Famous Finnish Novelists

Mika Waltari was a Finnish writer best remembered for his novel, The Egyptian. A prolific writer, Waltari also wrote poetry, crime novels, short stories, plays, essays, film scripts, travel stories, and rhymed texts for Asmo Alho's comic strips. A recipient of five State Literature awards, Mika Waltari was honored with the prestigious Pro Finlandia Medal in 1952.

Sofi Oksanen is a Finnish playwright and writer. She is best known for her novel, Purge. Oksanen's works have been translated into over 40 languages and sold over two million copies worldwide. Over the course of her career, Sofi Oksanen has been honored with several prestigious awards, such as the Finlandia Prize, Mika Waltari Award, and Kalevi Jäntti Award.

Arto Paasilinna was a Finnish writer and comic novelist. Counted among Finland's most successful novelists, Paasilinna's works have been translated into 27 languages and sold more than seven million copies worldwide. Arto Paasilinna is credited with contributing to the increased readership rate in Finland. His best known novel The Year of the Hare has been adapted twice into feature films.

Hella Wuolijoki was a Finnish writer who wrote under the pen name of Juhani Tervapää. She is best remembered for her Niskavuori series. Some of her works, like the 1937 play Juurakon Hulda, were adapted into feature films; her play was adapted into a 1947 film titled The Farmer's Daughter.

Juhani Aho was a Finnish journalist and author who received 12 nominations for the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature over the course of his illustrious career. Apart from writing novels, Juhani Aho also wrote numerous short stories. Aho is also credited with co-founding Päivälehti, the predecessor of Helsingin Sanomat.

Volter Kilpi was a Finnish author best remembered for his 1933 two-volume novel Alastalon salissa, which is often counted among the best written novels in the Finnish language. Volter Kilpi is widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of the modern experimental novels.