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 of Master of Arts from the
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin yliopisto, sv, Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH) is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turku (in Swedish ''Åbo'') in 1640 as the ...
, and has retired from the position of Professor in service of the Finnish State Commission of Fine Arts.
Personal history
Kaari Utrio was born in
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of . The city ...
to a middle-class family. Her father was , who after the
Winter War
The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...
worked as
CEO of
Tammi, a Finnish
publishing company
Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...
. Her mother
Meri Marjatta Utrio (née Vitikainen) worked as an editor, journalist and a translator of works into
Finnish
Finnish may refer to:
* Something or someone from, or related to Finland
* Culture of Finland
* Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland
* Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people
* Finnish cuisine
See also ...
. There were over four thousand books (100 meters) in Utrio's childhood home in Tapiola, Espoo, and literature was greatly valued in her family.
Utrio became acquainted with literature at a young age, when her mother read her classics of world literature, such as
Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much o ...
and
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
as bed-time stories. At the age of seven, the first book Utrio read by herself was a thick volume of ''Jokamiehen maailmanhistoria'' (''World History for the Everyman''). At school Utrio did well, also in composition writing, even though she did not have any plans to become a writer at the time. Instead she wanted to become a researcher of history.
Carl Grimberg
Carl Gustaf Grimberg (22 September 1875 in Gothenburg, Sweden – 11 June 1941 in Djursholm
Djursholm () is one of four suburban districts in, and the seat of Danderyd Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden. Djursholm is included in the multi-mu ...
's ''Kansojen historia'' (''History of Peoples'') offered a lively description of history to the young Utrio.
Utrio
matriculated
Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination.
Australia
In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...
in 1962 from
Helsingin tyttölukio, a girls-only prep school college. After that, she studied history at the
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin yliopisto, sv, Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH) is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turku (in Swedish ''Åbo'') in 1640 as the ...
and graduated as a Master of Arts in 1967, History of Finland and Scandinavia as her major subject and General history as minor.
Utrio had focused on medieval history and held intentions to contribute to research of Finnish Middle Ages. The following year, Utrio published her first novel ''Kartanonherra ja kaunis Kirstin'' (''The Lord of the Manor and the Beautiful Kirstin''), which was published by Tammi. The title was given by the publisher, and Utrio did not like it herself.
The book was, however, a start for Utrio's numerous other historical novels, which have so far been published at a steady pace, usually one per year. Utrio has also published many non-fiction books about history.
Utrio has three children, all sons: Karri Virkajärvi (born 1969), Antti Virkajärvi (born 1971) and Lauri "Lasse" Linnilä (born 1976). In 1974 Utrio married
. The next year, they moved to
Somerniemi in
Somero
Somero () is a town and municipality of Finland. It is part of the Southwest Finland region in the province of Western Finland, located northeast of Salo, east of Turku and northwest of Helsinki. The municipality has a population of () and cov ...
. At first, the couple tried their hand at self-sufficient
agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...
, but gave it up after a couple of years. Instead, in 1982, Utrio and Linnilä founded a publishing company called . Amanita became a
family corporation
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideal ...
, because Meri Utrio worked there, and later also Lasse Lauri Linnilä and his wife (Sari) joined the staff.
Utrio has been active in several organisations. She has been the chairman of the
Minna Canth Society
Minna is a city in Middle Belt Nigeria. It is the capital city of Niger State, one of Nigeria's 36 federal states. It consists of two major ethnic groups: the Gbagyi and the Nupe.
History
Archaeological evidence suggests settlement in th ...
from 1999. Utrio is a member of
Amnesty International and has been on the board of the
Finnish Association of Writers
Finnish may refer to:
* Something or someone from, or related to Finland
* Culture of Finland
* Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland
* Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people
* Finnish cuisine
See also ...
for several years.
She has also been active in municipal politics as a non-committed member of the
Social Democratic group of the Somero municipal government from 1980 to 1988, and the chair of the municipality's committee for library and culture. Her efforts to secure the election of a female President for the Republic of Finland had been remarkable: after making volunteer work in 1994 campaign for
Elisabeth Rehn
Märta Elisabeth Rehn (; born 6 April 1935) is a Finnish former politician and diplomat. She served as the Minister of Defence of Finland during 1990 to 1995 and as an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations during 1998 to 1999. She was al ...
(who almost won, i.e. lost the 1994 presidential election by small margin), in 1999 professor Utrio joined the campaign for
Tarja Halonen
Tarja Kaarina Halonen (; born 24 December 1943) is a Finnish politician who served as the 11th president of Finland, and the first woman to hold the position, from 2000 to 2012. She first rose to prominence as a lawyer with the Central Organisa ...
