An exploration of the winter wonders and entangled histories of Scandinavia's northernmost landscapes-now back in print with a new afterword by the author

After many years of travel in the Nordic countries-usually preferring to visit during the warmer months-Barbara Sjoholm found herself drawn to Lapland and Sapmi one winter just as morketid, the dark time, set in. What ensued was a wide-ranging journey that eventually spanned three winters, captivatingly recounted in The Palace of the Snow Queen.

From observing the annual construction of the Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, to crossing the storied Finnmark Plateau in Norway, to attending a Sami film festival in Finland, Sjoholm dives deep into the rich traditions and vibrant creative communities of the North. She writes of past travelers to Lapland and contemporary tourists in Sapmi, as well as of her encounters with Indigenous reindeer herders, activists, and change-makers. Her new afterword bears witness to the perseverance of the Sami in the face of tourism, development, and climate change.

Written with keen insight and humor, The Palace of the Snow Queen is a vivid account of Sjoholm's adventures and a timely investigation of how ice and snow shape our imaginations and create a vision that continues to draw visitors to the North.

About the Author

Barbara Sjoholm is a writer and translator of Danish and Norwegian literature. Her translations include By the Fire: Sami Folktales and Legends (Minnesota, 2019), and she is author of Black Fox: A Life of Emilie Demant Hatt, Artist and Ethnographer and From Lapland to Sapmi: Collecting and Returning Sami Craft and Culture (Minnesota, 2022). She lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.

Reviews

"The Palace of the Snow Queen is an exquisite book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Lapland in particular, or travel in general."-Vendela Vida

"A captivating homage to the frozen far North and the Sami."-Booklist

"An enticing entree for those in search of extreme weather in a scenic clime."-Kirkus Reviews

"Sjoholm maintains a keen eye for observation, leaving romanticism behind, while still indulging in the swooning beauty of the far North."-Seattle Times

"After reading this book, readers get a real sense of life in a dark, very cold, yet also beautiful land."-Library Journal

"Sjoholm's writing is beautiful and vivid, with a precise and emotionally effective command of the language. A spectacular book, not to be missed by anyone fascinated with the North, or anyone who enjoys reflections on culture, art, and history."-Bookslut

"Sjoholm's travel tale describes the beauty of the Arctic, taking readers into a magical winter wonderland."-The Norwegian American

"As an introduction to Sapmi as a living place with a living culture and rich history, The Palace of the Snow Queen offers a readable and well-researched account, which covers the historical, cultural, and political."-H-Net Reviews

"Ms. Sjoholm tells this non-fiction story in a way that brings the history and culture of the Far North to life."-Swedish American Genealogist

Book Information
ISBN 9781517915148
Author Barbara Sjoholm
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint University of Minnesota Press
Publisher University of Minnesota Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 140mm * 15mm