Swiss Review 6/2020

Swiss Review / November 2020 / No.6 21 Literature smell of birch trees), “Am Rande der Arktis” (On the edge of the Arctic), “Näkkälä, jeden Tag” (Näkkälä, every day), “Geheimnisvoller Norden” (Mysterious north), “Die Samen und wir” (Encounters with the Sámi), “Näkkäla. Ein letz- tes Lied” (Näkkäla. One last song). Others harked back to Schwaar’s Bernese origins and dialect: “Gfröits uÙngfröits” (The good and the bad), “Churzwaare” (Haberdashery), “Rychs Bärndütsch” (The rich Bernese dialect), “Läbigs Bärndütsch” (The vibrant Bernese dialect), “Farbigs Bärndütsch” (The colourful Bernese dialect). Considering the author’s love of his native dialect, the 1996monograph “René Auberjonois” marked a surprising detour into the worldof art. Schwaar, whobecame interested in art through his dealings with the artists who had created portraits of Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz, almost made a side career for himself as a professional collector from 1947 onwards. By the time he died, he had amassed 2,500 artworks that now belong to themunicipality of Langnau. Schwaar also cham- pioned Swiss-German dialect well into his final years. At the age of 88 in 2008, he collected 13,000 signa- tures for an ultimately unsuccess- ful petition demanding the rein- troduction of dialect into the Swiss curriculum.When Langnau awarded Schwaar the freedom of the town in 2005, the mayor said: “Time and again, people achieve re- markable things in their field of activity over a period of time. However, it is extremely rare to meet anyone who has been as tire- lessly active in so many areas as Hans Ulrich Schwaar, whose body of work has mostly remained un- der the radar.” CHARLES LINSMAYER IS A LITERARY SCHOLAR AND JOURNALIST IN ZURICH CHARLES LINSMAYER Hans Ulrich Schwaar, born in Sumiswald in 1920, was a pri- mary school teacher, track-and-field athlete and orienteer who published books such as “Ghoblets u Unghoblets” (With or against the grain) and “Gryymts u Ùngryymts” (Rhyme or reason) in his own Emmental dialect. Beginning in 1977, Schwaar also translated the works of Charles-Fer- dinand Ramuz into Bernese dialect, in what ultimately be- came a six-volume literary epic. He followed up this spec- tacular achievement in 1988 with “Di sibe Brüeder” – an adaptation into Bernese dialect of Aleksis Kivi’s Finnish classic “Seven Brothers” (Seitsemän veljestä). Schwaar’s translation is the only one that is genuinely complete. Ex- perts also say that it is closer to the original than any other. Love affair with Finland And there is a good reason for this. After retiring early from his job as a teacher in Langnau im Emmental in 1982, Schwaar – in his own words – left Switzerland “in a hurry” and began his passionate acquaintance with Finland, the country of his dreams. Schwaar described his Nordic love affair in the 1983 book “Erlebtes Finnland” (The Finland ex- perience). His fascination with the country was intoxicat- ing. “An overpowering spirit speaks to our soul, touching and enriching our emotions with indelible memories,” he wrote. Schwaar was especially intrigued by northern Fin- land’s indigenous people, the Sámi, whose tales and legends he collated, and with whom he enjoyed a real-life symbio- sis as housemate and employee of reindeer herder Iisak- ki-Matias Syväjärvi. Native to both worlds During the last quarter of his long life, which ended at the age of 94 in his adopted home of Äkäslompolo in Finnish Lapland, Schwaar spent most of his time in northern Fin- land, even when he had almost turned blind and could barely manage on his own. However, his fondness for the Emmental Valley never faded, with the later works in his 39-book literary career ultimately oscillating between Fin- land and Switzerland. Some novels were centred on Finn- ish Lapland: “Herbst in Lappland” (Autumn in Lapland), “Tundra, Sumpf und Birkenduft” (Tundra, swamps and the The Swiss with an irrepressible Nordic spirit Hans Ulrich Schwaar fell in love with Finland at the age of 62. It was a fascination that remained with him until his death. “By becoming absorbed in nature, we can learn about nature’s divine wonder. This divinity lies hidden in every human soul. Showing compassion to our neighbours is just as fulfilling as marvelling at a flower – both these things are divine.” Excerpt from “Intimitäten” (Intimacies), Hans Ulrich Schwaar, Langnau 2007; available from: ruth.wullschleger@dorfberg.ch