"Hauska tutustua!": Viisunikkarin elämyksiä Lännen kultamaassa

About this book

"Hauska tutustua!" by Tatu Pekkarinen is a humorous travelogue written in the early 20th century. It follows a sharp-tongued Finnish songsmith and his pianist companion Matti as they cross the Atlantic and explore America with a mix of wit, satire, and culture‑clash observation. The likely focus is on encounters with New York and the Midwest, Finnish‑American communities, and the tug‑of‑war between light entertainment and partisan expectations. Readers should expect lively sketches, quick jokes, and pointed views on manners, language, and politics.

The opening of the book traces the narrator’s departure from sunny Helsinki, a scornful glance at gloomy Stockholm, and a buoyant Atlantic crossing on the Gripsholm filled with banter and music. Arrival at New York brings immigration formalities, a jarring subway ride, first glimpses of Finntown, and a chaotic night at the vast Roxy Theatre where the narrator’s ill‑timed laughter briefly stops the show. In Harlem’s Finnish quarter, he sketches the fierce rivalry between the Työväentalo and Työn Temppeli halls and the demand that performers declare a political side, even as a genial fixer named Mikko helps secure bookings. Pressed for time, the pair head to Ohio, where their light, apolitical program disappoints audiences craving political jabs and spectacle. On the train a disillusioned theatre man rants about factionalism; in Buffalo they meet grime and a discreet offer of illicit drink; in Ashtabula a bungled transfer forces a car ride to Warren. The section closes with another cool reception from a politicized crowd and a local songwriter offering them a proven “Western boy” number to win over Finnish‑American audiences.