Representing the best
Finnish authors abroad
Finnish authors abroad
Set in the late 1500s, Catherine tells the lively and turbulent life story of King Eric XIV’s former mistress and wife.
Published in 1942, Catherine tells the turbulent love story between Catherine (Karin Månsdotter) and Eric XIV of Sweden as well as Catherine’s life after her husband’s death.
In Catherine, Waltari paints a picture of Eric XIV as a power-hungry leader who seeks comfort in his affair with a fifteen-year-old Catherine. The novel begins with Eric’s ascention to the throne and follows the couple’s troubled relationship until Eric dies as a prisoner in Örbyhus Castle.
Following the death of her husband, Catherine moves to Kangasala Manor in Finland to spend the rest of her days there as a widow. Astonishingly at this point in the novel, Catherine is just 23-years-old. Needless to say, Catherine is a historical novel quite unlike any other.
Mika Waltari (1908-1979) is the most popular 20th century Finnish writer who is best known for his magnus opus The Egyptian. Over a career that spanned five decades, Waltari published well over 100 works, of which 200 translations have been made. His works include at least 30 novels, 20 plays and 15 novellas, as well as short stories, poems, screenplays and essays. In 1957 he was appointed to the Academy of Finland, having previously won the state literature award five times. Waltari’s works have been translated into over 40 languages.
Russian translation
Croatian (A3DATA)
Czech (Hejkel)*
Danish (Jespersen og Pio)
Dutch (Atlas Reeks)
Estonian (Sinisukk)
French (De La Sizaine Editions)
German (Luhe)
Icelandic (Draupnisutgafan)
Lithuanian (Tyto Alba)*
Polish (Ksiaznica)*
Slovakian (Smena)
Spanish (G. P. Ediciones)
Swedish (Wahlström & Windstrand)
*rights reverted
“Waltari’s fantastic, natural narrative moves the story forwards effectively.” — Kaiken ei tarvitse olla totta blog
