This is a list of women writers who were born in

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

or whose writings are closely associated with the country.

A

Uma Aaltonen Ulla-Maija "Uma" Aaltonen (28 August 1940, Vihti – 13 July 2009, Helsinki) was a Finnish people, Finnish author, journalist, and Green League politician. Early life and education Aaltonen was raised on a farm and learned to love animals ...

(1940–2009), author, journalist, politician *

Umayya Abu-Hanna Umayya Abu-Hanna (born 17 March 1961) is a Palestinian-Finnish writer, journalist, and former member of the Helsinki City Council born in Haifa, Haifa, Israel into a Palestinian family. She moved to Finland in 1981. In 2011, she moved to Amsterda ...

(born 1961), Palestinian-born novelist, journalist * Susanna Alakoski (born 1962), novelist, author of '' Svinalängorna'', filmed as ''

Beyond Beyond may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Beyond'' (1921 film), an American silent film * ''Beyond'' (2000 film), a Danish film directed by Åke Sandgren, OT: ''Dykkerne'' * ''Beyond'' (2010 film), a Swedish film directed b ...

'' * Outi Alanne (born 1967), novelist using the pen name NeitiNaru *

Marianne Alopaeus Marianne Alopaeus (9 October 1918 – 10 November 2014) was a Finland, Finnish-born writer who published in Swedish language, Swedish. Biography Marianne Rosenbröijer was born in Ekenäs, Finland, Ekenäs in southern Finland on 9 October 1918.

(1918–2014), novelist, published in Swedish * Tuuve Aro (born 1973), novelist, short story writer, children's writer, several English translations * Isa Asp (1853–1872), poet

B

* Kersti Bergroth (1886–1975), novelist, poet, playwright, children's story writer, wrote in both Swedish and Finnish * Christina Regina von Birchenbaum, Finland's earliest female poet writing her autobiographical ''Een Annor Ny wijsa'' in 1651 * Anni Blomqvist (1909–1990), Swedish-language novelist, several autobiographical works

C

Minna Canth Minna Canth (; born Ulrika Wilhelmina Johnson; 19 March 1844 – 12 May 1897) was a Finnish writer and social activist. Canth began to write while managing her family draper's shop and living as a widow raising seven children. Her work addresse ...

(1844–1897), important figure in Finnish literature, playwright, novelist, short story writer, addressed women's rights *

Kristina Carlson Kristina Carlson (born 31 July 1949 in Helsinki), also known by her pen name Mari Lampinen, is a Finnish novelist, poet and writer. Her novels include ''Maan ääreen'', ''Herra Darwinin puutarhuri'' and ''William N. Päiväkirja''. She has also w ...

(born 1949), novelist, poet, journalist * Fredrika Wilhelmina Carstens (1808–1888), writer, the author of the first novel published in Finland * Inga-Brita Castrén (1919–2003), theologian

E

Anna Edelheim Anna Christina Charlotta Edelheim (3 January 1845, Helsinki – 25 May 1902, Helsinki), was a Finnish journalist. She is considered to be one of the first female journalists in Finland.Suomen kansallisbiografia (National Biography of Finland) Li ...

(1845–1902), journalist *

Adelaïde Ehrnrooth Lovisa Adelaïde Ehrnrooth (17 January 1826 – 31 May 1905) was a Finland, Finnish feminist and writer. Adelaïde Ehrnrooth was born in Nastola, one of the 16 children of an aristocratic family.''Suomen kulttuurihistoria'', p. 59. Editor in ch ...

(1826–1905), novelist, poet, short story writer, feminist * Elsa Enäjärvi-Haavio (1901–1951), folklorist and educator

F

Tua Forsström Tua Birgitta Forsström (born 2 April 1947) is a Finland-Swedish writer who writes in Swedish. She was awarded the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 1998 for the poetry collection '' Efter att ha tillbringat en natt bland hästar''. Forsström's ...

