FAQ
Questions about the works and archives
Where can I see the works in person?
The works are held in libraries, and their locations can be found by searching Finna.fi.
Are any works for sale?
It is unlikely that any of the works are still for sale. Most of the works were self-published, and if payment was requested for them in some contexts, the price was at or near the cost of publication. Any proceeds likely went to charitable causes.
Where can I find a list of works or biographical information?
This website provides the most recently compiled list of works, although several of the works themselves list the written publications that had appeared by the time they were published. Searching for Kaija Tanskanen with a general search engine will bring up all publications held by libraries.
Where did she live?
She lived in her grandparents' homes in Heinävaara, Kiihtelysvaara; in her father's house in Selkie, Kontiolahti; in the library building in the village center of Kiihtelysvaara; in her mother's house on the shore of Lake Hietajärvi; in several lodgings in Joensuu; and in Lahti, Helsinki, Espoo, Lappeenranta, Spjutsund in Sipoo and Söderkulla.
Did Kaija have a favorite poem?
It is difficult to say, because throughout her life she discovered poems by reading them herself or performing them at others' request. When she discusses poems by other writers in her own writings, she often describes what they meant to her. Poems may have given her exceptional strength or understanding at certain points in her life, so one might assume that her favorite could be found among them. If her favorite poem could be identified, however, it might well be a surprise.
Did Kaija have a favorite poet?
At her poetry recitals, she performed works by major Finnish poets, including Aale Tynni, Eino Leino and Aaro Hellaakoski. It is not known whether one of these poets was her favorite, or whether she had a favorite poet at all. According to one source, Aaro Hellaakoski may have been Kaija's favorite poet, and Hellaakoski was also a poet admired by her husband.
What was Kaija's favorite color?
This website has sought to incorporate colors she liked. People who knew her have suggested green, brown, gray and the frosty shades of winter. She also liked the delicate colors of apple blossoms and foxgloves, as well as colors found in nature more generally, such as the blue of forget-me-nots.
