Representing the best
Finnish authors abroad
Finnish authors abroad
Mika Waltari’s infamous travelogue about his 1948 journey to Istanbul from a post-war Finland.
Travelling through post-war Finland was difficult, but it was something that Mika Waltari insisted upon doing in order to write new historical fiction.
Making his way through Europe with a stack of dodgy visas, American cigarettes, and currency that was difficult to get hold of, Waltari’s Journey to Istanbul tells the story of a brave and determined man.
Journey to Istanbul is often described as one of the best novels depicting a post-war Europe. In it, Waltari writes about the travels he embarked upon prior to writing The Egyptian in order to carry out fieldwork and research. Waltari’s voice is captivating and funny and his cheerful openess draws the reader in.
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.
Czech (Hejkal), rights reverted
“[Mika Waltari] captivates the reader with his sophisticated and mature wisdom and his expressive storytelling.” — Alpa Rautasuo blog