(born 1947), Swedish-language poet, translated into English *

Maikki Friberg Maria (Maikki) Elisabeth Friberg (1861–1927) was a Finnish educator, journal editor, suffragist and peace activist. She is remembered for her involvement in the Finnish women's movement, especially as chair of the Finnish women's rights organisa ...

(1861–1927), educator, writer, journal editor, suffragist and peace activist

G

Kaarina Goldberg Kaarina Goldberg (born January 28, 1956) is a Finnish author and journalist who lives in Vienna. She is best known for her children's books ''Petokylän Ilona Ilves'', ''Rämäpäinen robotti'' and her comic strip ''Senni ja Safira'' in the Finni ...

(born 1956), children's writer, also comic strips

H

* Hilja Haapala, pen name of Hilja Dagmar Janhonen (1877–1958), novelist *

Lucina Hagman Lucina Hagman (5 June 1853, Kälviä – 6 September 1946) was an early Finnish feminist and among the first female MPs in the world due to the 1907 Finnish parliamentary election. Life and career Hagman was the daughter of police master Nils Jo ...

(1853–1946), feminist, biographer *

Helinä Häkkänen-Nyholm Helinä Häkkänen (formerly Häkkänen-Nyholm; born 26 April 1971 in Helsinki) is a Finnish psychologist who has studied narcissism and psychopathy and wrote the first Finnish textbook on the subject, ''Psykopatia''. Working as both a criminal psy ...

(born 1971), forensic psychologist *

Helvi Hämäläinen Helvi Hämäläinen (16 June 1907 – 17 January 1998) was a Finnish writer who published dozens of books of prose and poetry during her six decade writing career. Biography Helvi Heleena Hämäläinen was born in Hamina, 16 June 1907. She moved ...

(1907–1998), prolific novelist, short story writer, poet *

Virpi Hämeen-Anttila Virpi Hämeen-Anttila (born 15 October 1958 in Espoo) is a Finnish writer, translator, and researcher. She was the recipient of the Eino Leino Prize in 2002 along with her husband Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila, for their work in translating and promoti ...

(born 1958), best-selling novelist, translator, non-fiction writer, educator *

Anne Hänninen Anne Hänninen (born 7 February 1958 in Rautalampi) is a Finnish poet, essayist An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an ...

(born 1958), poet, essayist *

Anna-Leena Härkönen Anna-Leena Härkönen (born 10 April 1965) is a Finnish writer and actress. She was born in Liminka and studied acting at the college of drama and the University of Tampere's program of drama studies, which she concluded in 1989. She won the J. ...

(born 1965), novelist, actress, works adapted for the theatre and television * Saima Harmaja (1913–1937), poet, known for her tragic life and early death *

Satu Hassi Satu Maijastiina Hassi (born 3 June 1951) is a Finnish politician, and former Member of the European Parliament for the Green League. She served as the Minister of Environment and Development Co-Operation in Paavo Lipponen's second cabinet betw ...

(born 1951), politician, environmentalist, novelist, poet, essayist * Pirjo Hassinen (born 1957), novelist, works translated into several languages * Anna-Liisa Hirviluoto (1929–2000), archaeologist, non-fiction writer * Laila Hirvisaari, also Laila Hietamies (1938–2021), best-selling novelist, short story writer, playwright *

Elina Hirvonen Elina Hirvonen (born 1975, Helsinki) is a Finnish writer, journalist and documentary film-maker. She was educated at the Helsinki University of Art and Design, and also the University of Turku, where she studied literature in the Faculty of Humani ...

(born 1975), novelist, journalist, author of ''Että hän muistaisi saman'', translated as ''When I Forgot *

Sofia Hjärne Gustafva Sofia Hjärne (4 July 1780 – 6 December 1860), was a Finnish baroness, writer and salon holder. Biography Gustafva Sofia Rosenborg was born in Sweden, the daughter of Anders Rosenborg and Christina Charlotta Funck. In 1801 Sofia Ro ...

