Arto Paasilinna
Encyclopedia
Arto Tapio Paasilinna is a Finnish
writer, being a former journalist turned comic novel
ist. One of the most successful novelists of Finland, he has won a broad readership outside of Finland in a way few other Finnish authors have before. Translated into 27 languages, over seven million copies of his books have been sold worldwide, and he has been claimed as "instrumental in generating the current level of interest in books from Finland".
Paasilinna is best known for his 1975 novel The Year of the Hare
(Jäniksen vuosi), a best-seller in France and Finland, translated into 18 languages, awarded three international prizes, and adapted twice into feature films.
Arto Paasilinna's brothers are authors Erno Paasilinna
, Reino Paasilinna
and Mauri Paasilinna.
, in Lapland, Finland. His parents were Väinö Paasilinna (1902–1950, born Gullstén, changed his surname in 1934 after a family conflict) and Hilda-Maria Paasilinna (1908–1983, born Niva). The Paasilinna's had seven children, five sons and two daughters, including the writer Erno Paasilinna
; the author, MEP and TV personality Reino Paasilinna
; the painter Sirpa Paasilinna-Schlagenwarth; and the writer Mauri Paasilinna.
Paasilinna studied at the General and Elementary School Line at the Lapland Folk Academy. He initially worked as a journalist at Nuoren Voiman Liitto, Nuori Voima-lehti and various newspapers as writer and editor. At the weekly magazine Apu
, he was an editor (1968–1970) and later a columnist (1975–1988).
In 1975, at the age of 33, Paasilinna found journalism growing "more superficial and meaningless" and desired a change; that summer, he sold his boat to fund the writing of The Year of the Hare
. The book was an immediate success and from 1975 on Paasilinna became an independent writer able to support himself with his novels, signed to Finnish publisher WSOY
since 1977. He still writes journalism articles and has been a columnist on Finnish radio.
In 2000, Paasilinna was included in the 6th edition of literary critic Pekka Tarkka(fi)'s dictionary Suomalaisia nykykirjailijoita ("Finnish Literary Authors", 1st ed. 1967).
In 2002, for Paasilinna's 60th anniversary, journalist Eino Leino published a biography of Paasilinna called Lentojätkä. Arto Paasilinnan elämä" ("The Flight Dude").
The same year Paasilinna published his own autobiography called Yhdeksän unelmaa ("Nine Night's Dream").
, Paasilinna was featured in Finnish tabloids for his incoherent behaviour, including reckless driving
. In October 2009 he was rushed to a hospital due to a brain attack. In April 2010 he was moved to a convalescent home
for recovery, and his son named as his treasurer.
, his success is claimed as having been "instrumental in generating the current level of interest in books from Finland" by his publisher WSOY.
Paasilinna's books reflect quite common Finnish life, usually from a middle-aged
male perspective, and in rural Finland. Fast-paced, light and humorous in style, many of these narratives can be described as picaresque adventure stories with often a satirical angle towards modern life. Certain of his stories have been described as modern fables, such as The Year of the Hare, which sets an ex-journalist's quest for authentic life and values in the Finnish backwoods against the emptiness and meaninglessness of modern consumer society. Vatanen, the hero of this novel, takes an injured young hare with him on his quest, nursing the animal back to health, while his own dissatisfaction with his former urban lifestyle becomes ever more evident.
His 1974 novel Paratiisisaaren Vangit appears as Prisonniers du Paradis. This book is the humorous story of a UN charter that crashes on a deserted Pacific island. The passengers are lumberjacks and other forestry workers, midwives and nurses. As with The Year of the Hare (in French, Le lièvre de Vatanen), the narrator is a journalist. The multinational castaways (Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and English) give Paasilinna ample opportunity to poke fun at issues of language domination and national stereotypes. The castaways set up a cashless society in which the only remuneration comes in the form of a cup of alcohol distilled in their jungle café in exchange for work for the collectivity. There is also a family planning clinic offering free IUDs
. Soon, they find that they are not alone on the island and come up with a plan to get help.
Two of his novels, Lentävä kirvesmies and Rovasti Huuskosen petomainen miespalvelija were adapted to graphic novel
s by Hannu Lukkarinen.
