The love story of the century

Märta Tikkanen

Book - 2020

"Märta Tikkanen's verse novel The Love Story of the Century debuted in 1978 and quickly became an undisputed classic of Finnish literature. At the time, it was revolutionary in its depiction of life with an alcoholic husband, the violence and fear that came with it, and the demands placed on women in the family and the home. But it also depicts the power of love and falling in love, and the creative process as a counterforce to everything that's destructive. The novel is not only a portrait of a woman's resilience, but also of her rebellion. The Love Story of the Century is Tikkanen's internationally most well-known work, and it has been translated into 19 languages. In Sweden alone it has sold 140,000 copies; in G...ermany over 65,000; and in Norway 45,000 copies. It has also enjoyed huge success as a theatre adaption: in Germany, for example, it has been shown in over 50 theatres"-- more