Mika Waltari

Born in Helsinki on September 19, 1908, Mika Waltari became one of Finland’s most widely read authors. He studied theology, literature, and philosophy at the University of Helsinki, and from early on he wrote with unusual range and energy across novels, poetry, plays, essays, travel writing, and film scripts.

He first drew attention with early modern novels about young people coming of age between the world wars, but his greatest international success came with The Egyptian (Sinuhe egyptiläinen), published in 1945. That novel made him famous far beyond Finland and established his reputation for vivid historical storytelling.

Waltari remained remarkably productive throughout a career that lasted more than four decades. Alongside his historical fiction, he also wrote detective stories and other popular works, showing a rare ability to be both literary and widely accessible. He died in Helsinki on August 26, 1979, but his novels continue to find new readers in translation.