In recent years Professor Juhani Härmä has studied a body of material that has proved to be a treasure trove, albeit somewhat difficult to manage due to its abundance. For some time ages there had been discussion as to whether French-language material of Finnish origin could be found in Finland, material which is largely found in countries like Sweden. Härmä very much doubted that such material existed. A few years ago, Emeritus Professor of History Matti Klinge drew Härmä's attention to the French-language letters written by Finns in the collections of the Finnish National Archives.

My favourite moments in the University of Helsinki are few and far between these days. But every now and then I realise that I am able to devote some time to research, in the middle of a weekday, or even a few days, without feeling guilty or anxious about exams needing to be set or marked, a thesis needing to be read, unanswered e-mails, teaching preparations or such.

My dream is that French would not merely be considered ‘a small, rare language’ in Finland, but that it would be given the measure of prestige that it enjoyed in the world, Europe and even in Finland for several centuries, and which it still deserves as one of the foremost languages in the European Union.

Being a French scholar in Finland does not offer many ready opportunities to be engaged in the French language and culture outside the basic academic work. But Professor Juhani Härmä has been active in promoting the French language in the Helsinki Cercle Franco-Finlandais Society as well as in the Finnish…

• Ordre des Palmes académiques (‘French Academic Palms’) 1991

• Ordre national du Mérite (‘National Order of Merit of France’) 2000

• Membership of a scientific organisation (by invitation): member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters 2001

• Member of the Finnish Society of Science and Letters 2014