The History of Finland in a Nutshell

How did Finland become the country that it is today?

The History of Finland In a Nutshell tells the essential facts about the history of the country in an engaging way: magical numbers, good tsars and bad, Sweden’s kings, Finland’s wars and all the things that shaped Finland into the country it is today.

This book tells you all you need to know about Finnish history in just 170 pages. It is entertaining, analytical, and full of anecdotes. Its author is one Finland’s best-known experts on international affairs who has written for major international publications from the Financial Times to Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Entertaining, accessible, and serious where it matters, this book is a lively guide to Finland – its history, its people, and its choices.

Speeding through centuries of Swedish and Russian rule, it explains Finland’s foreign policy, its economy, and its commitment to strong defence. Along the way, it encounters saunas, Eurovision songs, and the reasons why Finland so often tops global happiness rankings.

Whether you are an expat, visitor, or diplomat, this book tells you all you need to know about Finland – a country shaped by geography, history, and hard choices.