Mika Toimi Waltari ( pronounced [ˈmikɑ ˈʋɑltɑri] ; 19 September 1908 – 26 August 1979) was a Finnish writer, best known for his best-selling novel The Egyptian ( Finnish : Sinuhe egyptiläinen ). He was extremely productive. Besides his novels he also wrote poetry, short stories, crime novels, plays, essays, travel stories, film scripts, and rhymed texts for comic strips by Asmo Alho.
31-408: The Etruscan (original title Turms, kuolematon which translates to Turms, Immortal ) is a novel by Mika Waltari , published in 1956, telling of the adventures of a young man, Turms, which begins approximately in 480 BC. It tells of the spiritual development of Turms, as he adventures from Greece to Sicily, then to Rome and then finally to Tuscany, where he learns of his immortality and his duties to
62-468: A book. Waltari was one of the most prolific Finnish writers. He wrote at least 29 novels, 15 novellas, 6 collections of stories or fairy-tales, 6 collections of poetry and 26 plays, as well as screen plays, radio plays, non-fiction, translations, and hundreds of reviews and articles. He is also internationally the best-known Finnish writer, and his works have been translated into more than 30 languages. In his later years, Waltari wrote less and less. This
93-814: A boy, Waltari witnessed the Finnish Civil War , during which his White-sided family fled to the home of his mother's aunt at Laukkoski in Pornainen , near Porvoo, which was relatively peaceful and where the Whites were predominant. Later he enrolled in the University of Helsinki as a theology student, according to his uncle Toivo's wishes, but soon abandoned theology in favour of philosophy , aesthetics and literature , graduating in 1929. While studying, he contributed to various magazines and wrote poetry and stories, getting his first book Jumalaa paossa published in 1925. It
124-474: A bullet for him in the first movie. Palmu's age is a constant source for jokes in the films, such as his tendency to take naps in his office. Palmu is also extremely meditative, adding to the illusion that he is too old for his job, while in reality he always thinks of the most likely solution to the crime first. Palmu's home address has never mentioned in Waltari's books, but in the 1961 film Gas, Inspector Palmu!
155-654: A member of the Finnish Academy in 1957 and received an honorary doctorate at the University of Turku in 1970. Waltari's last two novels tell about early history of Christianity: Valtakunnan salaisuus (English title: The Secret of the Kingdom 1959), and Ihmiskunnan viholliset (English title: The Roman 1964). As a member of Academy of Science and Letters he guided younger writers. He was also involved in re-publishing and editing his early works, and gave long interviews to Ritva Haavikko [ fi ] which were published as
186-655: A stroke of luck, such as finding a cyanide bottle in a vase when he looks into it out of sheer curiosity in Inspector Palmu's Mistake . One of Palmu's most notorious techniques for solving crimes is baiting the murderer to reveal him/herself. For instance, he has Virta reveal that a suspect spent the night at the mansion of the deceased victim in order to smoke out the murderer whose identity he has already deduced, but he needs to catch him red-handed in order to have him arrested. This, and Palmu's bluntness, often lead to arguments between him and Virta, whom Palmu constantly keeps in
217-563: Is decorated with Waltari's signature and a stylized pen nib that symbolizes the diversity of the writer's production. Waltari's memorial in Töölö by Veikko Hirvimäki was unveiled in 1985. Two asteroids have been named in honour of Waltari: n:o 4266 Mika Waltari and n:o 4512 Sinuhe. Waltari's historical novels have been cited by G. R. R. Martin and Jean Auel as an influence. Inspector Palmu Inspector Frans J. Palmu ( Finnish : Komisario Palmu ), depicted as "a gruff detective of
248-507: Is partly due to the enormous fees he received from foreign editions of The Egyptian and his other books, allowing him to stop "writing to live". Mika Waltari died on 26 August 1979 in Helsinki, the year after his wife Marjatta's death in 1978. Markéta Hejkalová [ cs ] (who translated many Waltari's works into Czech and wrote a biography about him) identifies 9 common elements in Waltari's historical novels: Waltari received
279-516: The Helsinki Police Department ", is one of the most popular characters created by Finnish writer Mika Waltari (who is, however, better known outside Finland for his historical novels). The character starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed. His first appearance was in the 1939 novel Who Murdered Mrs. Skrof? ( Kuka murhasi Rouva Skrofin? ). The second book, Inspector Palmu's Mistake ( Komisario Palmun erehdys ),
