author
Kasperi Tanttu
1886–1918
A self-taught Finnish writer and poet with a bohemian streak, he moved between working-class and bourgeois circles and left behind work that still feels unusual and bold. His life was cut short in 1918, giving his writing an added sense of urgency and historical weight.
1 Audiobook
Sonetteja
by Kasperi Tanttu
About the author
Born in Hirvensalmi in 1886, Kasperi Tanttu was a Finnish writer, poet, and journalist. He was known as a bohemian figure who moved across social worlds, spending time in both labor and middle-class circles.
Despite limited formal schooling, he built a literary life for himself and published work including poetry and fiction. His writing has drawn continued interest for its individuality and for the way it brought literary culture to new readers.
Tanttu died in Kouvola in May 1918, when he was only 31. His short life and turbulent times have made him a striking, tragic figure in Finnish literary history.