Hella Wuolijoki
Encyclopedia
Hella Wuolijoki was a Finnish writer of Estonian origin, known for her Niskavuori series.
, Estonia
.
In 1908, she married Sulo Vuolijoki, who was a personal friend of Lenin. They divorced in 1923. Later in her life Wuolijoki started writing her name with the letter W.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Wuolijoki had a literary and political salon
that discussed culture and promoted left-wing ideas. She was however not openly communist during those years. Nevertheless, she had secret connections with Cheka
. The Finnish police suspected her of being an illegal resident spy, but there was no solid proof until 1943, when she was arrested for hiding a Soviet paratrooper spy and was sentenced to life imprisonment. She was released in 1944 after the ceasefire that ended the Continuation War
.
Wuolijoki was a member of the Finnish Parliament
and the head of the SKDL parliamentary group from 1946 to 1947. Wuolijoki also served as the director of the national broadcasting company, YLE, from 1945 to 1949.
She died in Helsinki
, Finland
, in 1954.
Hella Wuolijoki wrote several books under the male pseudonym
Juhani Tervapää, characterized by strong female characters. She also wrote a couple of books in collaboration with the author Bertolt Brecht
, including Mr Puntila and his Man Matti
.
. Salme Dutt
, an influential figure in the British Communist movement, was Wuolijoki's sister.
Life & career
Wuolijoki was born in HelmeHelme, Estonia
Helme is a small borough in Helme Parish, Valga County, in southern Estonia. It's located only northwest of the town of Tõrva by the Valga–Pärnu road . Helme has a population of 182 ....
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
In 1908, she married Sulo Vuolijoki, who was a personal friend of Lenin. They divorced in 1923. Later in her life Wuolijoki started writing her name with the letter W.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Wuolijoki had a literary and political salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
that discussed culture and promoted left-wing ideas. She was however not openly communist during those years. Nevertheless, she had secret connections with Cheka
Cheka
Cheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
. The Finnish police suspected her of being an illegal resident spy, but there was no solid proof until 1943, when she was arrested for hiding a Soviet paratrooper spy and was sentenced to life imprisonment. She was released in 1944 after the ceasefire that ended 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...
.
Wuolijoki was a member of the Finnish Parliament
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
and the head of the SKDL parliamentary group from 1946 to 1947. Wuolijoki also served as the director of the national broadcasting company, YLE, from 1945 to 1949.
She died in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
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...
, in 1954.
Hella Wuolijoki wrote several books under the male pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Juhani Tervapää, characterized by strong female characters. She also wrote a couple of books in collaboration with the author Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
, including Mr Puntila and his Man Matti
Mr Puntila and his Man Matti
Mr Puntila and his Man Matti is an epic comedy by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. It was written in 1940 and first performed in 1948....
.
Family
Hella Wuolijoki was the grandmother of the Finnish politician and current Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki TuomiojaErkki Tuomioja
Erkki Sakari Tuomioja is the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs. He is currently a member of the Finnish Parliament.Tuomioja is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, although his political views are thought to be more to the left than the party line. He is also a member of ATTAC...
. Salme Dutt
Salme Dutt
Salme Dutt was an Estonian-born British communist politician, wife of Rajani Palme Dutt.The Finnish-Estonian author Hella Wuolijoki was her elder sister...
, an influential figure in the British Communist movement, was Wuolijoki's sister.