Ivar Fredrik Lassy (18 November 1889 – 4 June 1938) was a Finnish writer and anthropologist who was active in the Socialist and Communist parties. Lassy moved to the Soviet Union in 1923 and was killed during the Great Purge.[1]
The Muharram Mysteries Among the Azerbeijan Turks of Caucasia (1916)
Lassy was first a member of the Social Democratic Party but soon switched to the illegal Communist Party of Finland. The mainstream Social Democrats found him too radical, but his distinctive opininons did not please the Communists neither. In his research, Lassy studied the Turkic people of Caucasus and later the history of sexual ethics, although he was expelled from the academic circles for joining the Reds in the 1918 Civil War of Finland.[1][2]
Lassy was born in Baku where his father worked as an oil ship captain for the Branobel company. At the age of ten, Lassy was sent to school to Finland. In 1909, Lassy entered the University of Helsinki where he studied aesthetics, philosophy, literature and economics earning his 1916 doctorate in Azerbaijanis folk tradition. The dissertation was based on his field work in Caucasus. In 1917, Lassy published the book Persiska mysterier (The Persian Mysteries), a popular version of his dissertation, and the travel book Bakom gallret och slöjan (Behind Bars and Vail).[3][4]
Lassy's first language was Swedish. He spoke fluent Finnish and had learned Russian, German, English, French, Persian and Arabic. Lassy's early political views were influenced by philosophers like Rousseau. He also had some left-wing sympathies, although, he was not personally involved with socialists. During the World War I, the Finnish intellectuals were mostly pro-German, but Lassy was a member of a small group that supported the Entente.[3][4]
Civil War and Politicsedit
As the Civil War broke out in January 1918, Lassy offered his services for the Peoples Delegation and was hired as a translator by Yrjö Sirola. According to Lassy, he joined the Reds because he saw the worker's revolution as a subject on anthropological research, but was soon sucked into the aspect as he learned to understand their demands. After the Battle of Helsinki, Lassy was captured by the Whites and given a 9-year-sentence for treason but he was pardoned in November 1918. At the Suomenlinna prison camp, Lassy was introduced to socialism by his cellmates Sulo Wuolijoki and Taavi Tainio.[3][4]
Lassy joined the Social Democratic Party and became active in its radical opposition. He worked as an editor for the journal Sosialistinen Aikakauslehti (The Socialist Journal) and helped running the communist smuggling route between Stockholm and Petrograd. In October 1919, Lassy helped the American journalist John Reed across the Russian border. In 1920, Lassy was sent to prison for nearly 2 years of his political activity. During his term at the Tammisaari labor camp, Lassy left the Social Democrats and joined the Socialist Workers Party, a front organization set up by the exiled Communist Party of Finland.[3][4]
Lassy's literal works include the 1931 Finnish book Marxismin perusteet (Foundations of Marxism) which was later declared as contrarevolutionary. He also translated to Swedish the first part of Stalin'sFoundations of Leninism.[2][4]
Lassy was arrested for espionage in February 1938. He was executed in June at the Butovo firing range.[1]
Private lifeedit
Lassy's first spouse was Ellen Alfhild Söderman, daughter of the businessman Karl Söderman.[4]
Selected worksedit
The Muharram Mysteries Among the Azerbeijan Turks of Caucasia (1916)
Bakom gallret och slöjan (1917)
Persiska mysterier (1917)
Marxismin perusteet (1931)
J. V. Stalin: Leninismens grundfrågor 1, translation by Ivar Lassy and Alice Rosenblad (1938)
Referencesedit
^ abcHanski, Jari (2014). . Biografiskt lexikon för Finland (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
^ abKatainen, Elina (2013). Vapaus, tasa-arvo, toverillinen rakkaus : perheen, kotitalouden ja avioliiton politisointi suomalaisessa kommunistisessa liikkeessä ennen vuotta 1930(PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: The Finnish Society for Labour History. pp. 302–318. ISBN978-952-59761-0-6.
^ abcdeKantokorpi, Otso (1984). "Ivar Lassy and his Adventures in the Land of Eternal Fires". Studia Orientalia. 1984 (55). Helsinki: Finnish Oriental Society: 515–517. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
^ abcdefgEngman, Max; Eriksson, Jerker A (1979). Mannen i kolboxen : John Reed och Finland (in Swedish). Helsingfors: Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland. pp. 84–96. ISBN978-951-9017-47-1.
External linksedit
Lassy, Ivar (1916). The Muharram Mysteries Among the Azerbeijan Turks of Caucasia.
