author
Kustaa Killinen
1849–1922
A Finnish writer, teacher, and public figure, he combined literature with a long career in education and civic life. His work is tied not only to books and plays, but also to the development of schooling in Finland.
2 Audiobooks
Puijolla : Laulunsekainen näytelmä
by Kustaa Killinen
Sanajalkoja: Vihkonen runoelmia
by Kustaa Killinen
About the author
Born on September 7, 1849, in Isokyrö, Kustaa Killinen was a Finnish schoolteacher, writer, and politician. He was also known earlier by the surname Waismaa, and sources connect him closely with Kuopio, where he spent much of his later life and died on January 5, 1922.
Alongside his literary work, Killinen served in education and became head of the school for the deaf in Kuopio. He also took part in public life through the Young Finnish Party, serving first in the Diet of Finland and later in the Parliament of Finland.
His writing career included poetry and drama, and his books remain available through public-domain collections such as Project Gutenberg. That mix of teaching, writing, and public service gives his life story an unusually broad appeal: he was a man of letters, but also someone deeply involved in the institutions of his time.