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A review by eldaaurora97
Scandinavians: In Search of the Soul of the North by Robert Ferguson
3.0
"Perhaps oddly, none of these travellers made particular mention of the melancholy that has always accompanied, shadow-like, the other image the outside world now has of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark as clean, well-lit places."
Robert Ferguson notes this in the intro when discussing the three Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway as a paradox. On the one hand, he notes their social-democratic standing, where the three countries frequently top or rival with the best countries in happiness, status of living, and the like. What Ferguson tries to delve into, however, is beyond the stereotypes of Scandinavia being a progressive paradise, with melancholic, brooding clouds. For example, he notes how Ibsen says that the Norwegians have that tendency because of their environment. These musings are interspersed with conversations with people he meets.
(And for an advance note, Scandinavia is exclusively Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. You will note Iceland mentioned only once in the first chapter--including how they converted into Christianity--and Finland is never gone into detail at all.)
My perception of Scandinavia hasn't necessarily been influenced by their melancholy; on the contrary, it's because of their seemingly happy world that they have. This is what is advocated in my country, the United States, by more progressive standards of the Democratic Party--if we could align our economic system to be like theirs, we would have a happier country and a healthier one.
I also knew Scandinavia through learning some Danish, consuming from IKEA and H&M (which he surprisingly doesn't mention), and the comic series Scandinavia and the World. I also delved into Scandi pop culture through the Millenium Trilogy, their entries in Eurovision, and Occupied.
So when Ferguson writes about trying to search for the northern soul, I was curious about it. However, I went into this book thinking more of going into the history of Scandinavia, which almost made me want to quit in the first few chapters. The Stones chapter functions as a prologue, but the writing style was something I didn't get used to right away.
Despite this, there was some interesting things which I've learned about the Scandinavian countries. One of the funny anedoctes featured on how Iceland converted to Christianity...
"[Thorgeir] made his way back to his booth, the tent-like summer quarters housing those attending the Althingi. When he got there he lay down on the floor and gave instructions that he was not to be disturbed on any account. Then, as both Ari the Wise and the unknown author of Kristini Saga tell us with peculiar precision, he wrapped his cloak around his head and began to think (28).
However, this led to a rather diplomatic settlement on Christianity which didn't end in bloodshed. Something which wasn't further considered when Reformation rolled around in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
This occasional humor also extends to when one man, Johann Friedrich Struensee, used his influence with the king and his lover, Caroline, to bring free speech to the whole kingdom. The weird situation was how Johann worked for the king, but also lusted over the king's wife too. Nevertheless, they lived in a hippy family, where Struensee "makes out a wish-list, and one by one he starts drafting a series of democratic reforms the people of Denmark freedoms unparalleled anywhere else in the world" (152) And until these rights were solidified, "a society of pre-internet trolls" (154) is what he got.
His interval play on Ibsen hesitating to recognize his illegitimate son was a curious literary choice. I certainly enjoyed it, and showed his expertise with the topic matter. It also dealt with a serious issue on doing the right thing versus what an author's job it is to do. But I find it strange to tell right in the middle of the history of Scandinavia.
If you're looking for a straightforward history of the region, this is a good book to start with, but don't expect the light and warm country to come through. The writing style also takes a while to get used to.
Robert Ferguson notes this in the intro when discussing the three Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway as a paradox. On the one hand, he notes their social-democratic standing, where the three countries frequently top or rival with the best countries in happiness, status of living, and the like. What Ferguson tries to delve into, however, is beyond the stereotypes of Scandinavia being a progressive paradise, with melancholic, brooding clouds. For example, he notes how Ibsen says that the Norwegians have that tendency because of their environment. These musings are interspersed with conversations with people he meets.
(And for an advance note, Scandinavia is exclusively Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. You will note Iceland mentioned only once in the first chapter--including how they converted into Christianity--and Finland is never gone into detail at all.)
My perception of Scandinavia hasn't necessarily been influenced by their melancholy; on the contrary, it's because of their seemingly happy world that they have. This is what is advocated in my country, the United States, by more progressive standards of the Democratic Party--if we could align our economic system to be like theirs, we would have a happier country and a healthier one.
I also knew Scandinavia through learning some Danish, consuming from IKEA and H&M (which he surprisingly doesn't mention), and the comic series Scandinavia and the World. I also delved into Scandi pop culture through the Millenium Trilogy, their entries in Eurovision, and Occupied.
So when Ferguson writes about trying to search for the northern soul, I was curious about it. However, I went into this book thinking more of going into the history of Scandinavia, which almost made me want to quit in the first few chapters. The Stones chapter functions as a prologue, but the writing style was something I didn't get used to right away.
Despite this, there was some interesting things which I've learned about the Scandinavian countries. One of the funny anedoctes featured on how Iceland converted to Christianity...
"[Thorgeir] made his way back to his booth, the tent-like summer quarters housing those attending the Althingi. When he got there he lay down on the floor and gave instructions that he was not to be disturbed on any account. Then, as both Ari the Wise and the unknown author of Kristini Saga tell us with peculiar precision, he wrapped his cloak around his head and began to think (28).
However, this led to a rather diplomatic settlement on Christianity which didn't end in bloodshed. Something which wasn't further considered when Reformation rolled around in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
This occasional humor also extends to when one man, Johann Friedrich Struensee, used his influence with the king and his lover, Caroline, to bring free speech to the whole kingdom. The weird situation was how Johann worked for the king, but also lusted over the king's wife too. Nevertheless, they lived in a hippy family, where Struensee "makes out a wish-list, and one by one he starts drafting a series of democratic reforms the people of Denmark freedoms unparalleled anywhere else in the world" (152) And until these rights were solidified, "a society of pre-internet trolls" (154) is what he got.
His interval play on Ibsen hesitating to recognize his illegitimate son was a curious literary choice. I certainly enjoyed it, and showed his expertise with the topic matter. It also dealt with a serious issue on doing the right thing versus what an author's job it is to do. But I find it strange to tell right in the middle of the history of Scandinavia.
If you're looking for a straightforward history of the region, this is a good book to start with, but don't expect the light and warm country to come through. The writing style also takes a while to get used to.