At the dissertation stage of her studies Rosa Liksom had already written her first book, albeit not yet published.

“When my idea for a dissertation was turned down, it was the last straw. I wasn’t going to get the Master’s degree, I’d manage some other way."

Liksom had supported herself…

When Rosa Liksom began her ethnology studies at the University of Helsinki, she had already several subjects under her belt. She had spent half a year studying Russian in Uppsala and a further six months at the Sirola college studying social welfare.

“I applied for a place to study both…

When Liksom got the final stage of her studies, with just a dissertation to write, she was living in Denmark, in the alternative Copenhagen district of Christiania. The district has proclaimed itself a free town and is known as a home for artists, anarchists and other dissidents.

As a student…

Rosa Liksom dreams about knowledge:

“I dream that I can get a better hold on the world. I want a better understanding of the human race and its past, present and future. I want to know more about everything and new things, until I drop.”

If Liksom isn’t reading in her spare time, she can be found in the adult education centre. She takes part in two Russian discussion groups – one based on reading newspapers and the other literature.

“I’ve made a start on learning French at adult education classes, although I do understand…

Liksom reads widely across literature and non-fiction, but she focuses more on non-fiction and history in particular.

As for the history of Finland her favourites are the work on Lapland’s history by Maria Lähteenmäki, Oula Silvennoinen’s investigations into the collaboration between wartime Finland and Nazi Germany, Mirkka Lappalainen…