May 06, 2024
ivar, lassy, ivar, fredrik, lassy, november, 1889, june, 1938, finnish, writer, anthropologist, active, socialist, communist, parties, lassy, moved, soviet, union, 1923, killed, during, great, purge, born, 1889, november, 1889baku, russian, empirediedjune, 193. Ivar Fredrik Lassy 18 November 1889 4 June 1938 was a Finnish writer and anthropologist who was active in the Socialist and Communist parties Lassy moved to the Soviet Union in 1923 and was killed during the Great Purge 1 Ivar LassyBorn 1889 11 18 November 18 1889Baku Russian EmpireDiedJune 4 1938 1938 06 04 aged 48 Drozhzhino Soviet UnionNationalityFinnishOccupation s journalist writer athropologist orientalistNotable workThe Muharram Mysteries Among the Azerbeijan Turks of Caucasia 1916 Lassy was first a member of the Social Democratic Party but soon switched to the illegal Communist Party of Finland The mainstream Social Democrats found him too radical but his distinctive opininons did not please the Communists neither In his research Lassy studied the Turkic people of Caucasus and later the history of sexual ethics although he was expelled from the academic circles for joining the Reds in the 1918 Civil War of Finland 1 2 Contents 1 Life 1 1 Early years 1 2 Civil War and Politics 1 3 In the Soviet Union 2 Private life 3 Selected works 4 References 5 External linksLife editEarly years edit Lassy was born in Baku where his father worked as an oil ship captain for the Branobel company At the age of ten Lassy was sent to school to Finland In 1909 Lassy entered the University of Helsinki where he studied aesthetics philosophy literature and economics earning his 1916 doctorate in Azerbaijanis folk tradition The dissertation was based on his field work in Caucasus In 1917 Lassy published the book Persiska mysterier The Persian Mysteries a popular version of his dissertation and the travel book Bakom gallret och slojan Behind Bars and Vail 3 4 Lassy s first language was Swedish He spoke fluent Finnish and had learned Russian German English French Persian and Arabic Lassy s early political views were influenced by philosophers like Rousseau He also had some left wing sympathies although he was not personally involved with socialists During the World War I the Finnish intellectuals were mostly pro German but Lassy was a member of a small group that supported the Entente 3 4 Civil War and Politics edit As the Civil War broke out in January 1918 Lassy offered his services for the Peoples Delegation and was hired as a translator by Yrjo Sirola According to Lassy he joined the Reds because he saw the worker s revolution as a subject on anthropological research but was soon sucked into the aspect as he learned to understand their demands After the Battle of Helsinki Lassy was captured by the Whites and given a 9 year sentence for treason but he was pardoned in November 1918 At the Suomenlinna prison camp Lassy was introduced to socialism by his cellmates Sulo Wuolijoki and Taavi Tainio 3 4 Lassy joined the Social Democratic Party and became active in its radical opposition He worked as an editor for the journal Sosialistinen Aikakauslehti The Socialist Journal and helped running the communist smuggling route between Stockholm and Petrograd In October 1919 Lassy helped the American journalist John Reed across the Russian border In 1920 Lassy was sent to prison for nearly 2 years of his political activity During his term at the Tammisaari labor camp Lassy left the Social Democrats and joined the Socialist Workers Party a front organization set up by the exiled Communist Party of Finland 3 4 In the Soviet Union edit In 1923 he moved to the Soviet Union Lassy settled in Petrozavodsk where he worked as the People s Commissar for Education of the Karelian ASSR and the principal of the Party School In 1928 Lassy was transferred to Moscow He worked as a translator at the Komintern publishing company and the director of the Scandinavian section of the Communist University of the National Minorities of the West In 1932 1935 Lassy was a scholar of Oriental languages at the Moscow State University Since 1936 he worked at the Progress Publishers and was the director of the foreign department of the Glavlit 3 4 Lassy s literal works include the 1931 Finnish book Marxismin perusteet Foundations of Marxism which was later declared as contrarevolutionary He also translated to Swedish the first part of Stalin s Foundations of Leninism 2 4 Lassy was arrested for espionage in February 1938 He was executed in June at the Butovo firing range 1 Private life editLassy s first spouse was Ellen Alfhild Soderman daughter of the businessman Karl Soderman 4 Selected works editThe Muharram Mysteries Among the Azerbeijan Turks of Caucasia 1916 Bakom gallret och slojan 1917 Persiska mysterier 1917 Marxismin perusteet 1931 J V Stalin Leninismens grundfragor 1 translation by Ivar Lassy and Alice Rosenblad 1938 References edit a b c Hanski Jari 2014 Lassy Ivar Biografiskt lexikon for Finland in Swedish Archived from the original on 23 May 2021 Retrieved 23 May 2021 a b Katainen Elina 2013 Vapaus tasa arvo toverillinen rakkaus perheen kotitalouden ja avioliiton politisointi suomalaisessa kommunistisessa liikkeessa ennen vuotta 1930 PDF in Finnish Helsinki The Finnish Society for Labour History pp 302 318 ISBN 978 952 59761 0 6 a b c d e Kantokorpi Otso 1984 Ivar Lassy and his Adventures in the Land of Eternal Fires Studia Orientalia 1984 55 Helsinki Finnish Oriental Society 515 517 Retrieved 23 May 2021 a b c d e f g Engman Max Eriksson Jerker A 1979 Mannen i kolboxen John Reed och Finland in Swedish Helsingfors Svenska litteratursallskapet i Finland pp 84 96 ISBN 978 951 9017 47 1 External links editLassy Ivar 1916 The Muharram Mysteries Among the Azerbeijan Turks of Caucasia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ivar Lassy amp oldid 1170911996, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