, serving in 1999–2000 and anew in 2005–2006 as Chairperson of the non-party-committed Political Action Citizenry Delegation (PAC) for Tarja Halonen's success (Halonen got elected in 2000 and again on 2006). Utrio has also given many lectures in many events all around Finland.
Utrio was appointed an artistic professor for the years 1995 to 2000, which was a recognition for her work. Utrio has been an academic in the since 2000. She was awarded the in 2002 for her life's work, and
Pro Finlandia
The Order of the Lion of Finland ( fi, Suomen Leijonan ritarikunta; sv, Finlands Lejons orden) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty and the Order of the White Rose of Finland. The President o ...
medal in 1993.
General works
The majority of Utrio's novels are historicals, set in a vast array of periods from Antiquity to the early 19th century; however, her specialty has always been
the medieval period and it is for her medieval novels that she is mostly known. The main character is typically a woman, often somehow connected to Finland or Finnish history, although in the novel ''Vaskilintu'' (''The Brass Bird'') the other main character is a man, Eirik Väkevä. The setting is usually medieval Finland or its neighbouring countries, but faraway places like
Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...
and
Calabria also feature.
The characters in Utrio's books are mostly
fictional, but she also uses real historical figures as background characters. Utrio utilises her historical knowledge in great detail to strive for authenticity in depicting the lives of medieval people and to make history come alive for the readers. The private history of everyday life is a prominent element in her books, the lives of ordinary people taking precedence over political events. Everyday life is described from a woman's point of view, also reflecting the inferior position of women in historical times. Utrio writes strong and capable heroines who are able to achieve relatively good positions in life because of their strength and love.
Utrio can be seen continuing the tradition of the Finnish historical novel, including authors like
Zachris Topelius
Zachris Topelius (, ; 14 January 181812 March 1898) was a Finnish author, poet, journalist, historian, and rector of the University of Helsinki who wrote novels related to Finnish history.
Given name
Zacharias is his baptismal name, and this ...
, ,
Mika Waltari
Mika Toimi Waltari (; 19 September 1908 – 26 August 1979) was a Finnish writer, best known for his best-selling novel '' The Egyptian'' ( fi, Sinuhe egyptiläinen). He was extremely productive. Besides his novels he also wrote poetry, short stor ...
and
Ursula Pohjolan-Pirhonen
Ursula Kerttu Margareta Pohjolan-Pirhonen (6 April 1925 Helsinki – 17 July 1984 Sulkava) was a Finnish author of mainly romantic historical novels.
She is considered one of the founders of historical entertainment in Finnish literature, along ...
. However, Utrio renewed the Finnish historical novel as a genre by raising female characters to the fore and by exploring the role women have always had in the private sphere, maintaining not only the home but social cohesion. All of her books include themes of progress: things are improved by people actively searching for new solutions. She is considered one of the founders of historical entertainment in Finnish literature, alongside of Pohjolan-Pirhonen. Utrio also hardly ever uses the
present tense
The present tense (abbreviated or ) is a grammatical tense whose principal function is to locate a situation or event in the present time. The present tense is used for actions which are happening now. In order to explain and understand present ...
in her narratives.
Utrio's non-fiction works focus on the
history of women
Women's history is the study of the role that Woman, women have played in history and Historiography, the methods required to do so. It includes the study of the history of the growth of woman's rights throughout recorded history, personal achieve ...
and children, whose lives otherwise remain often hidden because of lack of historical sources, and usually are not discussed in historical narratives. ''Eevan tyttäret'' (''The Daughters of Eve'') is one of Utrio's most notable non-fiction books. The book describes the history of women from the
ancient Middle East
The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia (modern Iraq, southeast Turkey, southwest Iran and northeastern Syria), ancient Egypt, ancient Iran (Elam, Med ...
and
ancient Greece
Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of Classical Antiquity, classical antiquity ( AD 600), th ...
until modern times. The book has achieved international notice, and has been translated into seven languages.
Her career as a widely published author lasted approximately fifty years. She started in 1967 working her first novel (that came out in 1968). Utrio strived to publish a new novel each year. In 2019 Utrio announced that her working days are over. Her 2017 book remains her last publication. Ever since her first novel that came out in 1968, she has been one of Finland's most-read authors and published quite regularly. It has been argued on the Kirjasampo website (the representative of public libraries in Finland), that she has been the single most influential author to have shaped
Finnish women's thinking.