Fiction
, his 35 novels are:
Non-fiction
His other books include:
Fiction
Non-fiction
Reviews in English of untranslated books
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...
writer, being a former journalist turned comic novel
Comic novel
A comic novel is a work of fiction in which the writer not only seeks to amuse the reader, but also to make the reader think about controversial issues, sometimes with subtlety and as part of a carefully woven narrative; sometimes, above all other considerations...
ist. One of the most successful novelists of Finland, he has won a broad readership outside of Finland in a way few other Finnish authors have before. Translated into 27 languages, over seven million copies of his books have been sold worldwide, and he has been claimed as "instrumental in generating the current level of interest in books from Finland".
Paasilinna is best known for his 1975 novel The Year of the Hare
The Year of the Hare
The Year of the Hare is a 1975 novel by Finnish author Arto Paasilinna. It tells the story of Kaarlo Vatanen, a frustrated journalist, who, after nearly killing a hare with his car, decides to live with the hare in the wilderness....
(Jäniksen vuosi), a best-seller in France and Finland, translated into 18 languages, awarded three international prizes, and adapted twice into feature films.
Arto Paasilinna's brothers are authors Erno Paasilinna
Erno Paasilinna
Erno Paasilinna was a Finnish writer and journalist. He received several literary prizes, the most notable being the Finlandia Prize in 1984 for his collection of essays Yksinäisyys ja uhma...
, Reino Paasilinna
Reino Paasilinna
Reino Paasilinna is a Finnish politician and Member of the European Parliament. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, which is part of the Party of European Socialdemocrats, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.Reino Paasilinna was...
and Mauri Paasilinna.
Life
Arto Paasilinna was born on 20 April 1942 in the Alakylä part of the municipality of KittiläKittilä
Kittilä is a municipality of Finland and a popular holiday resort.It is located in the province of Lapland, Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, in Lapland, Finland. His parents were Väinö Paasilinna (1902–1950, born Gullstén, changed his surname in 1934 after a family conflict) and Hilda-Maria Paasilinna (1908–1983, born Niva). The Paasilinna's had seven children, five sons and two daughters, including the writer Erno Paasilinna
Erno Paasilinna
Erno Paasilinna was a Finnish writer and journalist. He received several literary prizes, the most notable being the Finlandia Prize in 1984 for his collection of essays Yksinäisyys ja uhma...
; the author, MEP and TV personality Reino Paasilinna
Reino Paasilinna
Reino Paasilinna is a Finnish politician and Member of the European Parliament. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, which is part of the Party of European Socialdemocrats, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.Reino Paasilinna was...
; the painter Sirpa Paasilinna-Schlagenwarth; and the writer Mauri Paasilinna.
Paasilinna studied at the General and Elementary School Line at the Lapland Folk Academy. He initially worked as a journalist at Nuoren Voiman Liitto, Nuori Voima-lehti and various newspapers as writer and editor. At the weekly magazine Apu
Apu (magazine)
Apu is a Finnish weekly family magazine. It was founded in 1933 by Finnish publisher A-lehdet. , its current editor-in-chief is Matti Saari. In 2007, it had a certified readership of 683000 and a circulation of 215525 copies...
, he was an editor (1968–1970) and later a columnist (1975–1988).
In 1975, at the age of 33, Paasilinna found journalism growing "more superficial and meaningless" and desired a change; that summer, he sold his boat to fund the writing of The Year of the Hare
The Year of the Hare
The Year of the Hare is a 1975 novel by Finnish author Arto Paasilinna. It tells the story of Kaarlo Vatanen, a frustrated journalist, who, after nearly killing a hare with his car, decides to live with the hare in the wilderness....
. The book was an immediate success and from 1975 on Paasilinna became an independent writer able to support himself with his novels, signed to Finnish publisher WSOY
SanomaWSOY
Sanoma Oyj is a leading media group in the Nordic countries with operations in 20 European countries, based in Helsinki...
since 1977. He still writes journalism articles and has been a columnist on Finnish radio.
In 2000, Paasilinna was included in the 6th edition of literary critic Pekka Tarkka(fi)'s dictionary Suomalaisia nykykirjailijoita ("Finnish Literary Authors", 1st ed. 1967).