(1780–1860), early Swedish-language novelist, held literary salons * Johanna Holmström (born 1981), short story writer, novelist, writes in Swedish

I

* Lempi Ikävalko (1901–1994), poet, journalist, latterly in the United States

J

Tove Jansson Tove Marika Jansson (; 9 August 1914 – 27 June 2001) was a Swedish-speaking population of Finland, Swedish-speaking Finnish author, novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. Brought up by artistic parents, Jansson studied art from ...

(1914–2001), versatile Swedish-language novelist, comic strip writer, children's writer, painter * Eeva Joenpelto (1921–2004), productive novelist, educator * Maria Jotuni (1921–2004), novelist, playwright, short-story writer

K

* Sirpa Kähkönen (born 1964), novelist, author of the Kuopio series of historical novels *

Elina Kahla Elina Kahla is a Finnish philologist and academic who works at the Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki. She was the former President of the St. Petersburg EUNIC in 2015-2016 and Director of the Finnish Institute in St. Petersburg ...

(born 1960), philologist, essayist, non-fiction writer *

Hilda Käkikoski Hilda Maria Käkikoski (31 January 1864 – 14 November 1912) was a Finnish politician, writer and schoolteacher. She was one of the first nineteen women elected to Finnish parliament in 1907. Life and career Käkikoski was born Hilda Maria Sj� ...

(1864–1912), politician, children's writer, historian *

Aino Kallas Aino Krohn Kallas (2 August 1878 – 9 November 1956) was a Finnish-Estonian author. Her novellas are considered to be prominent pieces of Finnish literature.Tuula Kallioniemi (born 1951), prolific writer of novels and short stories for children and young adults * Irma Karvikko (1909–1994), journalist, politician * Eeva Kilpi (born 1928), novelist, poet, known for feminist humour, poetry translated into English * Ella Kivikoski (1901–1990), archaeologist, non-fiction writer *

Leena Krohn Leena Krohn (born February 28, 1947 in Helsinki) is a Finnish author. Her large and varied body of work includes novels, short stories, children's books, and essays. In her books she deals with topics that include man's relationship with himself a ...

(born 1947), novelist, works translated into several languages including English *

Kirsi Kunnas Kirsi Marjatta Kunnas (14 December 1924 – 8 November 2021) was a Finnish poet, children's literature author and translator into Finnish. Her oeuvre consists of poems, fairy tale books, drama, translations (e.g. Lewis Carroll, Federico Garcí ...

(1924–2021), poet, children's writer, playwright, translator, some works translated into English

L

* Sinikka Laine (born 1945), novelist, short story writer, writer of young adult fiction *

Leena Lander Leena Lander (born 25 October 1955, in Turku) is a Finnish author. She grew up in Turku, in a boys' home that her father ran. In 1992, she won the Thanks for the Book Award for ''Tummien perhosten koti'' (The Home of the Dark Butterflies), which ...

(born 1955), successful novelist, works translated into several languages including English *

Tuija Lehtinen Tuija Lehtinen (born 12 December 1954 in Helsinki) is a Finnish writer. In 1973 she graduated from high school in Kuopio, then in 1978 graduated with a BS from the University of Oulu, majoring in statistics. Lehtinen was a freelance journalist f ...

(born 1954), journalist, novelist, works translated into several languages *

Leena Lehtolainen Leena Katriina Lehtolainen (born 11 March 1964) is a Finnish crime novelist, best known for her series of novels about the policewoman Maria Kallio. Lehtolainen was born in Vesanto, Northern Savonia. Her first novel was released when she was o ...

(born 1964), widely translated crime fiction writer *

Anne Leinonen Anne Leinonen (born 1973 in Juva) is a Finnish science fiction and fantasy writer who has received the Atorox Award and was a co-nominee for the 2012 Tähtivaeltaja Award. Anne Leinonen studied geography at Helsinki University The Univers ...