Her 1968 novel reached already in its first year tens of thousands of readers. Hundreds of thousands of Finnish women have, since 1968, read and been influenced by Utrio's views inherent in her books, such as need for equality between genders, existence of female strength, practical family values, and non-religiosity, as well as fact-based comprehension of circumstances, mentalities and conditions of human life in a selection of past centuries, usually in agrarian economy.
Works
Novels
*
Kartanonherra ja kaunis Kirstin
''Kartanonherra ja kaunis Kirstin'' (Finnish: ''The Lord of the Mansion and the Beautiful Kirstin'') is a historical novel by Finnish author Kaari Utrio
Kaari Marjatta Utrio (born 28 July 1942, official surname Utrio-Linnilä, formerly Virkaj ...
(''The Lord of the Manor and the Beautiful Kirstin'') (
Tammi 1968, also named Kirstin, Tammi 1998)
*
Sunneva Jaarlintytär (''Sunneva, Daughter of the Jarl'') (Tammi 1969)
*
Sunneva keisarin kaupungissa (''Sunneva in the Imperial City'') (Tammi 1970)
*
Vehkalahden neidot
''Vehkalahden neidot'' (Finnish: ''The Maidens of Vehkalahti'') is a 1971 historical novel by Finnish author Kaari Utrio
Kaari Marjatta Utrio (born 28 July 1942, official surname Utrio-Linnilä, formerly Virkajärvi) is a Finnish writer. She ...
(''The Maidens of Vehkalahti'') (Tammi 1971)
* Pirita, Karjalan tytär (''Pirita, Daughter of Karelia'') (Tammi 1972)
*
Viipurin kaunotar
''Viipurin kaunotar'' (Finnish: ''The Beauty from Viipuri'') is a historical novel by Finnish author Kaari Utrio
Kaari Marjatta Utrio (born 28 July 1942, official surname Utrio-Linnilä, formerly Virkajärvi) is a Finnish writer. She has writ ...
(''The Beauty of Viborg'') (Tammi 1973)
*
Aatelisneito, porvaristyttö (''The Noble Maiden, The Burgher's Daughter'') (Tammi 1974)
*
Kun nainen hallitsi, rakasti ja vihasi (''When a Woman Ruled, Loved and Hated'') (Tammi 1975)
*
Pirkkalan pyhät pihlajat (''The Sacred Rowan Trees of Pirkkala'') (Tammi 1976)
*
Pappilan neidot
''Pappilan neidot'' (Finnish: ''The Damsels of the Vicarage'') is a historical novel by Finnish author Kaari Utrio
Kaari Marjatta Utrio (born 28 July 1942, official surname Utrio-Linnilä, formerly Virkajärvi) is a Finnish writer. She has wr ...
(''The Damsels of the Vicarage'') (Tammi 1977)
*
Rakas Henrietta (''My Dear Henrietta'') (Tammi 1977)
*
Karjalan kruunu (''The Crown of Karelia'') (Tammi 1978)
*
Rautalilja
''Rautalilja - romaani lemmestä ja mammonasta'' (Finnish: ''The Iron Lily - A Novel About Love and Mammon '') is a historical novel by Finnish author Kaari Utrio
Kaari Marjatta Utrio (born 28 July 1942, official surname Utrio-Linnilä, forme ...
(''The Iron Lily'') (Tammi 1979)
*
Neidontanssi (''The Maiden Dance'') (Tammi 1980)
*
Porvarin morsian (''The Bride of the Burgher'') (Kolmiokirja 1980)
* Katarinan taru (''The Story of Katarina'') (Tammi 1981)
* Pormestarin tytär (''The Daughter of the Mayor'') (Tammi 1982)
*
Ruusulaakso (''The Rose Valley'') (Tammi 1982)
* Isabella (''Isabella'') (Tammi 1988)
* Kuka olet, Elissa? (''Who Are You, Elissa?'') (Tammi 1989)
*
Vendela (''Vendela'') (Tammi 1989)
* Haukka, minun rakkaani (''The Falcon, My Love'') (Tammi 1990)
*
Vanajan Joanna (''Joanna of Vanaja'') (Tammi 1991)
*
Vaskilintu (''The Bronze Bird'') (Tammi 1992)
*
Uhritulet (''The Sacrificial Fires'') (Tammi 1993)
*
Kuukiven kevät (''The Spring of the Moonstone'') (
Otava 1995)
*
Tuulihaukka (''The Kestrel'', Wind Falcon) (Tammi 1995)
*
Iisalmen serkku ja muita kertomuksia
''Iisalmen serkku ja muita kertomuksia'' (Finnish: ''The Cousin from Iisalmi and Other Tales'') is a 1996 collection of historical literary works by Finnish author Kaari Utrio
Kaari Marjatta Utrio (born 28 July 1942, official surname Utrio-Li ...
