Besides being a magician, Heikki Nevala has also written non-fiction. His interest in magic, which began when he was a child, has influenced his choice of topics. In his books Nevala has studied the different aspects of entertainment.

“Sven Hirn, the now deceased pioneer in the field of circus and fairgrounds, had delved into the same topics and helped me with my material. These topics are on the margin compared to traditional favourites like politics and war. On the other hand, it is interesting to know how people used to entertain themselves.”

As a member of the oldest magic club in Finland, Taikapiiri (the Finnish Magic Circle), Nevala has written for the club’s newsletter Simsalabim. Together with Hirn, he also edited the history of the club, titled Taikapiiri since 1945, which was published in 2007. His next literary project was Silmäkääntäjiä, konstiniekkoja ja loihtutaiteilijoita (‘Conjurers, prestidigitators and enchanters’), which was published by the Finnish Literature Society in 2011. The book describes the growth and development of magic from the 19th century to the 1960s. The book, which focuses on the magicians themselves, does not reveal the secrets of the performers, instead centring on the people and development of the field in Finland.

“When you research topics that are ultimately historical but interlaced with myths, readers can get upset when their beliefs are shaken. This happens when you deal with issues that people find important and mystical from the point of view of a magician. One example is the legend that Kuikka-Koponen conjured a cabin full of sour milk. Of course I do not want to be a killjoy. However, people should understand that things like the Internet and the radio did not always exist, and instead people told each other stories. It is unfortunate when you have to shatter illusions, but that is something a researcher must be able to do when it is necessary.”

Nevala, who has studied comparative literature, emphasises that a form of writing that is understandable and reader-friendly is essential to non-fiction. There is a difference between writing to an academic audience and the general public. Finding an interesting topic is part of the project. You must have a passion for what you are writing about to be able to become thoroughly familiar with it.

“I have not really studied history, but I consider background work important. I have strived to make my books semi-folksy, so that anyone who is interested in the topic can pick them up and read them. My literary ambition is to reach a readership that is interested in the topic and to occasionally publish well-written books.”

Nevala’s latest book, Huvielämän kiertolaisia, (‘Travelling entertainers’) deals with circuses and fairgrounds in Finland between the 1900s and 1950s. The book contains the stories of both businesses and individuals. The first clowns and acrobats in Finland are featured in the book, but Nevala says that the intention was not to romanticise the period.

“Many interesting characters appear in the book, for example the female athlete Anna Anthonius, who as the Strongwoman of Urjala gained fame for pinning burly male wrestlers to the ground at a circus. Edy Hyyppä, in turn, was a clown, drummer, tap dancer and gifted acrobat. To make it in the circus world, you had to master several skills and mediocrity was not going to cut it.”

Nevala says that the best source of information when it came to the history of the circus world was often the descendants of those who had lived their lives under the big top. The usual archives have material on the circus and fairground tradition, but they still leave a lot to be desired. The Kerava Museum, which published Nevala’s latest book, is currently commemorating the Sariola fairground family in an ongoing exhibition. The family is also featured in the book. Nevala, however, is not satisfied with merely writing on the topic, and throughout his life he has amassed an impressive collection of literature on the subject.

“I collect literature on magic, and today I have a relatively large library of related works. There are only a few aficionados in Finland; collecting such literature is far more common abroad. My owning a few books on the subject dating from the 18th century, for example, is nothing on a global scale. There are wonderful collections around the world, including those in private libraries.”

Nevala believes that there is still research to be done when it comes to the world of entertainment.

“Cultural life in Helsinki experienced a variety show boom at the beginning of the 20th century. Next I am going to delve into that subject and the related literature.”