(born 1973), novelist, science fiction and fantasy *

Rosa Liksom Rosa Liksom (born Anni Ylävaara, Ylitornio, 7 January 1958) is a Finnish writer and artist. She studied anthropology and social sciences at the universities of Helsinki, Copenhagen and Moscow. She won the J. H. Erkko Award in 1985 for her debut ...

(born 1958), novelist, short story writer, children's writer, artist *

Irmelin Sandman Lilius Rut Irmelin Sandman Lilius (born 14 June 1936) is a Swedish-speaking Finnish writer. Biography Irmelin Sandman was born in Helsinki. Her first book, , was published in 1955. She has written picture books and novels for children as well as books f ...

(born 1936), writer of picture books and novels for children as well as books for adults and poetry * Minna Lindgren (born 1963), journalist, since 2013 a successful crime-fiction novelist *

Marita Lindquist Marita Elisabeth Lindquist (née Gustafson; 10 November 1918 – 7 June 2016) was a Finnish author of many children's books. Born in Helsinki, she was of the Swedish-speaking population of Finland. In addition, she had written song lyrics L ...

(1918–2016), children's writer, novelist, songwriter, poet *

Katri Lipson Katri Lipson (born 1965 in Helsinki) is a Finnish writer and doctor. She studied medicine at Uppsala University, graduating in 1993. Since then, she has worked as a doctor in Finland, Sweden and Kenya. Her debut novel ''Cosmonaut'' (''Kosmonautti ...

(born 1965), novelist * Kiba Lumberg (born 1956), novelist, screenwriter for television *

Ulla-Lena Lundberg Ulla-Lena Lundberg (born 14 July 1947, Kökar, Åland) is a Finland-Swedish author living in Porvoo, Finland. Her Swedish-language books have been translated into several languages, including Finnish, Danish, German, Russian and Dutch. Biography ...

(born 1947), Swedish-language writer, non-fiction, travel, often autobiographical novels

M

Eeva-Liisa Manner Eeva-Liisa Manner (5 December 1921 – 7 July 1995) was a Finnish poet, playwright and translator. Biography She was born in Helsinki, 5 December 1921, but spent her youth in Vyborg (Viipuri). Manner started as a poet in 1944 with ''Mustaa ja ...

(1921–1995), modernist poet, playwright, translator, poems translated into English * Marja-Leena Mikkola (born 1939), novelist, short story writer, poet, songwriter, satirist, translator * Barbara Catharina Mjödh (1738–1776), poet * Eva Moltesen (1871–1934), Finnish-Danish writer and peace activist * Agatha Lovisa de la Myle (1724–1787), poet, wrote in German and Latvian

N

* Mikaela Nyman (born 1966), novelist, poet, journalist and editor published in Swedish and English * Carita Nyström (1940–2019), Swedish-speaking writer and feminist

O

Sofi Oksanen Sofi-Elina Oksanen (born 7 January 1977) is a Finnish writer and playwright. Oksanen has published six novels, of which "Purge" has gained the widest recognition. She has received several international and domestic awards for her literary work ...

(born 1977), best-selling novelist, playwright, internationally recognized through her play ''Puhdistus'', translated as ''Purge'' * Hagar Olsson (1893–1978), expressionist novelist, playwright, critic, translator

P

Kirsti Paltto Kirste (Kirsti) Paltto (born 11 February 1947) is a Sámi The Sámi ( ; also spelled Sami or Saami) are a Finno-Ugric-speaking people inhabiting the region of Sápmi (formerly known as Lapland), which today encompasses large northern part ...

(born 1947),

Sámi The Sámi ( ; also spelled Sami or Saami) are a Finno-Ugric-speaking people inhabiting the region of Sápmi (formerly known as Lapland), which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and of the Murmansk Oblast, Rus ...

author, children's writer, poet, short story writer, playwright, works translated into several languages * Eila Pennanen (1916–1994), novelist, critic, translator * Kira Poutanen (born 1974), novelist, translator, actress *

Helvi Poutasuo Helvi Nuorgam-Poutasuo (October 15, 1943 – July 16, 2017) was a Sámi teacher, translator, and newspaper editor as well as a politician and a Sámi cultural influencer. She was the first lecturer in Northern Sámi at the University of Oulu. Biogr ...

