Zachris Topelius | |
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Born | Zacharias Topelius 14 January 1818 Kuddnäs, near Nykarleby, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire (now Finland) |
Died | 12 March 1898 Sipoo, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire (now Finland) | (aged 80)
Occupation |
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Language | Swedish |
Nationality | Finnish |
Zacharias Topelius (Finland Swedish pronunciation: [sɑˈkɑːriɑs toˈpeːliʉs]; 14 January 1818 – 12 March 1898) was a Finnish author, poet, journalist, historian, and rector of the University of Helsinki who wrote novels related to Finnish history. He wrote his works exclusively in Swedish, although they were translated early on into Finnish.[1]
In the full flush of nationalistic enthusiasm Finnish literary histories were written largely without reference to what had happened and was happening in the other tongue, save for the work of such giants as Johan Ludvig Runeberg and Zachris Topelius: because of their role in national life, and thanks to early and excellent translation, they were regarded as essential parts of Finnish-language literature, albeit they wrote entirely in Swedish.