Loukko by 
We are delighted to announce that Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Human Resource Development of the Government of India, Shashi Tharoor, released the book A Delicate Shade of Pink, written by Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, on 6 May 2013 in New Delhi, India.
The book, published by Wisdom Tree under its new imprint ‘Bridging Roots’, was released at the residence of the Ambassador of Finland and the launch was followed by a reception hosted by Pekka Voutilainen, Chargé d’ Affaires. The book was originally published in Finland by Tammi in 2006, and the original title is Häivähdys punaista.
Commenting on the book, Mr. Tuomioja said, “I am very happy to see A Delicate Shade of Pink published for the first time in the language it was written in. I am 
particularly delighted that this is taking place in India. I hope that Indian lovers of history will find the story of the two Murrik sisters interesting and relevant for them as well.”
Dr Tharoor remarked that the book is “An interesting exploration of European history through the two World Wars, and with an intriguing Indian connection.”
Shobit Arya, the founder and publisher of Wisdom Tree, said, “A Delicate Shade of Pink marks the beginning of our new imprint ‘Bridging Roots’, specifically crafted to publish inter-cultural literature. It is an absolute pleasure to bring Dr Tuomioja’s highly readable and scholarly account of Finnish history to discerning Indian readers.”
About the book
At the end of the nineteenth century, the Murriks, a middle-class Estonian family, had four daughters and a son. Two of the daughters, Ella and Salme, became Finnish citizens, with Salme adopting British citizenship later on. But both also turned into revolutionaries, who idealised Stalin and the Soviet state. Which of their roles in the international network of Socialists and wartime political intrigues were real and which were imaginary?
Erkki Tuomioja has sought answers to these and many other questions in his book A Delicate shade of Pink. His search turned into this double biography, written by an explorer and historian, who not only portrays family ties but also reveals political connections that spanned across the First and Second World Wars and opens doors to secret negotiations and intimate discussions. With courage and fresh insight, the book follows the two wilful women and their many partners in the world of international politics, power and trade.
About the author
Erkki Tuomioja: The Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Tuomioja, was first drawn to the lives of his grandmother, Hella Wuolijoki, and her sister, Salme Dutt, as a historian. He embarked on a ten-year research project that brought him to the documents and papers left by Vappu Tuomioja, and to the Finnish National Archives, the National Museum of Labour History in Manchester, the archives in Moscow and the archives of the secret police in Stockholm, London and Brussels.
Foreign sales:
Estonia, Varrak
Germany, Militzke Verlag
India, Wisdom Tree (English)
Russia, Ves Mir
Sweden, Leopard Förlag
Reading material:
English edition
Please ask the Agency for reading materials.
Prizes:
Winner of the Finlandia Non-Fiction Award 2006
Candidate for the European Book Prize 2007
World rights:
Elina.Ahlback@ahlbackagency.com
www.ahlbackagency.com