Three generations of strong Finnish women, each with their own struggle for independence told in this family memoir.

Independence is a story in three parts, named for three passionate women – Aino, Salme and Leena – who struggle to achieve independence, whether from a war, a lover or a domineering father. It’s a family story, as well as the story of Finland, a small European nation fighting to be born from the savage civil war of 1918.

The author’s grandmother Aino was imprisoned aged 19, during the civil war, for the crime of feeding the ‘wrong’ fighters. Aino’s daughter Salme fell in love with an ambitious athlete – charismatic, domineering and frankly mad – and endured a catastrophic divorce. Their daughter – Leena – became a teenage Finnish swimming champion but rebelled against a gruelling training regime and ran away from home in search of freedom.

It is a story of survival, but also of joy and eventually, forgiveness.

Leena Telén has directed television in Finland and worked for UK broadcasters in London, where she ran her own production company. Her short film River Crossing screened at many festivals including Aspen and Paris. She is a graduate of London’s City University and co-wrote Red Trees (2016) a feature documentary shown on Netflix.

Leena explains: “I began with memories of my own childhood in the 1950s. I interviewed family members, principally my mother Salme, a brilliant storyteller who introduced me to the harsh reality of my grandmother’s story. Although Aino’s imprisonment was known within the family, it had never previously been discussed. My mother also shared love letters between herself and my father, along with a huge archive of family photographs and 8mm films. Through further research in the archives in Finland, I learned more about the civil war, one of the darkest periods in Finnish history. I was particularly keen to write about women’s experiences during this period, which remain poorly documented.”

RELEASE DATE: 28/08/2024 ISBN: 9781805144625 Price: £15.99