Ruotsinsuomalaisen kirjailijan motivaatio, identiteetti ja lukutottumukset

Sammanfattning: In my study of Sweden-Finnish authors’ motivation, identity and reading habits I have investigated why the authors often lose their motivation to writing, why they do not have any interest in who ultimately reads their work, and what they read themselves. I ask if this could be due to their background, education or identity. Another question I asked was how they maintain their native language in an alien environment. In the group of reference there was eleven authors born between the years 1920-1947, who immigrated to Sweden between the years 1950-1984. Previous studies of the immigration of Finns to Sweden have shown that the immigrants’ first years often were traumatic and in essence a negative experience, but my study shows that within the reference group, the experiences were not as negative. The choice has been to stay in Sweden, but not to become ‘Swedish’. They see themselves not as immigrants, but as Sweden-Finns or Finns. Their native language was valued as very important but every person also spoke Swedish. There are studies that show that one can lose motivation i.e. to writing if one does not attain recognition or encouragement. This affects also one’s identity. Sweden-Finnish literature has often been disparaged by critics, which have had negative consequences on Sweden-Finnish literature as a whole. Despite difficulties in fostering their native tongue, despite negative critique and recognition, Sweden-Finnish authors write about what is meaningful to themselves. With their biographies they have proven their presence in Sweden and they have had an impact on Swedish society. Even though their books are not always praised by critics, and few buy them, they are always a welcome gift to their own grand-children.