In 2002, for Paasilinna's 60th anniversary, journalist Eino Leino published a biography of Paasilinna called Lentojätkä. Arto Paasilinnan elämä" ("The Flight Dude").
The same year Paasilinna published his own autobiography called Yhdeksän unelmaa ("Nine Night's Dream").
Health problems
In 2008 and 2009 while still living in EspooEspoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, Paasilinna was featured in Finnish tabloids for his incoherent behaviour, including reckless driving
Reckless driving
Reckless driving is a major moving traffic violation. As a legal term, it is used within the United States. This offence has been abolished in the United Kingdom and replaced...
. In October 2009 he was rushed to a hospital due to a brain attack. In April 2010 he was moved to a convalescent home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
for recovery, and his son named as his treasurer.
Works
, Paasilinna has published about 12 non-fiction books and 35 novels, with almost one novel each year from 1972 to 2009 (except 1973, 1978, 2002): as his publishers say, "The annual Paasilinna is as much an element of the Finnish autumn as falling birch leaves." He is "constantly being translated into new languages", and 18 of his books have been translated overall into at least 27 languages: the translations beyond neighboring Scandinavian countries include: 16 into German, 11 into French, 8 into Italian, 6 into Dutch, 5 into Spanish, 4 into Korean, and 2 into English, Ukrainian and Catalan. Described as "The brightest star in the Finnish translated-literature firmament" by Finnish newspaper Helsingin SanomatHelsingin Sanomat
Helsingin Sanomat is the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries, owned by Sanoma. Except after certain holidays, it is published daily. In 2008, its daily circulation was 412,421 on weekdays and 468,505 on Sundays...
, his success is claimed as having been "instrumental in generating the current level of interest in books from Finland" by his publisher WSOY.
Paasilinna's books reflect quite common Finnish life, usually from a middle-aged
Middle age
Middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. Various attempts have been made to define this age, which is around the third quarter of the average life span of human beings....
male perspective, and in rural Finland. Fast-paced, light and humorous in style, many of these narratives can be described as picaresque adventure stories with often a satirical angle towards modern life. Certain of his stories have been described as modern fables, such as The Year of the Hare, which sets an ex-journalist's quest for authentic life and values in the Finnish backwoods against the emptiness and meaninglessness of modern consumer society. Vatanen, the hero of this novel, takes an injured young hare with him on his quest, nursing the animal back to health, while his own dissatisfaction with his former urban lifestyle becomes ever more evident.
His 1974 novel Paratiisisaaren Vangit appears as Prisonniers du Paradis. This book is the humorous story of a UN charter that crashes on a deserted Pacific island. The passengers are lumberjacks and other forestry workers, midwives and nurses. As with The Year of the Hare (in French, Le lièvre de Vatanen), the narrator is a journalist. The multinational castaways (Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and English) give Paasilinna ample opportunity to poke fun at issues of language domination and national stereotypes. The castaways set up a cashless society in which the only remuneration comes in the form of a cup of alcohol distilled in their jungle café in exchange for work for the collectivity. There is also a family planning clinic offering free IUDs
Intrauterine device
A copper IUD is a type of intrauterine device. Most IUDs have a plastic T- or U-shaped frame which is wrapped in copper wire, with the exception of Gynefix, which is a plastic string with several copper beads, affixed to the fundus of the uterus...
. Soon, they find that they are not alone on the island and come up with a plan to get help.
Two of his novels, Lentävä kirvesmies and Rovasti Huuskosen petomainen miespalvelija were adapted to graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
s by Hannu Lukkarinen.
In Finnish
Titles in quotes are indicative for untranslated books.Fiction
, his 35 novels are:
- 1972: Operaatio Finlandia ("Operation Finlandia")
- 1974: Paratiisisaaren vangit ("Prisoners of the Paradise Island")
- 1975: Jäniksen vuosi (tr. The Year of the HareThe Year of the HareThe Year of the Hare is a 1975 novel by Finnish author Arto Paasilinna. It tells the story of Kaarlo Vatanen, a frustrated journalist, who, after nearly killing a hare with his car, decides to live with the hare in the wilderness....
