Tove Marika Jansson (1914-2001) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author, novelist, painter and illustrator. Best known as the creator of the Moomins, Tove had the status of a beloved cultural icon—adored by children and celebrated by adults. Follow the link to learn more.
One of the most awarded literary authors in Scandinavia and translated into more than 40 languages, Finnish-Estonian novelist, librettist and playwright Sofi Oksanen (b. 1977) is an icon of her field. Called a “literary phenomenon” by The Times, Oksanen has proved that she is a mistress of human drama, incorporating historical and contemporary issues that move the reader.
Leena Katriina Lehtolainen (b. 1964) is a Finnish crime novelist, best known for her series of novels about the policewoman Maria Kallio. Lehtolainen’s novels have been translated into 29 languages and sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.
Laura Valpuri Lindstedt is one of Finland's leading internationally known writers. Her debut novel 'Scissors' (2007) was nominated for the Finlandia Prize, the top literary prize in Finland. Lindstedt's second novel, 'Oneiron', earned her the Finlandia Prize in 2015. Follow the link to learn more.
Monika Fagerholm (b. 1961) is a Swedish-speaking Finnish author and one of the most renowned living writers in the Nordic countries. She is particularly acclaimed for her experimental, polyvocal prose. Debuting in 1987, Fagerholm had her breakthrough in 1994 with the novel 'Wonderful Women by the Sea', which was nominated for the Finlandia Prize and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Follow the link above to find out more about this talented author.
Tove Jansson takes us on a beautifully illustrated and delightfully quirky journey through Moominvalley, perfectly capturing the experience and its emotional impact as seen through the innocent eyes of Susanna who is bored with her life and craves adventure.
'The Kalevala' is a great Finnish epic, which grew out of a rich oral tradition with prehistoric roots. During the first millennium of our era, speakers of Uralic languages developed an oral poetry that was to last into the nineteenth century and provided the basis of 'The Kalevala'. It was assembled by the Finnish scholar Elias Lönnrot and played a central role in the march towards Finnish independence.
An international sensation, Sofi Oksanen’s award-winning novel 'Purge' is a breathtakingly suspenseful tale of two women dogged by their own shameful pasts and the dark, unspoken history that binds them. The author establishes herself as one the most important voices of her generation with this intricately woven tale, whose stakes are almost unbearably high from the first page to the last.
In this trilogy, the author paints a historical portrait of a Finnish family across many generations attempting to describe the social reality in familiar settings. This book is considered one of the most significant novels published in Finland between 1917 and 1997.
The first book in Leena Lehtolainen’s international bestselling Nordic crime series starring Detective Maria Kallio, 'My First Murder' serves up murder with a slice of life in the Finnish upper crust.