310-605: The Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944), Waltari worked in the government information center, now also placing his literary skills at the service of political propaganda . According to historian Eino Jutikkala , through this experience as a propagandist Waltari became more cynical as he realised the prevalence of historical half-truths shaped by propaganda, later a recurrent theme in his historical novels. Although Waltari saw Soviet bolshevism as dangerous, he
341-473: The 16th century, the protagonist is a Finn who goes to study in Paris at much the same age that the author went to the same city in the 20th century). Suuri illusioni was a surprise hit, selling 8000 copies and turning Mika Waltari into a famous author. Waltari also was, for a while, a member of the liberal literary movement Tulenkantajat , though his political and social views later turned conservative . He
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#1733104799085372-463: The State literature award five times: 1933, 1934, 1936, 1949, and 1953. The Pro Finlandia Medal was given to him in 1952. The 100th anniversary of Mika Waltari's birth was celebrated by selecting the writer as the main motif for a high value commemorative coin, the €10 Mika Waltari commemorative coin , minted in 2008. The reverse depicts a vigilant Pharaoh watchdog referencing his famous book. The obverse
403-534: The basis of the 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name. Waltari wrote seven more historical novels, placed in various ancient cultures, among others The Dark Angel , set during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. In these novels, he gave powerful expression to his fundamental pessimism and also, in two novels set in the Roman Empire , to his Christian conviction. After the war, he also wrote several novellas . He became
434-408: The crime takes place in the middle of Othello . The subject of the story is real estate fraud. Matti Kassila, who directed the previous films, also found it difficult to adapt the script into a film, because he thought it contained a lot of dialogue and few events. Among other things, the manuscript copy is in the possession of Panu Rajala, the author of the Waltari's biography, who considers it
465-403: The dark and talks down to. Nevertheless, Palmu shows respect for Virta's abilities. Palmu has a tendency to take credit for Virta's ideas, but he also turns to him whenever he has trouble remembering sophisticated terminology. Virta eventually rises to outrank Palmu by the time of The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu . Despite their differences, Virta has a level of respect for Palmu and even takes
496-632: The end of 2024. Inspector Palmu is depicted as an older officer who is only interested in facts. He also has a keen sense for when someone is lying, and is often frustrated by the bureaucracy of the police department. Though Palmu can be forward and even openly rude, he is shown being extremely sensitive around women, though he is irritated by a sexually promiscuous lady in The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu . Palmu can also sometimes act more jovially, and makes jokes to irritate suspects to take action, and reveal their motives. On occasion Palmu also has
527-529: The future. There are many actual historical events in this book, but how Turms gets involved in them is fictitious. This article about a historical novel of the 1950s is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . See guidelines for writing about novels . Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page . Mika Waltari Waltari was born in Helsinki on 19 September 1908. His parents were Toimi Waltari and Olga Johansson; Toimi
558-586: The media (though their role is also explored somewhat in the third film as well) and on Finland's relations with the Soviet Union . Generally the first three films are the best received. The fourth movie is best known for its tongue-in-cheek and action movie inspired finale scene, in which the murderer is chased by the police and secret agents. The fourth Inspector Palmu film was close to being realized in 1963, as Waltari's screenplay Lepäisit jo rauhassa, komisario Palmu (lit. "Just Relax Already, Inspector Palmu")
589-442: The pocket money brought by their "patient and attentive German hosts" to their hotel by tearing it in half and throwing it away through the window. 1945 saw the publication of Waltari's first and most successful historical novel, The Egyptian . Its theme of the corruption of humanist values in a materialist world seemed curiously topical in the aftermath of World War II , and the book became an international bestseller, serving as
620-495: The quality of his work to critics. One of these competitions gave rise to one of his most popular characters, Inspector Palmu , a gruff detective of the Helsinki police department, who starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed (a fourth film was made without Waltari involved). Waltari also scripted the popular cartoon Kieku ja Kaiku and wrote Aiotko kirjailijaksi , a guidebook for aspiring writers that influenced many younger writers such as Kalle Päätalo . During
