author

Harald Selmer-Geeth

1853–1913

Best known for the novel behind the enduring Finnish favorite Siltalan pehtoori, this Finnish-Swedish writer published only two books, yet left a lasting mark on Finnish literary history. Writing under the pen name Harald Selmer-Geeth, he also produced what is often described as Finland’s first detective novel.

1 Audiobook

Siltalan pehtori

Siltalan pehtori

by Harald Selmer-Geeth

About the author

Born in Vyborg on November 26, 1853, he was the Finnish-Swedish jurist and writer Werner August Örn, who used Harald Selmer-Geeth as his pen name. He studied law and later served as the city’s judicial mayor, following a civic path that echoed his family background.

Örn wrote two novels under that pseudonym: Inspektorn på Siltala (1903) and Min första bragd (1904). Inspektorn på Siltala was warmly received and later became widely known in Finnish as Siltalan pehtoori, while Min första bragd is often noted as the first Finnish detective novel.

His best-known work lived on far beyond the page. Siltalan pehtoori became a popular stage work, inspired film adaptations, and remained familiar to Finnish audiences for decades. He died on September 4, 1913.