"Hauska tutustua!" : Viisunikkarin elämyksiä Lännen kultamaassa by Tatu Pekkarinen
"Hauska tutustua!" by Tatu Pekkarinen is a humorous travelogue written in the early 20th century. It follows a Finnish “viisunikkari” (songsmith) and his pianist Matti as they cross the Atlantic to perform in America, collecting sharp, comic observations about New York, Finnish immigrant life, and the country’s manners and politics. Expect lively sketches, satire, and culture-clash comedy rather than solemn reportage. The opening of the narrative takes the duo from a teasing
comparison of Helsinki and Stockholm onto the liner Gripsholm, across a calm Atlantic, and into a wary first look at New York’s towering skyline. Guided by Koivisto, they sample Finntown, survive a deafening subway, and witness the gargantuan Roxy Theatre—where the narrator’s irrepressible laughter accidentally steals the show. In Harlem, they encounter two rival Finnish halls (Työväentalo and Työn Temppeli) and the fierce, factional spirit that forces performers to declare party colors just to rent a stage, though a nimble fixer named Mikko helps secure dates. The pair then race west to Ohio, trading quips with a disillusioned Finnish theatre man, trudging through grimy Buffalo, hiring a car from Ashtabula to Warren, and delivering concerts that irk audiences hungry for political barbs—until a local songwriter offers them his surefire “Lännen pojan laulu.” (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Pekkarinen, Tatu, 1892-1951 |
|---|---|
| Title | "Hauska tutustua!" : Viisunikkarin elämyksiä Lännen kultamaassa |
| Original Publication | Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Kirja, 1929. |
| Credits | Jari Koivisto |
| Language | Finnish |
| LoC Class | PH: Language and Literatures: Finno-Ugrian and Basque languages and literatures |
| Subject | Finnish fiction -- 20th century |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 78008 |
| Release Date | Feb 22, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 4761 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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