Laila Ellen Kaarina Hirvisaari (1958–2004 known as Laila Hietamies; 7 June 1938 – 16 June 2021[1]) was a Finnish author and writer. By 2008, over four million copies of her works had been sold.[2]
Laila Hirvisaari | |
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![]() Laila Hirvisaari in 2009 | |
Born | Viipuri, Finland | 7 June 1938
Died | 16 June 2021 Helsinki, Finland | (aged 83)
Biography
When Laila Hirvisaari was three years old, her father Aarne died in the Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union, so she had no memories of him.[3] 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 later also became a well-known Finnish author. He is also known for presenting in the Tangomarkkinat ('Tango fair'), a respected tango competition 1985–1999. By the marriage, Laila Hirvisaari became Laila Hietamies.[3][4]
Laila Hietamies's first novel Lehmusten kaupunki ('City of the Lindens') was published in 1972 and started a series of novels about Lappeenranta,[3] of which the seventh part was published in 2004.[5] Hietamies wrote many other novel series, mostly telling about Karelia and the consequences of the wars of Finland in the 1940s. She wrote also books about a Russian princess Sonja at the time of the Russian Revolution.
On 9 December 2004, Laila Hietamies, along with her three cousins, changed her name back to the maiden name Hirvisaari, and from then on her books are being published under the name of Laila Hirvisaari.[3]
Hirvisaari was granted many respected literature awards but never the most respected, Finlandia Prize.[5] Her novel about Russian empress ("Minä, Katariina") was nominated for Finlandia Prize in 2011.[6]
Hirvisaari wrote 34 novels and many short stories and plays. A movie was filmed based on Hirvisaari's novel Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat ('Abandoned houses, empty yards') in 2000.[7] Several of her books have been translated into other languages:[5]
- Myrskypilvet (Tormipilved), Estonian, Eesti Raamat 1996
- Satakielimetsä (Ööbikusalu), Estonian, Eesti Raamat 1998
- Sonja (Vürstitar 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), English, Aspasia Books/Canada 2000, translator Börje Vähämäki
- Viktoria (Victoria), Estonian, Eesti Raamat 1999, translator Anne Karu
References
- ^ Vilkman, Sanna; Mannermaa, Jaakko (16 June 2021). "Kirjailija Laila Hirvisaari on kuollut: "Hän oli historiallisen romaanin peruskallio"". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Helsinki: Yleisradio Oy. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ (30 September 2008). Laila Hirvisaaren teoksia myyty yli 4 miljoonaa kappaletta Archived 26 May 2012 at archive.today, Otava (in Finnish)
- ^ a b c d "Laila Hirvisaari: Minä, Katariina (2011)". Yle. n.d. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Seinäjoen taingomarkkinoiden Tango Finlandia -palkinto Heikki Hetamiehelle". Finland Festovals. 2010.
- ^ a b c "Laila Hirvisaari". Otava (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Hirvisaari Finlandia-ehdokkuudesta: "Mykistyin, kyyneleet tulivat silmiin"" (in Finnish). MTV. 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat (2000) Elonet
External links
Media related to Laila Hirvisaari at Wikimedia Commons