Paavo Haavikko is one of the best-known names in contemporary Finnish literature. His extensive and multifaceted oeuvre contains works representing almost all literary genres - among them poems, novels, plays and non-fiction literature. His polemical writings have made Haavikko into something of an oracle of the nation and often also into a prophet of spiritual, intellectual and economic ruin.
Background
Paavo Haavikko was born into a business family, the third son of Heikki Haavikko and Rauha Pyykönen. From an early age, Haavikko sufferd from a slight speech impediment – he was unable to pronounce the letter "r" correctly. Haavikko's father, a bookbinder, established his own business, beginning to import office supplies and paper goods.
Education
Unlike some of this fellow pupils, Haavikko did not become known for an active interest in the arts during his school days, preferring to keep his literary endeavours to himself. Lawrence, Rilke and Eliot had provided him with early literary experiences.
Haavikko did not enrol at the university
Career
In the 1950s and 1960s, Haavikko worked in the real estate business, and he has since also worked in the real-estate and forestry-trade areas. He has also been interested in management issues.During the discussion that followed the death of a hostage and his abductor at the Mikkeli marketplace in the 1980s, Haavikko strongly criticised the actions of the police and demanded the resignation of the chancellor of justice. During the 1980s, Haavikko also published histories of firms and institutes, and in the latter half of the decade a number of new poetry collections appeared. Won the Nordic Council Drama Competition in 1996. In the 1990s, Haavikko continued his work as a poet, novelist, dramatist and pamphleteer. In the same period he also published memoir-type works.At the turn of the millennium Haavikko has returned once more to drama.
Lasi Claudius Civiliksen salaliittolaisten pöydällä
novel
Yksityisiä asioita
Politics
During the 1970s, Haavikko began to take a particular interest in questions associated with politics, economics and the wielding of power. He started dealing with such issues in his play Agricola ja kettu ('Agricola and the Fox'), This trend also continued in radio plays.Issues of power receive attention in two works with Byzantine themes, the poem Neljätoista hallitsijaa ('Fourteen Rulers'), based on the chronicle of Michael Psellus, and the epic Kaksikymmentä ja yksi ('Twenty and One'; 1974), in which he also deals with Sampo themes from the Kalevala.
Views
Quotations:
Haavikko's ideal of the author includes "strict professionalism and responsibility"
Interests
Writers
Daniel Defoe, Lawrence, Rilke, Eliot
Connections
He was married twice, had two children. Married the writer Marja-Liisa Vartio in 1955 but she died in 1966.
Haavikko was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1984.
Haavikko was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1984.
honorary doctorate,
Finland
Haavikko was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Helsinki in 1969.
Haavikko was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Helsinki in 1969.
Sokeain kuunnelmapalkinto,
Finland
In 1967 he received the prestigious Sokeain kuunnelmapalkinto, awarded annually by the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, for his play Audun ja jääkarhu
In 1967 he received the prestigious Sokeain kuunnelmapalkinto, awarded annually by the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, for his play Audun ja jääkarhu