It’s a familiar tale for many of us: friends who borrow books and somehow never quite manage to return them. But occasionally, there are those who hold onto a book longer than intended, yet eventually find their way back to the library shelves, even after decades have passed.
Recently, the Helsinki Central Library Oodi in Finland experienced such a return. On Monday, May 27th, staff at the library were surprised to receive the Finnish-translated version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s historical novel “Refugees,” borrowed a staggering eighty-four years ago. The book, cheerfully returned by an anonymous individual, was warmly received by librarian Heini Strand at the main desk. The connection between the original borrower and the person returning it remains a mystery.
“The due date for this loan was December 26, 1939. Typically, books returned after such a long time are discovered when people are sorting through the belongings of deceased relatives,” Ms. Strand explained. She noted that it was the first time she had encountered a book so long overdue, finding it heartening that someone felt compelled to return a book that rightfully belonged to the library.
Ms. Strand speculated that the due date coincided with a tumultuous period in Finnish history, occurring just a month after the Soviet Union’s attack on Finland in November 1939, sparking the Russo-Finnish War. In the midst of such upheaval, returning a library book was likely low on the list of priorities for those grappling with the realities of wartime survival.
The conflict between Finland and the Soviet Union, known as the Winter War, concluded nearly four months later in March 1940, with a peace treaty that saw Finland ceding significant territory. Reflecting on the circumstances, Ms. Strand remarked, “If the person survived the war, returning the book was probably not at the forefront of their mind.”
Originally published in 1893, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Refugees” transports readers to 17th-century France. Despite its lengthy absence, Ms. Strand noted that the book was in remarkably good condition upon its return, a testament to the durability of older books compared to their modern counterparts. The librarian also expressed her intention to make the novel available to the public, perhaps as a special feature for a 1925 edition.