(''The Cousin from Iisalmi and Other Stories'') (Tammi 1996)
* Katarina (''Katarina'') (A combination of the books ''Neidontanssi'' and ''Katarinan Taru''; Tammi 1998)
* Yksisarvinen (''The Unicorn'') (Tammi 2000)
*
Ruma kreivitär (''The Ugly Countess'') (Tammi 2002)
*
Saippuaprinsessa
''Saippuaprinsessa'' (Finnish: ''The Soap Princess'') is a 2004 historical novel by Finnish author Kaari Utrio focusing on the frivolities of the high society in Helsinki, the capital of Grand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland ( fi, ...
(''The Soap Princess'') (Tammi 2004)
*
Ilkeät sisarpuolet (''The Wicked Stepsisters'') (Tammi 2007)
* Vaitelias perillinen (''The Taciturn Heir'') (Tammi 2009)
* Oppinut neiti (''The Learned Miss'') (Amanita 2011)
* Seuraneiti (''A Lady's Companion'') (Amanita 2013)
* Paperiprinssi (''The Paper Prince'') (Amanita 2015)
* Hupsu rakkaus (Amanita 2017)
Non fiction, factual history
* Somero: viljan maa (''Somero: The Land of Grain'') (with
, Amanita 1982)
* Suomalaisia taiteilijakoteja (''Finnish Artists' Homes'') (only the introduction, Kuurojen liitto 1982)
* Eevan tyttäret (''The Daughters of Eve'') (Tammi 1984)
* Eevan historia (''The History of Eve'') (Amanita 1985)
* Venus (''Venus'') (Tammi 1985)
* Kalevan tyttäret (''The Daughters of Kaleva'') (Tammi 1986)
* Laps' Suomen (''The Child of Finland'') (with Kaarina Helakisa; Otava 1987)
* Vuosisatainen Viipuri (''The Century in Viipuri'') (Tammi 1991)
* Suuri prinsessakirja (''The Great Princess Book'') (with and ; Otava 1991)
* Suomi silloin kerran (''Finland, Once Upon a Time'') (with
,
Meri Utrio
Meri Marjatta Utrio (née Vitikainen; 23 March 1919 – 14 December 2004) was a Finnish editor and translator to Finnish. She was married with Urho Untamo Utrio, who was the chief executive officer of the publishing company Tammi and has three c ...
and ; Tammi 1992)
* Rusoposkia, huulten purppuraa (''Rosy Cheeks, Purple Lips'') (with
Una Nuotio
Una and UNA may refer to:
Places
* 160 Una, the asteroid "Una", an asteroid named after the Faerie Queene character
* Una River (disambiguation), numerous rivers
* Una, Himachal Pradesh, a town in India
** Una, Himachal Pradesh Assembly constit ...
and
Taina Heikkilä; Tekniikan museo 1995)
* Familia 1-6 (''Familia'') (with Many Writers; Tammi 1995–1997)
* Perhekirja (''The Family Book'') (Tammi 1998)
* Bella Donna (''Bella Donna'') (with ; Tammi 2001)
Other works
* Tulin onneni yrttitarhaan (''I Came into the Herb Garden of my Happiness'') (with
Salme Sauri; Otava 1988)
* Ruusulamppu (''The Rose Lamp'') (Kaisaniemen Dynamo 2002) (it was a booklet written for a company, is a story seemingly of the genre of historical fiction, and the company uses/used it as business gift - formerly: No information is available of the nature of this book)
References
External links
*
*
Kaari Utrio in 375 humanists – 27 May 2015. Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki.'
{{DEFAULTSORT:Utrio, Kaari
1942 births
Living people
Writers from Helsinki
Finnish historical novelists
Finnish feminists
Finnish women novelists
Women historical novelists
20th-century Finnish novelists
21st-century Finnish novelists
University of Helsinki alumni
21st-century Finnish women writers
20th-century Finnish women writers
20th-century Finnish historians
21st-century Finnish historians
Finnish city councillors
Finnish women historians
Finnish women non-fiction writers
Pro Finlandia Medals of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Social Democratic Party of Finland politicians