Rauha S. Virtanen (28 June 1931 – 20 March 2019) was a Finnish author who wrote youth literature as well as plays. Virtanen received numerous literary awards, including the Topelius Prize in 1971, the State Prize for Youth Literature in 1971, and the Tirlittan Prize of the Finnish Writers' Union in 2003.

Biography

Rauha Susanna Virtanen was born in Alavus, 28 June 1931.''Facta 2001'', osa 18, p. 342. WSOY 1986. (in Finnish) Inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery's novel '' Emily of New Moon'', Virtanen's first work, ''Seljan tytöt '' ("Selja's Girls"), appeared in 1955 and became into a four-part series inspired by

Louisa M. Alcott Louisa May Alcott (; November 29, 1832March 6, 1888) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known as the author of the novel ''Little Women'' (1868) and its sequels ''Little Men'' (1871) and ''Jo's Boys'' (1886). Raised in ...

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Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the lives ...

''.Heikkilä-Halttunen, Päivi: Tyttökirjallisuuden lempeä anarkisti. (Muistokirjoitus.) Onnimanni, 2019, nro 2, s. 32. In 1968, ''Ruusunen'' was turned into a book-based mini-series for Yle TV2, ''Pieni rakkaustarina'' ("A Little Love Story"). The novel deals with the relationship between an underage girl and an adult man. Virtanen's early work has humor, excitement and romance, but later productions focused on young people facing difficult solutions who see the social and political realities of their environment. Virtanen's daughter Arja Pettersson is a theater director. Virtanen died in Helsinki, 20 March 2019.

Awards

* Topelius Prize, 1971 * State Prize for Youth Literature, 1971 * Tirlittan Prize of the Finnish Writers' Union, 2003

Selected works

;Novels *Seljan tytöt. Porvoo: WSOY, 1955. *Tapaamme Seljalla: Seljan tyttöjen uusia vaiheita. Porvoo: WSOY, 1957. *Kiurut laulavat. Porvoo: WSOY, 1959. *Virva Seljan yksityisasia. Porvoo: WSOY, 1960. *Tuntematon Selja. Helsinki: WSOY, 1964. *Luumupuu kukkii. Helsinki: WSOY, 1965. *Tuletko sisarekseni. Helsinki: WSOY, 1966. *Ruusunen. Helsinki: WSOY, 1968. *Joulukuusivarkaus. Helsinki: WSOY, 1970. *Lintu pulpetissa. Helsinki: WSOY, 1972. . *Seljalta maailman ääreen. Helsinki: WSOY, 2001. . *Seljan Tuli ja Lumi. Helsinki: WSOY, 2009. . ;Plays *Avaruusmekko (1966) *Tässä on Hely Ahonen (1974) *Laulukokeet (1976) *Jääkö Pekka luokalle? (1977) *Rööki-Rocky (1978) *Pääsy kielletty (1979) *Kolme mummoa (1982)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Virtanen, Rauha S. 2019 deaths 1931 births People from Alavus 20th-century Finnish novelists 21st-century Finnish novelists Finnish women novelists Finnish dramatists and playwrights Finnish women dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Finnish women writers 21st-century Finnish women writers Finnish children's writers Finnish women children's writers