''Suuri illusioni'' ('Great illusion' or 'Grand illusion') is a 1928 novel by the Finnish writer

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 stori ...

and also his

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

. It is about bohemian and aimless urban life in the author's own generation. The novel became a breakthrough for Waltari, who previously had been a writer of religious poetry and horror short stories. It received positive reviews and was translated into several languages. The novel begins with a description of the feast in Mrs. Spindel's

salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home * Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment Arts and entertainment * Salon (P ...

. Mrs. Spindel was modeled on

Minna Craucher Madame Minna Craucher (23 August 1891 – 8 March 1932) was the false name of Maria Vilhelmiina Lindell, a Finnish socialite and spy. Her home was a noted salon for various writers and artists. She also did espionage, originally for the Cheka, th ...

(1891–1932), a real-life salon manager known for her dubious reputation. The book was the basis for the 1985 film ''Grand Illusion'' directed by Tuija-Maija Niskanen.

References

1928 novels 20th-century Finnish novels Finnish-language novels Finnish novels adapted into films Novels by Mika Waltari {{1920s-novel-stub