Narrated by Berta Edelfelt and introduced by a contemporary scholar, the excerpts stitch together moments of daily life in Porvoo, family conversations, and the poet’s own reflections on his work and surroundings.

The focus falls on his many romantic entanglements, narrated with a mixture of humor and candor. Friends recalled his “playful open‑mindedness,” while his wife’s memories reveal a more nuanced picture of affection, jealousy, and the occasional heartbreak. The diary entries hint at how these personal experiences filtered into poems addressed to women such as Lida, Suleika, and others, offering listeners a subtle sense of the emotional currents behind his verses.

Listening to these pages feels like sitting in a historic study, hearing the rustle of ink and the quiet laughter of a household long gone. The gentle pacing and historical context make the material approachable, inviting anyone curious about the humanity behind a national literary icon.