Johan Ludvig Runeberg was a Finnish priest and poet. He is credited with writing Vårt land, the unofficial national anthem of Finland, and is regarded as a national poet of the country. As a priest, Runeberg was involved in the modernization of Virsikirja and produced numerous texts for the new edition. Johan Ludvig Runeberg is an aconic figure in Finland.
Jenni Haukio is a Finnish poet best known as the wife of the popular politician and President Sauli Väinämö Niinistö. Haukio is currently the First Lady of Finland. In 1999, her first poetry collection won Runo-Kaarina, a national debut poet contest.
Mauno Manninen was a Finnish painter, poet, and theatre director. He is best remembered for founding Intimiteatteri, one of Helsinki's most important theatres from 1949 to 1987. Mauno Manninen is also known as the son of the famous poet Otto Manninen.
Apart from being a journalist, Eino Leino also redefined Finnish poetry by including folk elements. His works include literary criticism in newspapers such as Päivälehti and Helsingin Sanomat. Most of his works were inspired by the epic Kalevala, while he also a pioneer of national romanticism in Finland’s literary world.
Edith Södergran was a Finnish poet whose poetry has influenced numerous lyrical poets all over the world. Counted among the greatest Swedish-language poets of modernism, Södergran's work continues to influence Swedish-language musical lyrics and poetry. Edith Södergran did not live long enough to experience the appreciation of her poetry as she died at the age of 31 due to tuberculosis.
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.
Uuno Kailas was a Finnish writer, poet, and translator. He is often counted among the most important Finnish poets of the 1930s. He published an impressive collection of poetry and translations before succumbing to schizophrenia and tuberculosis at the age of 31.
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.
Finnish novelist, dramatist and poet Veijo Meri, whose oeuvre includes novels, essays, poetry and short stories, is best-known for his works on war and its absurdity and often includes dark humour. Two of his notable works are The Manila rope and Beneath the Polar Star: Glimpses of Finnish History. He also wrote a biography of noted Finnish writer Aleksis Kivi.
Eeva-Liisa Manner was a Finnish playwright, poet, and translator. Counted among the most influential and important modernists in post-war Finland, Manner's work has been translated into numerous European languages. She also translated many works of popular writers like William Shakespeare and Franz Kafka into Finnish.
Finnish-Swedish poet Frans Mikael Franzén, who had been the Bishop of the Diocese of Härnösand, was also one of the pioneers of the Romantic movement in Sweden. Initially a professor of philosophy, he later reformed Swedish poetry, inspired by the likes of Shakespeare and Milton.
Tuomas Anhava was a Finnish writer and poet. Although he never achieved any significant success during his lifetime, Anhava is revered for the impact he has had on other Finnish poets. Apart from writing poems, Tuomas Anhava also worked as the editor-in-chief of Parnasso.
Rabbe Enckell was a Finnish poet and writer. He is best remembered for playing a major role in the Swedo-Finnish poetic revival that started in the 1920s. A modernist, Rabbe Enckell also worked for the avant-garde publication, Quosego.
Distinguished Finland-Swedish poet Baron Gripenberg spawned notable poetry collections such as Under fanan, Efter striden and Den hemliga goldenI besides translating into Swedish prominent works like the Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde and the novel The Song of the Blood-Red Flower by Johannes Linnankoski. He received nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature for fourteen times.