, 1995) - 1976: Onnellinen mies ("The Happy Man")
- 1977: Isoisää etsimässä ("Looking for Grandfather")
- 1979: Sotahevonen ("Warhorse")
- 1980: Herranen aika ("Goodness Gracious")
- 1981: Ulvova mylläri (tr. The Howling MillerThe Howling MillerThe Howling Miller is a 1981 novel by the Finnish author Arto Paasilinna. The main character of the novel is the howling miller, who sometimes acts strangely but is otherwise a goodhearted hardworking honest man. He sometimes keeps the villagers up all night by howling and getting all the dogs in...
, 2007) - 1982: Kultainen nousukas ("Golden Climber")
- 1983: Hirtettyjen kettujen metsä ("The Forest of the Hanged Foxes")
- 1984: Ukkosenjumalan poika ("The Son of the Thunder God")
- 1985: Parasjalkainen laivanvarustaja ("Bestfooted Shipwright")
- 1986: Vapahtaja Surunen ("Saviour Surunen")
- 1987: Koikkalainen kaukaa ("Koikkalainen from Far Away")
- 1988: Suloinen myrkynkeittäjä ("The Sweet Poison Cook")
- 1989: Auta armias ("Heaven Help Us")
- 1990: Hurmaava joukkoitsemurha ("A Charming Mass Suicide")
- 1991: Elämä lyhyt, Rytkönen pitkäElämä lyhyt, Rytkönen pitkäElämä lyhyt, Rytkönen pitkä is a 1991 Finnish novel by Arto Paasilinna, While farcical from the title's twist on the original saying onwards, it has a somewhat elegiac mood, an undercurrent of tragedy leavened by humor throughout. A film adaptation of the novel by Ere Kokkonen was released in 1996...
("Life Short, Rytkönen Long") - 1992: Maailman paras kylä ("The Best Village in the World")
- 1993: Aatami ja Eeva ("Adam and Eve")
- 1994: Volomari Volotisen ensimmäinen vaimo ynnä muuta vanhaa tavaraa ("Volomari Volotinen's First Wife and Assorted Other Old Items")
- 1995: Rovasti Huuskosen petomainen miespalvelija ("Reverend Huuskonen's Beastly Manservant")
- 1996: Lentävä kirvesmies ("The Flying Carpenter")
- 1997: Tuomiopäivän aurinko nousee ("Doomsday's Sun Rising")
- 1998: Hirttämättömien lurjusten yrttitarha ("The Herb Garden of the Unhanged Scoundrels")
- 1999: Hirnuva maailmanloppu ("Neighing End of the World")
- 2000: Ihmiskunnan loppulaukka ("Mankind's Final Trot")
- 2001: Kymmenen riivinrautaa ("The Ten Shrews")
- 2003: Liikemies Liljeroosin ilmalaivat ("Airships of Businessman Liljeroos")
- 2004: Tohelo suojelusenkeli ("Goofy Guardian Angel")
- 2005: Suomalainen kärsäkirja ("Finnish Snoutbook")
- 2006: Kylmät hermot, kuuma veri ("Cold Nerves, Hot Blood")
- 2007: Rietas rukousmylly ("Lewd Prayermill")
- 2008: Neitosten karkuretki ("Runaway Trip of the Maidens")
- 2009: Elävänä omissa hautajaisissa ("Alive at His Own Funeral")
Non-fiction
His other books include:
- 1964: Karhunkaataja Ikä-Alpi ("Ikä-Alpi, Bear Hunter") - first book
- 1971: Kansallinen vieraskirja, graffiitti eli vessakirjoituksia - toilet graffiti guide
- 1984: Seitsemän saunahullua suomalaista (tr. Businessman's Guide to the Finnish Sauna, 1984)
- 1986: Kymmenen tuhatta vuotta (tr. Illustrated Episodes in a 10,000-year Odyssey: A Businessman's Guide to Finnish History, 1986)
- 1998: Hankien tarinoita (tr. Tales of the Snowfields: Finnish Skiing Through the Ages, 1998)
- 2002: Yhdeksän unelmaa ("Nine Night's Dreams") - autobiography
- 2003: Sadan vuoden savotta ("One Hundred Years of Logging") - history of Finnish logging
In English
:Fiction
- 1995: The Year of the HareThe Year of the HareThe Year of the Hare is a 1975 novel by Finnish author Arto Paasilinna. It tells the story of Kaarlo Vatanen, a frustrated journalist, who, after nearly killing a hare with his car, decides to live with the hare in the wilderness....