651-481: The recurring themes is that the victim of the murder is a person who, before own death, has a questionable reputation or this collapses fatally into obscure acts. Vodka, Inspector Palmu takes place after Palmu has retired from the police-force, and is hired by the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yleisradio , to keep them in the loop on a politically sensitive murder. This film focuses considerably more on
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#1733104799085682-566: The stairwell of Palmu's home, which was recognized by film enthusiasts as Rauhankatu 11 in Kruununhaka , Helsinki , is seen. Palmu is unmarried in the novels and the first three films, but apparently marries after his retirement from the police force, as seen in the fourth film, Vodka, Inspector Palmu . Each of the Palmu films depicts police work in very meticulous detail, while containing elements of more traditional murder mystery fiction. Also, one of
713-515: Was a Lutheran pastor once, teaching religion in Porvoo , and Olga one of his pupils. A scandal caused by their relationship had forced them to move to Tampere and the two married on 18 November 1906. At the age of five Mika Waltari suddenly lost his father to illness on 5 July 1914, and the 25-year old Olga Waltari was left, with crucial help from Toimi's brother Toivo, to support her three children: Samuli (7 years), Mika (5 years) and Erkki (6 months). As
744-572: Was a success, selling 3000 copies despite being only 72 pages long. In 1927, he went to Paris where he wrote his first major novel Suuri illusioni ('The Grand Illusion'), a story of bohemian life. In terms of style, the novel is considered to be the Finnish equivalent to the works of the American writers of the Lost Generation . (In Waltari's historical novel The Adventurer , taking place in
775-625: Was attracted at first to the National Socialist theories about a new man. He visited Germany in 1939 and wrote a mostly favourable article titled Tuntematon Saksa ('Unknown Germany'). In 1942 he and 6 other Finnish writers visited Germany to attend the Congress of the European Writers' Union in Weimar and wrote yet more favourable coverage; a story goes however that he, being slightly drunk, refused
806-480: Was completed, but the realization of the film project failed in the 1963-1965 Finnish actor strike [ fi ] . In the story of the script, Inspector Palmu is investigating the murder of during the premiere of Shakespeare 's Macbeth . The venue of the murder is the stage of the Old Student House in Helsinki. Hannu Salmi compares the idea to George Cukor 's 1947 film noir A Double Life , where
837-437: Was filmed first in 1960, while the second film, Gas, Inspector Palmu! ( Kaasua, Komisario Palmu ), is based on the first novel. The film's Swedish title is the same as that of the original story. A fourth film was made without Waltari's involvement. The script was written by Georg Korkman and Matti Kassila, who also directed all four films. In addition The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu ( Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu )
868-506: Was later renamed as Kanava . He directed the magazine Suomen Kuvalehti . At the same time, he kept writing books in many genres, moving easily from one literary field to another. He had a very busy schedule and strict work ethic. He also suffered from manic-depressive psychosis and became depressed after completion of a book, sometimes to the extent of needing hospital treatment; in his manic phases he did his writing. He participated, and often succeeded, in literary competitions to prove
899-602: Was married on 8 March 1931 to Marjatta Luukkonen, whom he had met during military service the preceding year, and on 4 January 1932 they had a daughter, Satu. Satu also became a writer. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Waltari worked as a journalist and critic, writing for a number of newspapers and magazines and travelling widely in Europe. He published articles in the official magazine of the Association of Finnish Culture and Identity , Suomalainen Suomi ('Finnish Finland'), which
930-465: Was released in 1969. On January 19, 2021, it was announced that Renny Harlin will direct the new Inspector Palmu film. Although the film is shot in Finland, unlike the previous Finnish-language Palmu films, Harlin's film is becoming an international English-language production, where an actor is also being sought internationally for the title role. Filming of the new Inspector Palmu should begin at
961-509: Was written by Waltari knowingly so that it could be filmed. The first movie, Inspector Palmu's Mistake , was produced by Suomen Filmiteollisuus and the latter three by Fennada . Joel Rinne plays Palmu in all four films and is accompanied by his jack-of-all-trades assistant (later restaurant owner) Väinö Kokki played by Leo Jokela and Toivo Virta the university-educated officer (who eventually outranks Palmu) played by Matti Ranin . The fourth and final film, Vodkaa, komisario Palmu ,