Eino Sakari Repo studied literature in the University of Helsinki. He graduated in 1948, then for many years worked as a literary critic. Aside from his permanent jobs he also worked as a reviewer at large. Repo’s reputation was that of radical critic, one who neither shrank from the more crushing review nor giving vent to his own direct opinions. Repo was hired to write for the literature division of the Uusi Suomi newspaper in 1949. His outlook frequently clashed with that of Veikko Koskenniemi and Rafael Koskimies, both influential figures on the paper. Repo fell out with them over an article he published in the periodical Ajan Kirja (‘The present time’) about the freedom to be critical. Koskimies felt that Repo was accusing the entire reviewing profession of intellectual dishonesty. He was given an ultimatum: if he wished to continue working for the paper, he would have to settle his differences with Koskimies. Repo decided he would rather quit the job. He continued to write for the Uusi Suomi newspaper however, but under the pseudonym ‘Audiator’, until the identity of the critic was uncovered and he was forced to leave and not come back.

Upon leaving the literary division of Uusi Suomi Repo plied his trade as a freelance critic in the press and on the radio, even serving as managing director of a textile factory at one point. He found more permanent work in 1958, as a journalist on the Apu weekly magazine. Repo was clearly happy there, working up until 1964 when he was made head of programming at Mainostelevisio, the commercial TV broadcaster.

Repo’s written output was not limited to the press however. He wrote and published a number of works, including several on President Urho Kekkonen, and translated children’s books and literature into Finnish. However his plans to complete the doctoral thesis on Juhani Siljo, which he started in the 50s, never materialised.

Sources:

• Pertti Hemánus, Reporadion nousu ja tuho (’The rise and fall of Reporadio’), Helsinki, 1972.
• Timo Hämäläinen, Eino Sakari Repo, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper obituary December 15, 2002. Accessed February 26, 2015.
• Jarmo Viljakainen, Reporadio. Yleisradion vaaran vuodet 1965–1972. Kohokohtia kirjan sivuilta (’Reporadio. Yleisradio’s hazardous years, 1965-72. Highlights from the pages of a book’), online publication. Accessed February 26, 2015.
• Wikipedia, Eino S. Repo. Accessed February 26, 2015.