Famous Finnish Novelists

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 1 
Tove Jansson
(Finnish Penwoman and the Author of the Children’s Book Series 'Moomin')
Tove Jansson
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Birthdate: August 9, 1914
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: June 27, 2001
Finnish author Tove Jansson was the woman behind the phenomenally successful children’s books and comics on the fictional white hippo-like creatures she called Moomins. While the Moomins books have been translated into more than 50 languages, Jansson’s literary works also include several other novels and short stories.
 2 
Mika Waltari
(Finnish Writer Best Known for His Novel 'The Egyptian')
Mika Waltari
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Birthdate: September 19, 1908
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: August 26, 1979

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.

 3 
Aleksis Kivi
(Finnish Author Who Wrote the First Significant Novel in the Finnish Language)
Aleksis Kivi
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Birthdate: October 10, 1834
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Palojoki, Finland
Died: December 31, 1872

Aleksis Kivi, a national writer of Finland, created modern-literary-language of the nation His only novel Seitsemän veljestä is widely-regarded as first significant novel written in Finnish language. He is counted among the earliest and greatest authors of prose and lyrics in Finnish. Another famous work of Kivi, whose birthday is celebrated as Finnish Literature Day, is the play Heath Cobblers.

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 4 
Sofi Oksanen
(Finnish Playwright and Writer Best Known for Her Novel 'Purge')
Sofi Oksanen
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Birthdate: January 7, 1977
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Jyväskylä, Finland

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.

 5 
Arto Paasilinna
(One of Finland's Most Successful Novelists)
Arto Paasilinna
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Birthdate: April 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kittilä, Finland
Died: October 15, 2018

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.

 6 
Väinö Linna
(Finnish Author, Best Known for His Controversial War Novel 'The Unknown Soldier')
Väinö Linna
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Birthdate: December 20, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Urjala, Finland
Died: April 21, 1992

One of the best-known Finnish post-war authors, Väinö Linna soared to fame with his iconic third novel, Tuntematon sotilas, or The Unknown Soldier. Equipped with little education, he initially worked as a lumberjack and a farm help, and also fought in the army, before stepping into his literary career.

 7 
Zachris Topelius
(Finnish Writer, Poet and Historian Best Known for Writing Finnish Historical Novels in Swedish)
Zachris Topelius
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Birthdate: January 14, 1818
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Nykarleby, Finland
Died: March 12, 1898

Finnish writer, poet, historian, and journalist Zachris Topelius is best remembered for writing Finnish historical novels in Swedish language, which were later translated into Finnish. His notable works include the fairy tales The Tomten in Åbo Castle and Sampo Lappelill., and the poem Sov du lilla videung. Topelius served as professor and later as rector of the University of Helsinki.

 8 
Hella Wuolijoki
(Finnish Writer Who Wrote The Famous 'Niskavuori' Series)
Hella Wuolijoki
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Birthdate: July 22, 1886
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ala, Estonia
Died: February 2, 1954

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.

 9 
Juhani Aho
(Journalist and Author)
Juhani Aho
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Birthdate: September 11, 1861
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lapinlahti, Finland
Died: August 8, 1921

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.

 10 
Marco Casagrande
(Finnish Architect, Architectural-Theorist and Environmental Artist)
Marco Casagrande
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Birthdate: May 7, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Turku, Finland

Finnish architect, environmental-artist and architectural theorist Marco Casagrande gained critical attention producing architectonic installations with Finnish architect and artist Sami Rintala from 1998 to 2003 under their partnership Casagrande & Rintala, for venues of contemporary architecture and art across the globe. One of the most notable works of Casagrande & Rintala, which dissolved in 2003, is the Land(e)scape in Savonlinna  

 11 
Volter Kilpi
(One of The Finest Exponents of The Modern Experimental Novels)
Volter Kilpi
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Birthdate: December 12, 1874
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kustavi, Finland
Died: June 13, 1939

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.

 12 
Sally Salminen
(Nobel Prize-Nominated Author Internationally Known for Her Debut Novel 'Katrina')
Sally Salminen
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Birthdate: April 25, 1906
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Vårdö, Finland
Died: July 18, 1976

Initially a grocery store worker and a maid, Sally Salminen later soared to fame with her bestselling debut book Katrina. The 3-time Nobel Prize-nominated author later married Danish painter Johannes Dierkop and continued to write. However, her later works were not as successful as her first novel.

 13 
Paavo Haavikko
(One of the Most Respected Finnish Authors and a Major Figure of the Modernist Movement)
Paavo Haavikko
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Birthdate: January 25, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: October 6, 2008

Paavo Haavikko is regarded as one of Finland’s best-known authors. The son of a bookbinder, he began his literary career as a poet and later spearheaded Finland’s modernist movement. He soared to fame with his iconic poem Talvipalatsi, or The Winter Palace, and also penned plays, novels, and short stories.

 14 
Johannes Linnankoski
(Finnish Author and Playwright Known for His Romace Novel 'The Song of the Blood-Red Flower')
Johannes Linnankoski
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Birthdate: October 18, 1869
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Askola, Finland
Died: August 10, 1913

A champion of peasant rights, Finnish author Johannes Linnankoski is best remembered for his iconic works The Fugitives and The Song of the Blood-Red Flower. Part of the Golden Age of Finnish Art, he was a major force behind strengthening the national consciousness behind the Finnish independence from Russia.