How Finland Survived Stalin

“This book is an exemplary piece of traditional political history, by an emeritus professor in that field, based on meticulous archival work and a deep understanding of nuances in foreign languages.”—Saara Matala, Russian Review

“How Finland Survived Stalin is an engaging study for the general reader but will also interest Rentola’s fellow scholars, largely due to the author’s language skills.”—James Rodgers, History Today

“This is a pioneering work on Soviet-Finnish relations in the critical period between the Winter War and the death of Stalin. Using archives around the world, Rentola explores in stunning detail the complex story of Finnish survival.”—Norman M. Naimark, author of Stalin and the Fate of Europe

“There is no other book like this one. Rentola treats Stalin as a serious strategist and demonstrates how pragmatic, flexible and ruthless he could be.”—Ronald Grigor Suny, author of Stalin: Passage to Revolution

“No one is better equipped than Kimmo Rentola to tell the extraordinary story of Finland’s relations with Stalin and the Soviets. His penetrating insight, flawless judgement and matchless command of Finnish and Russian sources have produced a masterpiece.”—Geoffrey Roberts, author of Stalin’s Library

“A masterfully-written and elegant work. Rentola’s precise and compact narration deepens and widens the understanding of Finland’s fateful years.”—Lauri Jäntti Prize Jury