Research |
|
| Back | Home |
Edith – Critical Editions of Finnish Literature
|
Edith – Critical Editions of Finnish Literature is a research and publication unit of the Finnish Literature Society, in which critical editions of a high standard, fulfilling scholarly requirements will be compiled on Finnish literary classics. The SKS will publish them as online publications and in the traditional book form. The Edith unit will start with critical editions of the works of Aleksis Kivi (1834–1872). The research and editorial work will start in 2007 with Kivi's Nummisuutarit (Heath Cobblers, 1864), a living classic of dramatic literature. What is a critical edition?Edith's editions are publications that comprise a so-called 'established' text of the chosen work that has been selected and checked using precise criteria together with a commentary section that supplements it. The articles in the commentary section shed light on such issues as the work's publishing history, reception, research traditions and aspects about the genre and language. More detailed explanations are provided in the references which indicate, for example, different variants of the text and literary references as well as explaining the meanings of words and concepts. The electronic online publications will enable various search features on the basis of which it will be possible to edit the books for different purposes, such as for research needs or for teaching. Critical editions around the worldCritical editions have an established position in research and teaching as well as among readers of literature in many countries with strong literary cultures. These exhaustive editions are re-edited as special publications aimed at university education and research and as inexpensive school and paperback editions. Editions of textual criticism have a long tradition in the Nordic countries too. New, ambitious projects include, for example, editions on Ibsen in Norway and the editions on Strindberg in Sweden. The recently completed edition of textual criticism on the collected works of Runeberg and the project on the editions of Topelius' output, which has just started, can be included as actual editions of Finnish literary textual criticism. The pressure on editing critical editions of Finnish literature has grown since the turn of the new millennium, because the language of classics from the 19th century and the culture they represent are starting to be unfamiliar to present-day readers. The fact that several works have been published in different versions that have not been properly assessed is hampering research into the classics. Critical editions of literature are thus basic research that aids both literary enthusiasts and researchers. Editorial board and editorial committeesThe Edith unit is being planned and supervised by an Editorial Board that comprises experts in the fields of literature and its related disciplines. Edition series will planned by editorial committees. Edith's Editorial Board, 2009–2011
The Editorial Committee of Aleksis Kivi Editions, 2009–2011 Staff: For further information, please contact:
|
||
