Rafaël Hertzberg

Born in Turku on September 18, 1845, and later active in Helsinki, Rafaël Hertzberg was a Finland-Swedish writer, translator, historian, and publicist. He is especially remembered for retelling and translating Finnish literature and folklore, helping introduce works such as folk tales, the Kalevala, and the Kanteletar to a wider Swedish-speaking audience.

He also worked as a literary and art critic for Helsingfors Dagblad and took a strong interest in history and scholarship. His doctoral work dealt with superstition in 17th-century Finland, showing the same curiosity about Finnish culture that runs through his literary work.

Hertzberg's life was unusually varied even by 19th-century standards. Alongside writing, he was involved in business and invention, and is noted for creating a coin-changing device called the "Likvidator," patented in 1895. He died in Helsinki on December 5, 1896, leaving behind a body of work that connects literature, folklore, and cultural history.