(1943–2017), Finnish Sami teacher, translator and newspaper editor * Riikka Pulkkinen (born 1980), widely translated, novelist, columnist

R

* Elsa Rautee (1807–1879), poet, songwriter *

Mirkka Rekola Mirkka Elina Rekola (26 June 1931 – 5 February 2014) was a Finnish writer from Tampere who published poems, aphorisms, essays. Her poetry was considered ‘difficult’, thus she gained wide audience as late as in the 1990s. Rekola's production ...

(1931–2014), highly acclaimed poet, writer of aphorisms * Hanna Rönnberg (1862–1946), painter and writer * Fredrika Runeberg (1807–1879), novelist, pioneer of Finnish historical fiction, wife of national poet

Johan Ludvig Runeberg Johan Ludvig Runeberg (; 5 February 1804 – 6 May 1877) was a Finnish priest, lyric and epic poet. He wrote exclusively in Swedish. He is considered a national poet of Finland. He is the author of the lyrics to (''Our Land'', ''Maamme'' in Fin ...

* Kaisu-Mirjami Rydberg (1905–1959), journalist, newspaper editor, poet, non-fiction writer, politician

S

Pirkko Saisio Pirkko Helena Saisio (born 16 April 1949) is a Finnish author, actress and director. She has also written under the pen names Jukka Larsson and Eva Wein. Saisio has a broad literary output, dealing with many kinds of texts from film screenplays ...

(born 1949), prolific versatile writer, playwright, novelist, screenwriter * Sally Salminen (1906–1976), Swedish-language novelist, author of ''

Katrina Katrina or Katrine may refer to: People * Katrina (given name) * Katrine (given name) Meteorology * List of storms named Katrina, a list of tropical cyclones designated as Katrina ** Hurricane Katrina, an exceptionally powerful Atlantic hurrican ...

'' * Solveig von Schoultz (1907–1996), Swedish-language poet, novelist, dramatist * Raija Siekkinen (1953–2004), short story writer, novelist, children's writer * Maria Simointytär, first Finnish-language poet, published ''Orpolapsen vaikerrus'' in 1683 * Salla Simukka (born 1981), successful young adults author, name a name with ''The Snow White Trilogy'' * Helena Sinervo (born 1961), poet, poetry translator, novelist, songwriter *

Johanna Sinisalo Aila Johanna Sinisalo is a Finnish science fiction and fantasy writer. She studied comparative literature and drama, amongst other subjects, at the University of Tampere. Professionally she worked in the advertising business, rising to the leve ...

(born 1958), science-fiction writer, author of ''Ennen päivänlaskua ei voi'' translated as '' Not Before Sundown'' * Anja Snellman (born 1954), widely translated novelist, poet, journalist, her ''Pet Shop Girls'' appeared in English in 2013 *

Edith Södergran Edith Irene Södergran (4 April 1892 – 24 June 1923) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish poet. One of the first modernists within Swedish-language literature, her influences came from French Symbolism, German expressionism, and Russian fu ...

(1892–1923), widely acclaimed Swedish-language modernist poet, translated into English *

Katariina Souri Katariina Souri (born Minna Katariina "Kata" Kärkkäinen; 27 October 1968) is a Finnish author, artist, columnist and '' Playboy's'' Playmate of the Month for December, 1988. She has been a writer after her brief Playboy career. On January 25, ...

(born 1968), novelist * Eira Stenberg (born 1943), poet, children's writer, novelist * Anni Swan (1875–1958), children's writer for girls, journalist and translator *

Catharina Charlotta Swedenmarck Catharina Charlotta Swedenmarck (29 January 1744, Stockholm - 1813 Sundsbergs gård, Kyrkslätt), was a Swedish-Finnish writer and poet. Her play ''Dianas fest'' (The Feast of Diana) from 1775 is referred to as the first original work of its kind ...

