Professor Pirjo Lyytikäinen has researched the development of Finnish literature and its connection to international currents, genre traditions and philosophical trends. The interchange between literary texts, genres and the repertoires of particular periods, together with intertextuality, form a central part of this research endeavour. Her research focus has been on key texts of Finnish fiction in the age of modernity and classical Finnish authors.

The work of a scholar and teacher of Finnish literature also involves being active in organisations which promote literature and the production, distribution and recording of knowledge about literature. In addition to the Finnish Literary Research Society , the Finnish Literature Society is another important organisation in this respect.

Literature is written for readers - only when the piece is read does it achieve its purpose. However, books and authors in a sense create or anticipate their audience. In the very choice of form and content, the prototypical reader is created, intentionally or unintentionally: the reader is invited to read in a certain way. The actual reader of a work does not always relate or indeed want to relate to this addressed reader, but the ability of the actual reader to transform into the kind of reader the work needs is the key to understanding the book - and often also the key to fully enjoying it.

One of the highlights of my career has been the seminar organised by promising young scholars in honour of my 60th birthday, scholars whose doctoral advisor I had been. That is one of the most rewarding aspects of the professorial role–to be able to share in the future of your subject and university by advising young talent, thanks to whom the scope of the subject will broaden to meet the new challenges on the horizon.

My dream is fundamentally an emotional matter, and at the same time a serious research question. I hope to one day see a finished and published book called, say, 'Finnish Feelings: An Emotional History of Finnish Literature.' It is based on the newly-launched research on Finnish literature and feelings, which includes my new project, Kirjallisuus ja tunteet ('Literature and emotions'). So far, four researchers of Finnish literature at the University of Helsinki have joined the project.

• ”Pirjo Lyytikäiselle Tietokirjailijapalkinto” ('Pirjo Lyytikäinen receives the award of  the Finnish Association of Non-fiction Writers), Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki online news. (In Finnish.)
• ”Tietokirjailijapalkinnot Pirjo Lyytikäiselle, Olli Löytylle, Matti Myrskylle, Rea Peltolalle ja Jouko Rikkiselle” ('Non-fiction writer awards go to Pirjo Lyytikäinen, Olli Löytty…