Helvi Hämäläinen

Who was Helvi Hämäläinen?

Helvi Hämäläinen was a Finnish author who published dozens of books of prose and poetry during her six decade writing career.

Helvi Heleena Hämäläinen was born in Hamina, but moved to Helsinki with her parents Aaro and Iida Hämäläinen while still a pre-schooler. Hämäläinen's first novel, Hyväntekijä appeared in 1930, but her breakthrough came five years later with her portrait of the working-class Katuojan vettä. Hämäläinen's best-known book, Säädyllinen murhenäytelmä, appeared in 1941. A roman à clef, it caused a great sensation: readers were able to identify several notable cultural personalities of the day, Hämäläinen's former lover Olavi Paavolainen among them. She was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal in 1959 .

In 1987, after two decades out of the spotlight, Hämäläinen returned to the public eye when her book of poems, Sukupolveni unta, won the Finlandia Prize.

Helvi Hämäläinen died at the age of 90 on 17 January 1998. She is buried in the Orthodox cemetery of Helsinki.