Laila Hirvisaari
Laila Hirvisaari in 2009
Born(1938-06-07)7 June 1938
Viipuri, Finland
Died16 June 2021(2021-06-16) (aged 83)
Helsinki, Finland
Other namesLaila Hietamies (1958–2004)
Spouse(s)Heikki Hietamies, m. 1958

Laila Ellen Kaarina Hirvisaari (7 June 1938 – 16 June 2021),[1] also known as Laila Hietamies, was a Finnish author and writer. By 2008, more than four million copies of her works had been sold.[2]

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, she married Heikki Hietamies, who later also became a well-known Finnish author. He is also known for presenting the Tangomarkkinat ("Tango fair"), a major tango competition (1985–1999). [3][4]

Laila Hietamies's first novel Lehmusten kaupunki ("City of the Lindens") was published in 1972 and began a series of novels about Lappeenranta; [3] the seventh part was published in 2004.[5] Hietamies wrote many other novel series, mostly about Karelia and the consequences of the wars of Finland in the 1940s. She wrote also books about a Russian princess, Sonja, during the Russian Revolution.

On 9 December 2004, Laila Hietamies, along with her three cousins, changed their name back to the maiden name Hirvisaari and from then on, her books were published under that name.[3]

Hirvisaari received many respected Finnish literature awards but never the most prestigious one, the Finlandia Prize.[5] Her novel about Catherine the Great] (Minä, Katariina), however, was nominated for the Finlandia in 2011.[6]

Hirvisaari wrote 34 novels and many short stories and plays. A movie was based on her 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, translated by Debora Vaarandi
  • Valkoakaasiat (Valged akaatsiad), Eesti Raamat, 1996, translated by Debora Vaarandi
  • Vienan punainen kuu (Red Moon over White Sea), English, Aspasia Books/Canada, 2000, translated by Börje Vähämäki
  • Viktoria (Victoria), Estonian, Eesti Raamat, 1999, translated by Anne Karu

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ (30 September 2008). Laila Hirvisaaren teoksia myyty yli 4 miljoonaa kappaletta Archived 26 May 2012 at archive.today, Otava (in Finnish).
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Laila Hirvisaari: Minä, Katariina (2011)". Yle. n.d. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Seinäjoen tangomarkkinoiden Tango Finlandia -palkinto Heikki Hietamiehelle". Finland Festovals. 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 "Laila Hirvisaari". Otava (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hirvisaari Finlandia-ehdokkuudesta: 'Mykistyin, kyyneleet tulivat silmiin'" (in Finnish). MTV. 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat (2000) Elonet.
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