Zachris Topelius' 200th anniversary (Finnish author)

[leno...@yahoo.com]

Aka Zacharias Topelius, he was born this day in Finland and died in 1898.

One book in English that includes at least some of his work is "Top-of-the-World Stories for Boys and Girls."


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zachris_Topelius


https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zacharias-Topelius

Excerpt:

"Zacharias Topelius, (born Jan. 14, 1818, Kuddnäs, Russian Finland—died March 12, 1898, Helsinki), the father of the Finnish historical novel. His works, written in Swedish, are classics of Finland’s national literature.

"Topelius joined the faculty of the University of Helsinki as professor of Finnish history in 1864; he served as university president, 1875–78. Though he published five collections of lyrics, he is best known for Fältskärns berättelser (1853–67; The King’s Ring and the Surgeon’s Stories, 1872), a romanticized account of Swedish–Finnish history during the 17th and 18th centuries. In later years he wrote stories based on Finnish folktales and fairy tales for children. All his works have been translated into Finnish."

http://www.childrenslibrary.org/icdl/BookPreview?bookid=tplsgrf_00070002&tab=creator449&route=all&lang=English&msg=&ilang=English

Excerpt:

"Zacharias Topelius (1818-1898) is known as the founder of Finnish children's literature. He was a Swedish speaking writer, journalist, professor of history, whose historical novels became part of the national awakening in Finland from the 1850s. Zacharias Topelius had three major roles: he was a superb storyteller for children, the describer of Finland and her landscape, and the founder of the Finnish historic novel and the first children’s books. Under the influence of H.C. Andersen Topelius wrote educational fairy tales of good and bad and the ultimate triumph of goodness. Zacharias Topelius was the first Finnish children's writer who allowed girls among his principal characters. His view that boys and girls should be given the same kind of spirited and healthy education was quite uncommon in his time. In his works girls and (young) women often play central roles; on the whole, his characterization of girls and women is much more interesting and diversified than that of boys. In many cases women and girls are not only described as good and charming but also as intelligent, sensible and desirous of knowledge, often in contrast to power-seeking men. Most of Topelius's novels appeared first in the newspapers, and were then collected into books. Sagor was his first (published) novel and book for children (he had published a book with poems before that). Between the years 1841 and 1860 he edited the Swedish-language daily Helsingfors Tidningar. From the French newspapers he adapted the practice to publish novels in serialized form. As a journalist Topelius had a great skill to enrich his text by lively details. Topelius's works have been translated into 20 languages."


https://www.google.com/search?q=zachris+topelius+books&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjontzws9jYAhUp5IMKHZnOAEUQ_AUICigB&biw=1332&bih=927
(photos, covers)

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Topelius%2C%20Zacharias%2C%201818-1898
(booklist)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=a9_asc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atopelius+fairy&keywords=topelius+fairy&ie=UTF8&qid=1515965900
(some fairy tale titles)

http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/1984/03/star-­eye/
("Star-Eye," in English)

http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/1984/03/fairy-tales-of-a-journalist/
(article on Topelius, from 1984)



Lenona.