Yrjö Olavi Samuli Kokko (16 October 1903 in
Sortavala
Sortavala (russian: Сортавала; Finnish and krl, Sortavala; sv, Sordavala); till 1918 Serdobol (russian: Сердоболь) is a town in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located at the northern tip of Lake Ladoga near the Finnish bor ...
– 6 September 1977 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 ...
) was a Finnish writer and veterinarian. He wrote more than 20 books, among them ''Pessi and Illusia'' (''Pessi ja Illusia'', 1944), ''Singing Swan of fate Bird'' (''Laulujoutsen'', 1954), ''The Way of the Four Winds'' (''Neljän tuulen tie'', 1954) and ''Ungelon Torppa'' (1958).
Yrjö Kokko wrote his first book during the heroic Finnish-Russian
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 ...
, where he volunteered. It is during that time on the war front that he wrote his most famous work ''Pessi and Illusia''. Kokko was a specialist of wild life, namely birds. He made countless expeditions in Lapland, living among the Lappish people or
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, Ru ...
, which he knew like few others at that time. His advocacy for Lappish people was more a cultural than a political one. Kokko was unfavorable of fast developing mass-tourism in Lappland.
Ungelon Torppa, the house Kokko built in
Enontekiö
Enontekiö (; sme, Eanodat ; sv, Enontekis; smn, Iänudâh; sms, Jeänõk) is a municipality in the Finnish part of Lapland with approx. inhabitants. It is situated in the outermost northwest of the country and occupies a large and very spars ...
, stands to this date as testimony of his life, works and heritage.
''Pessi and Illusia'' has been translated in more than 10 languages including Japanese and is periodically reprinted. The story has inspired a ballet composed by Ahti Sonninen and numerous play and film versions, among them a 1984 film by
Heikki Partanen. ''Pessi and Illusia'' and ''Singing Swan of fate Bird'' have been best-sellers in Finland for several years.
Yrjö Kokko is credited for saving the whooper swan from extinction. He was awarded with
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 1956.
The ''Yrjö Kokko Seura'' association in Enontekiö (Finnish Lapland) is a tribute to his life and accomplishments.
Bibliography
* Kotieläin (Otava 1932)
* Pitäkää Tulta Vireillä (WSOY 1941)
* Pessi and Illusia (WSOY 1944)
* The Way of the Four Winds (WSOY 1948)
* Singing Swan of fate Bird (WSOY 1950)
* Sudenhampainen kaulanauha (WSOY 1951)
* Hyvän tahdon saaret: matkakuvaus (WSOY 1953)
* Ne tulevat takaisin (WSOY 1954)
* Ungelon Torppa (WSOY 1958)
* Tunturi (WSOY 1961)
* Täydennysmies (WSOY 1962)
* Perheen Jumppakirja (WSOY 1962)
* Sota ja satu (WSOY 1964)
* Molli: Maailman viisain koira (WSOY 1965)
* Alli, jäänreunan lintu (WSOY 1966)
* Poro: Muistelus (WSOY 1969)
* Parhaat Ystäväni (WSOY 1970)
File:The way of the 4 winds.jpg, Neljän Tuulen Tie, The Way of the Four Winds (1954)
File:Yrjo kokko molli.jpg, Yrjö Kokko: Molli (1965)
File:Yrjö Kokko, Poro.jpg, Yrjö Kokko: Poro (1969)
File:Yrjo kokko pessi ja ilusia.jpg, Pessi and Illusia (1944)
References
* Parkkinen, Jukka: ''Yrjö Kokko: Sadun ja luonnon runoilija''. WSOY, 2003.
External links
Yrjö Kokko association
Biography by Jukka Parkkinen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kokko, Yrjo
1903 births
1977 deaths
People from Sortavala
People from Viipuri Province (Grand Duchy of Finland)
Finnish writers
Nature photographers
Male veterinarians