STARDUST BOULEVARD
by Laura Andersson
Tähtipölyn bulevardi, Gummerus 2025, 399pp
Glamour and Bold Dreams in Jazz-Age Helsinki
In the first title of the Stardust series, Doris Laine, the daughter of a bootlegger from the Rööperi district, pursues her dream of becoming a film star while diving into the dangerous but yet oh-so-captivating underworld of 1930s Helsinki. There, Doris begins to lead a risky double life that she imagines she can control. But how long can she keep these two worlds from colliding?
The story, set just after the repeal of Prohibition, portrays a modernizing Helsinki and the early days of the Finnish film industry. It features forbidden love, female friendship, and betrayal, all infused with a tantalizing sense of danger.
RIGHTS SOLD: Finland Gummerus (orig.)
Materials available: Finnish edition, English sample & synopsis
Praise for STARDUST BOULEVARD:
“An upcoming film star and a gang of determined young women wrap 1930s Helsinki around their fingers [...] The author successfully depicts the charged atmosphere of big-city nightlife in the spirit of Babylon Berlin. ”
“The pre-war Helsinki comes alive in rich detail, reflecting Andersson’s meticulous research and love for the city’s history.”
“The vividly written Stardust Boulevard is filled with fascinating historical details about Helsinki and the history of Finnish film industry despite its fictional cast of characters. It brings to mind The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo […] I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.”
Laura Andersson is a Helsinki-based author and book industry professional known for her series of historical novels set in Helsinki.
Her new Stardust trilogy introduces readers to both the glamorous and hidden sides of 1930s Helsinki, from its thrilling nightlife to the alluring world of filmmaking.
Andersson’s writing explores the connections between the past and present and show how the lives and dreams of people nearly a century ago still resonate with us today.
Author photo © Maija Astikainen
