author
Rietrik Polén
1823–1884
A passionate early champion of Finnish language and culture, he worked as a journalist, lecturer, translator, and teacher during a formative period in Finland’s literary life. He is especially remembered for helping bring Finnish literature into public view in the 19th century.
1 Audiobook
Johdanto Suomen kirjallishistoriaan
by Rietrik Polén
About the author
Born in Pieksämäki on April 23, 1823, Rietrik Polén was a Finnish journalist, lecturer, translator, and schoolteacher who strongly supported the Finnish nationalist movement. He wrote and worked at a time when promoting Finnish language and literature was closely tied to wider cultural change.
Polén was associated with the newspaper Suometar and also published Mehiläinen, the periodical edited by Elias Lönnrot. He is known as the author of Johdanto Suomen kirjallishistoriaan (1858), an early work on the history of Finnish literature that helped present Finnish writing as a subject worthy of serious study.
Later in life he worked as a lycée lecturer, and he died in Mikkeli on December 24, 1884. Although not widely known outside Finland today, his career connects journalism, education, and literary history in a way that makes him an important figure in the development of Finnish cultural life.