Toini Topelius

Born in Helsinki on March 14, 1854, Toini Mathilda Topelius was the daughter of the writer Zachris Topelius. She wrote in Swedish and Finnish and became known especially for literature for children and young people, while also working as a journalist.

Topelius edited the Swedish-language children's magazine Nya Trollsländan in the 1880s and early 1890s, and she also published the Finnish-language magazine Tilhi. Her first youth novel, I utvecklingstid, appeared in 1890, followed by other books in the years that followed. She also wrote fairy-tale plays, reviews, travel letters, and articles on current issues, including the women's movement.

Her hearing weakened over time, and she devoted herself largely to literary work. She died in Ljans, Norway, on October 24, 1910. Today she is remembered as an early and important voice in Finnish girls' and youth literature.