author
Martti Haavio
1899–1973
A major Finnish poet and folklorist, he wrote lyrical, distinctive poetry under the pen name P. Mustapää while also helping shape the study of Finnish mythology and oral tradition. His work moves between scholarship and imagination, making him an especially fascinating figure in twentieth-century Finnish literature.
2 Audiobooks
Laulu vaakalinnusta : Runoja
by Martti Haavio
Laulu Ihanista silmistä : Runoja
by Martti Haavio
About the author
Born in Temmes, Finland, in 1899, Martti Haavio became known both as a scholar and as a creative writer. He published poetry under the name P. Mustapää, a pen name closely associated with his literary reputation, while his academic work focused on folklore, mythology, and the study of religion.
Haavio studied at the University of Helsinki and later worked there as a docent and professor in folklore studies. His research and writing helped deepen understanding of Finnish traditional poetry, mythic themes, and the older layers of Nordic and Finno-Ugric belief.
Alongside his academic career, he remained an important literary voice, remembered for bringing a poet's sensitivity to subjects that many people knew mainly through scholarship. He died in Helsinki in 1973, leaving behind a legacy that connects Finnish literature, folklore, and myth in a rare and memorable way.