From Bulevardi through Lönnrotinkatu to Hallituskatu

The main milestones in Kai Häggman’s research career are found between WSOY and the Finnish Literature Society. Six years on Bulevardi in the employ of WSOY as a researcher and history writer and another six years on Hallituskatu in the research department of the Finnish Literature Society have provided him with an overview of the whole field of literature, particularly non-fiction.

That’s not to forget the offices of the Union of Finnish Writers on Lönnrotinkatu, numerous offices at the University and, for example, the researchers’ rooms at the headquarters of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland on Nordenskiöldinkatu. The most important working space is nevertheless at home, in the study of his aging detached house in kirkkonummi, and particularly the hammock in the back garden.

By Written by Kai Häggman (Tomas Sjöblom ed.), translated by Matthew Billington

Kai Häggman

Kai Allan Häggman
Born November 20, 1956, Helsinki

Master of Arts 1987, PhD 1994 (Finnish and Scandinavian history), University of Helsinki

Docent in Finnish and Scandinavian history 1998, University of Helsinki
History writer 2015–, Union of Finnish Writers
Researcher and historian 2008–14, Finnish Literature Society
History writer 2005–08, Finnish Book Publishers Association
Editor-in chief 2004–07, Suomalaisen arjen historia (‘the history of everyday Finnish life’).
Researcher 2003–05, Finnish Forest Industries
History writer 1998–2003, WSOY
Researcher 1996–97, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland
Researcher 1992–95, Renvall Institute
Researcher 1988–92, Academy of Finland

Research themes: Genealogy, the Finnish elite, the book and publishing industry

Awards and special achievements:
Nominated for the Kanava prize for non-fiction 2012
WSOY Literature Foundation award 2008
Honorary award from the Lauri Jänti Foundation for the promotion of Finnish non-fiction 2003
Honorary award for a work of historical writing from the Society of the Friends of History 2003

Photo: Anu Viljanen-Häggman
Written by Kai Häggman (Tomas Sjöblom, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington