<p>Finnish-born writer Susanna Alakoski’s novel Svinalängorna became a big success after being published in Sweden in April 2006. Though the novel has many themes in common with earlier literature written by and about Finnish immigrants in Sweden, little attention has been brought to this fact by reviewers and journalists. This essay examines connections between Alakoski’s novel and Finnish migrant literature in Sweden, mainly from the 1970s, and how these connections have been recognised by reviewers in Sweden and Finland. Based on the examination made here, Svinalängorna can be said to have several significant themes and features in common with other Finnish immigrant literature written in Sweden. However, in the examined material, none of the Swedish reviewers and only two of the Finnish reviewers referred to earlier literature written by and/or about Finns in Sweden. The main reference point for the Swedish reviewers was traditional Swedish working-class literature while the Finnish reviewers mainly referred to newer Finnish literature exploring similar themes: alcoholism, poverty and childhood. In general, the Finnish reviewers found the novel more familiar than the Swedish reviewers.</p>

Finnish-born writer Susanna Alakoski’s novel Svinalängorna became a big success after being published in Sweden in April 2006. Though the novel has many themes in common with earlier literature written by and about Finnish immigrants in Sweden, little attention has been brought to this fact by reviewers and journalists. This essay examines connections between Alakoski’s novel and Finnish migrant literature in Sweden, mainly from the 1970s, and how these connections have been recognised by reviewers in Sweden and Finland. Based on the examination made here, Svinalängorna can be said to have several significant themes and features in common with other Finnish immigrant literature written in Sweden. However, in the examined material, none of the Swedish reviewers and only two of the Finnish reviewers referred to earlier literature written by and/or about Finns in Sweden. The main reference point for the Swedish reviewers was traditional Swedish working-class literature while the Finnish reviewers mainly referred to newer Finnish literature exploring similar themes: alcoholism, poverty and childhood. In general, the Finnish reviewers found the novel more familiar than the Swedish reviewers.