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ADVANCE INFORMATION

Independence

Leena Telén

KEY SELLING POINTS
Three generations of a Finnish family’s story that the author has researched over many years.
After interviewing her mother shortly before her death, this was followed by detailed research through the
Finnish national archives.
Inspired in 2017, with the centenary of Finland, as a story that would encompass this history.

Independence is a story in three parts, named for three passionate women – Aino, Salme and Leena – who
struggle to achieve independence, whether from a war, a lover or a domineering father. It’s a family story, as
well as the story of Finland, a small European nation fighting to be born from the savage civil war of 1918.

The author’s grandmother Aino was imprisoned aged 19, during the civil war, for the crime of feeding the
‘wrong’ fighters. Aino’s daughter Salme fell in love with an ambitious athlete – charismatic, domineering and
frankly mad – and endured a catastrophic divorce. Their daughter – Leena – became a teenage Finnish
swimming champion but rebelled against a gruelling training regime and ran away from home in search of
freedom.

It is a story of survival, but also of joy and eventually, forgiveness.

Leena Telén has directed television in Finland and worked for UK broadcasters in London, where she ran her
own production company. Her short film River Crossing screened at many festivals including Aspen and Paris.
She is a graduate of London’s City University and co-wrote Red Trees (2016) a feature documentary shown on
Netflix.

Publication Date: 28th July 2024 £15.99 ISBN: 9781805144625
Thema subject category: DNBA – Autobiography: general
paperback 216 x 138 mm 416 pp Portrait Author location: London

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