Laila Hirvisaari
Encyclopedia
Laila Ellen Kaarina Hirvisaari (until 2004 known as Laila Hietamies; born June 7, 1938 in Viipuri) is a Finnish
author
and writer
. By 2008, over four million copies of her works had been sold.(30 September 2008). Laila Hirvisaaren teoksia myyty yli 4 miljoonaa kappaletta, Otava (in Finnish)
When Laila Hirvisaari was 3 years old, her father Aarne died in the Continuation War
between Finland and the Soviet Union
, so she has no memories of him. After the war, she and her family were evacuated first to Lappeenranta
and later to the western part of Finland.
In 1958 Laila Hirvisaari married Heikki Hietamies who has later also become a well-known Finnish author. He is also known for competing in the Tangomarkkinat
('Tango fair') , a respected tango
competition. By the marriage, Laila Hirvisaari became Laila Hietamies.
Laila Hietamies's first novel Lehmusten kaupunki ('City of the Lindens') was published in 1972 and started a series of novels about Lappeenranta
, of which the seventh part was published 2004. Hietamies has written many other novel series, mostly telling about Karelia
and the consequences of the wars of Finland in the 1940s. She has written also books about a Russia
n princess Sonja at the time of the Russian Revolution
.
December 9, 2004 Laila Hietamies, along with her three cousins, changed her name back to the maiden name Hirvisaari, and from that on her books are being published under the name of Laila Hirvisaari.
Laila Hirvisaari has been granted many respected literature awards but never the most respected, Finlandia Prize
.
Laila Hirvisaari has written 34 novels and lots of short stories and plays
. A movie has been filmed based on Hirvisaari's novel Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat ('Abandoned houses, empty yards') 2000. Five of her books have been translated into other languages:
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. By 2008, over four million copies of her works had been sold.(30 September 2008). Laila Hirvisaaren teoksia myyty yli 4 miljoonaa kappaletta, Otava (in Finnish)
When Laila Hirvisaari was 3 years old, her father Aarne died in the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
between Finland and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, so she has no memories of him. After the war, she and her family were evacuated first to Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about from the Russian border. It belongs to the region of South Karelia. With approximately inhabitants Lappeenranta is the largest city in Finland...
and later to the western part of Finland.
In 1958 Laila Hirvisaari married Heikki Hietamies who has later also become a well-known Finnish author. He is also known for competing in the Tangomarkkinat
Tangomarkkinat
The Tangomarkkinat is the world's oldest tango festival. It is held early every July in Seinäjoki, Finland. As well as competitions to find the country's best tango singers, composers, and dancers, the festival features public dancing to live music provided by the best Finnish entertainers...
('Tango fair') , a respected tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
competition. By the marriage, Laila Hirvisaari became Laila Hietamies.
Laila Hietamies's first novel Lehmusten kaupunki ('City of the Lindens') was published in 1972 and started a series of novels about Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about from the Russian border. It belongs to the region of South Karelia. With approximately inhabitants Lappeenranta is the largest city in Finland...
, of which the seventh part was published 2004. Hietamies has written many other novel series, mostly telling about Karelia
Karelia
Karelia , the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Finland, Russia, and Sweden...
and the consequences of the wars of Finland in the 1940s. She has written also books about a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n princess Sonja at the time of the Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
.
December 9, 2004 Laila Hietamies, along with her three cousins, changed her name back to the maiden name Hirvisaari, and from that on her books are being published under the name of Laila Hirvisaari.
Laila Hirvisaari has been granted many respected literature awards but never the most respected, Finlandia Prize
Finlandia Prize
The Finlandia Prize is the most prestigious literary award in Finland by the Finnish Book Foundation. It is awarded annually to the author of the best novel written by a Finnish citizen , children's book , and non-fiction book...
.
Laila Hirvisaari has written 34 novels and lots of short stories and plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
. A movie has been filmed based on Hirvisaari's novel Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat ('Abandoned houses, empty yards') 2000. Five of her books have been translated into other languages:
- Myrskypilvet (Tormpilved), EstonianEstonian languageEstonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
, Eesti Raamat 1996 - Satakielimetsä (Ööbikusali), Estonian, Eesti Raamat 1998
- Sonja (Sonja), Estonian, Eesti Raamat 1995, translator Debora Vaarandi
- Valkoakaasiat (Valged Akaatsiad), Eesti Raamat 1996, translator Debora Vaarandi
- Vienan punainen kuu (Red Moon over White Sea), EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Aspasia Books/CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
2000, translator Börje Vähämäki - Viktoria (Victoria), Estonian, Eesti Raamat 1999, translator Anne Karu