Topelius, Zacharias

(1818-1898)

   A Finland-Swedish poet, novelist, journalist, and dramatist, Topelius is one of the truly classic figures in the literature of his people. Born into a family with literary and historical interests, he attended Helsinki University and eventually received a doctorate. His broad interests suited him to cultural journalism, however, and his first significant publication was a series of fictive letters, Leopoldinerbrev (1843-1854; Leopoldine Letters), in which he offered witty reports about life in Helsinki, reports that had been first published in the paper where he worked, Helsingfors Tidningar (Helsinki News). There he also first published his copious poetic efforts, which were later collected as Ljungblommar (1844, 1850, and 1854; Heather Blossoms), and then Nya blad (1870; New Leaves) and Ljung (1889; Heather). The paper also published his historical tales, many of them collected as Fältskarns berattelser (18531857; tr. The Surgeon's Stories, 1883-1884).

   Topelius's favorite genre was the novella, and he often wrote cycles of stories. Some of them had contemporary settings, for example, Gamla baron pa Rautakyla (1849; The Old Baron at Rautakyla) and Vincent Vagbrytare (1860; Vincent Breakwater), both of which are set in milieus that Topelius knew by personal experience. Others were set in the past, such as Hertiginnan av Finland (1850; The Duchess of Finland). A large collection of these kinds of tales bears the title Winterkvallar (1880-1897; Winter Evenings).

   Having served as a professor of history at Helsinki University for some years, Topelius next wrote historical narratives with the common title Planeternas skyddslingar (1886-1889; Those Protected by the Planets), which he later renamed Stjaänornas kungabarn (The Royal Children of the Stars), in which he offers an imaginative survey of Finland's history. Ljungars saga (1896; The Saga of Ljungar) was set in Finland around the year 1500.

   Aware that Finland had no native dramatic tradition, Topelius turned his energies to the theater, offering dramatizations of two of his tales, and he wrote the librettos for two early Finnish operas. Topelius also wrote didactic children's books.