Väinö Linna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Väinö Linna
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Väinö Linna in Palm Beach, Florida, on a trip in the United States, in March 1963.
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| Born | 20 December 1920 Urjala, Finland |
| Died | 21 April 1992 (aged 71) Tampere, Finland |
| Occupation | Author |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Notable works | The Unknown Soldier Under the North Star trilogy |
Väinö Linna (born December 20, 1920 – died April 21, 1992) was a famous Finnish writer. He became well-known for his third novel, Tuntematon sotilas (The Unknown Soldier), which came out in 1954. He became even more famous with his three-part book series Täällä Pohjantähden alla (Under the North Star), published between 1959 and 1963.
Both of these important books have been made into movies many times. The Unknown Soldier was first made into a film in 1955. Under the North Star became a movie in 1968, called Here, Beneath the North Star. Both of these early films were directed by Edvin Laine.
Contents
Väinö Linna's Life Story
Väinö Linna was born in Urjala, a town in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland. He was the seventh child in his family. His father, who was a butcher, passed away when Väinö was only seven years old. This meant his mother had to work hard at a nearby manor house to support the family.
Even though his family faced challenges, Väinö loved books from a young age. He enjoyed reading adventure novels that he borrowed from the local library. He only went to public school for six years, finishing in the mid-1930s. After school, he worked as a lumberjack and a farm helper at the same manor where his mother worked.
Moving to the City and War Experiences
In 1938, Linna moved to Tampere, a growing city. Like many young people at that time, he moved from the countryside to find work in factories. He found a job at the Finlayson textile mills.
In 1940, Linna joined the army. The Second World War had started, and Linna took part in the Continuation War (1941–1944). He fought on the eastern front. While serving as a squad leader, he wrote down his thoughts and experiences from the war. Even then, Linna knew he wanted to be a writer. Sadly, he couldn't get his notes published, so he burned them. But the idea of writing a novel about ordinary soldiers' wartime experiences stayed with him. This idea later led to his famous book, The Unknown Soldier.
Becoming a Famous Writer
After the war, Linna got married. He started writing while still working at the textile mills during the day. He read a lot of books by famous thinkers like Schopenhauer, Dostoyevsky, and Nietzsche. Linna also said that All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque greatly influenced him.
Linna's first two novels, Päämäärä and Musta rakkaus, did not sell well. He also tried writing poetry, but it wasn't successful either. His big break came with The Unknown Soldier in 1954. Many people in Finland wanted a book that showed the war from the perspective of everyday people. This book perfectly met that need. Its characters were real and brave, unlike those in earlier war novels.
The book quickly became a huge success. It sold 175,000 copies in just six months, which was a lot for a Finnish novel in the 1950s. However, some critics didn't like it at first. They felt Linna didn't show his characters in a grand, historical way. But the public loved the book, and Linna's strong will helped it overcome the criticism.
Later Life and Awards
In the mid-1950s, Linna moved to Hämeenkyrö and started farming. In 1959, the first part of Under the North Star was released and was very popular. The second part came out in 1960, and the final part in 1963. The third part of this novel won the important Nordic Council's Literature Prize.
In 1964, Linna sold his farm and moved back to Tampere. This time, he didn't return to the factory. His books had earned him enough money to become a full-time writer. In 1980, he was given the special title of Academician, even though he didn't have a university degree.
In 1984, Väinö Linna had a stroke, which made it hard for him to speak. Later, he got cancer, and he passed away on April 21, 1992.
Väinö Linna's Books
- (1947) Päämäärä
- (1948) Musta rakkaus
- (1949–53) Messias, (unfinished)
- (1954) Tuntematon sotilas, The Unknown Soldier
- (1959–63) Täällä Pohjantähden alla I–III, Under the North Star, translated by Richard Impola
- (1967) Oheisia
- (1990) Murroksia
- (2000) Sotaromaani, uncensored version of The Unknown Soldier
Väinö Linna's Lasting Impact
Väinö Linna's realistic writing style greatly influenced Finnish society, politics, and culture. His novels are considered classics in Finland, alongside works like Kalevala and Seven Brothers. Many famous lines from his books are now common Finnish sayings.
For example, most Finns recognize the first line of Under the North Star: "In the beginning there were the swamp, the hoe – and Jussi." Also, Rokka's famous shout from The Unknown Soldier is well-known: "Where do you need a real good man, here you have one!"
To show how important he was, Väinö Linna's picture was put on the 20 markka banknote. This banknote was used from 1993 until the Euro currency was introduced. Also, both of his major works have been made into movies more than once.
See also
In Spanish: Väinö Linna para niños
