The beginning of Finnish and Lithuanian–Polish cultural and literary relations, which started in the late 19th cent., wasn’t a casual phenomenon. In the late 19th – early 20th cent. Finnish scientists became interested in Polish literature and started researching its history, communicating with Polish writers. This interest in Polish literature was inevitably concerned with Lithuanian political and cultural situation. The first researches in this area were performed by two Finns. A young Finnish couple, the writer Maila Talvio and her husband linguist Jooseppi Julius Mikkola. In the late 19th cent. they arrived at Lithuania. The aim of this travel was not just to have pleasant holidays. The Finns also wanted to learn Lithuanian language, to get to know more about the culture and people of this country. They perceived that the Lithuanian nation was under oppression and that its language was sought to be annihilated. The Finns with pleasure communicated with Lithuanian public and cultural workers – Zofija and Petras Kriaučiūnai, Vincas Kudirka. Inspired by traveling impressions around Lithuania Maila Talvio wrote articles, memories and literary writings, which made known the name of this country in Finland. In the outskirts of Gardinas Maila Talvio and her husband made acquaintance with famous Polish writer Eliza Ožeškova. Their friendship was nice and kind. Maila Talvio became a good friend of Polish writer and Polish people in general. She did plenty of work in making E... [to full text]