(1744–1813), Swedish-language poet, playwright, remembered for her pioneering play ''Dianas fest''

T

Maila Talvio Maila Talvio née Winter, married Mikkola (October 17, 1871, Hartola – January 6, 1951, Helsinki), was a Finnish writer. Talvio was a leading Finnish writer on the temperance question and several of her works were translated into Swedish and o ...

(1871–1951), playwright, short story writer, novelist * Eeva Tikka (born 1939), novelist *

Märta Tikkanen Märta Eleonora Tikkanen (born 3 April 1935) is a Swedish-speaking Finnish writer. Biography Born in Helsinki, she has worked as a reporter for ''Hufvudstadsbladet'' from 1956 to 1961. She graduated from the University of Helsinki, Master of A ...

(born 1935), Swedish-language novelist, journalist, author of ''

Manrape ''Manrape'' ( sv, Män kan inte våldtas, ) is a 1975 novel by Märta Tikkanen. The book launched Tikkanen's career and placed her in the centre of an ongoing debate about gender roles in the Nordic countries. The book was made into the 1978 fi ...

'' *

Aale Tynni Aale Maria Tynni-Haavio (3 October 1913 – 21 October 1997) was a Finnish poet and translator. She is best known for editing and translating European poetry ranging from the Middle Ages into Finnish in a comprehensive anthology of entitle ...

(1913–1997), poet, translator, editor

U

Kaari Utrio Kaari Marjatta Utrio (born 28 July 1942, official surname Utrio-Linnilä, formerly Virkajärvi) is a Finnish writer. She has written over 35 historical novels and 13 non-fiction books on historical topics. She is a historian, holding the degree ...

(born 1942), historical novelist, historian * Arja Uusitalo (born 1951), poet, journalist

V

Katri Vala Katri Vala (1901–1944) was a Finnish poet, critic, school teacher, and central member of the literary group Tulenkantajat (The Fire Bearers) with Olavi Paavolainen, Elina Vaara, Lauri Viljanen, Ilmari Pimiä, Viljo Kajava, and Yrjö Jylhä. ...

(1901–1944), poet, critic, attacked war and Fascism * Marja-Liisa Vartio (1924–1966), poet and prose writer * Monica Vikström-Jokela (born 1960), children's writer, television script writer * Kerttu Vuolab (born 1951), Sami-language novelist, songwriter, translator

W

Sara Wacklin Sara Elizabeth Wacklin (26 May 1790 – 28 January 1846) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish educator and writer. She was a pioneer in educating girls, and can be regarded as the first female university graduate in Finland. She can also be regarded ...

(1790–1846), Swedish-language writer, author of the successful novel ''Hundrade minnen från Österbotten'' (A Hundred Memories of Ostrobothnia) *

Helena Westermarck Helena Charlotta Westermarck (20 November 1857, Helsinki – 5 April 1938, Helsinki) was a Finnish artist and writer (belonging to Swedish-speaking population of Finland). She is known for her pioneering biographies of women. Biography Westerma ...

(1857–1938), artist, Swedish-language women's historian, biographer, novelist * Sara Wesslin (born 1991), Finnish Sami journalist, supporter of the Skolt Sami language *

Hella Wuolijoki Hella Wuolijoki (née Ella Marie Murrik; 22 July 1886 – 2 February 1954), also known by the pen name Juhani Tervapää, was an Estonian-born Finnish writer known for her ''Niskavuori'' series.Wuolijoki, Hella. Eesti Entsüklopeedia 10. Estonian ...

(1886–1954), Estonian-born Finnish-language novelist, politician, used the pen name Juhani Tervapää

References

{{Lists of women writers by nationality - Finnish women writers, List of

Writers A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, plays ...

Women writers, List of Finnish

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