(Jäniksen vuosi, 1975) - 2007: The Howling MillerThe Howling MillerThe Howling Miller is a 1981 novel by the Finnish author Arto Paasilinna. The main character of the novel is the howling miller, who sometimes acts strangely but is otherwise a goodhearted hardworking honest man. He sometimes keeps the villagers up all night by howling and getting all the dogs in...
(Ulvova mylläri, 1981) (tr. Will Hobson from French)
Non-fiction
- 1984: Businessman's Guide to the Finnish Sauna (Seitsemän saunahullua suomalaista, 1984)
- 1986: Illustrated Episodes in a 10,000-year Odyssey: A Businessman's Guide to Finnish History (Kymmenen tuhatta vuotta, 1986)
- 1998: Tales of the Snowfields: Finnish Skiing Through the Ages (Hankien tarinoita, 1998)
Filmography
Many books have been adapted into movies (some dubbed into English), including:- 1977: Jäniksen vuosiJäniksen vuosiThe Year of the Hare is a 1977 Finnish drama film directed by Risto Jarva, starring Antti Litja as a man who leaves his office job in Helsinki to live in the wilderness with a hare...
/ The Year of the Hare (after the 1975 novel) - 1982: Ulvova mylläri / The Howling Miller (after the 1981 novel)
- 1986: Hirtettyjen kettujen metsä (after the 1983 novel)
- 1996: Elämä lyhyt, Rytkönen pitkäElämä lyhyt, Rytkönen pitkäElämä lyhyt, Rytkönen pitkä is a 1991 Finnish novel by Arto Paasilinna, While farcical from the title's twist on the original saying onwards, it has a somewhat elegiac mood, an undercurrent of tragedy leavened by humor throughout. A film adaptation of the novel by Ere Kokkonen was released in 1996...
(after the 1991 novel) - 2000: Hurmaava joukkoitsemurha / A Charming Mass Suicide (after the 1990 novel)
- 2002: Kymmenen riivinrautaa (after the 2001 novel)
- 2006: Le Lièvre de Vatanen (French for "Vatanen's Hare", after the 1975 novel)
External links
- The Arto Paasilinna Society, in English and Swedish, the world's best infosite regarding Arto Paasilinna and his books. Arto Paasilinnan Seura ry (Arto Paasilinna Society)
- Arto Paasilinna at Fantastic Fiction (list of English translations: summary, covers, editions, ISBN)
Reviews in English of untranslated books
- Aatami ja Eeva ("Adam and Eve") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required) - Hirttämättömien lurjusten yrttitarha ("The Herb Garden of the Unhanged Scoundrels") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required) - Hurmaava joukkoitsemurha ("A Charming Mass Suicide") at The Complete Review
- Hurmaava joukkoitsemurha ("An Enchanting Mass Suicide", South-Korean edition) at The Dong-a Ilbo
- Ihmiskunnan loppulaukka ("Mankind's Final Trot") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required) - Kymmenen riivinrautaa ("The Ten Shrews") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required) - Lentävä kirvesmies ("The Flying Carpenter") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required) - Maailman paras kylä ("The Best Village in the World") at The Complete Review
- Paratiisisaaren vangit ("Prisoners of the Paradise Island") at The Complete Review
- Rovasti Huuskosen petomainen miespalvelija ("Reverend Huuskonen's Beastly Manservant") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required) - Tuomiopäivän aurinko nousee ("The Doomsday Sun Rises") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required) - Volomari Volotisen ensimmäinen vaimo ("Volomari Volotinen's First Wife") at World Literature TodayWorld Literature TodayWorld Literature Today is an American magazine, published bimonthly at the University of Oklahoma. It was founded in 1927 by Roy Temple House as Books Abroad. In January 1977, the journal became World Literature Today...
(via Article Archives, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
required)