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Keisari Aleksanteri I:n ja kauniin suomalaisen aatelisneidon Ulla Möllersvärdin romanttinen rakkaustarina. Tapahtumien taustalla kuohuvat Porvoon valtiopäivät, joista tulee vuonna 2009 kuluneeksi 200 vuotta.
245 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
8 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Mika Waltari
236 books712 followersMika Toimi Waltari was a Finnish historical novelist, best known for his magnum opus The Egyptian.
Waltari was born in Helsinki and lost his father, a Lutheran pastor, at the age of five. As a boy, he witnessed the Finnish Civil War in Helsinki. Later he enrolled in the University of Helsinki as a theology student, according to his mother'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 published in 1925. 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 the 16th century, the hero is a Finn who goes to Paris during his twenties and lives there a rather bohemian life). Waltari also was, for a while, a member of the liberal literary movement Tulenkantajat, though his political and social views later turned conservative. He was married in 1931 and had a daughter, Satu, who also became a writer.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Waltari worked hectically as a journalist and critic, writing for a number of newspapers and magazines and travelling widely in Europe. 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. It has been claimed that he also suffered from insomnia and depression, sometimes to the extent of needing hospital treatment. He participated, and often succeeded, in literary competitions to prove 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 one 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 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. 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 the basis of the 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name. Waltari wrote seven more historical novels, placed in various ancient cultures, among which The Dark Angel, set during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 is probably the best. 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, showing particular mastery in this genre. He became a member of the Finnish Academy in 1957 and received an honorary doctorate at the University of Turku in 1970.
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 screenplays, radioplays, non-fiction, translations, and hundreds of reviews and articles. He is also the internationally best-known Finnish writer, and his works have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Waltari was born in Helsinki and lost his father, a Lutheran pastor, at the age of five. As a boy, he witnessed the Finnish Civil War in Helsinki. Later he enrolled in the University of Helsinki as a theology student, according to his mother'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 published in 1925. 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 the 16th century, the hero is a Finn who goes to Paris during his twenties and lives there a rather bohemian life). Waltari also was, for a while, a member of the liberal literary movement Tulenkantajat, though his political and social views later turned conservative. He was married in 1931 and had a daughter, Satu, who also became a writer.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Waltari worked hectically as a journalist and critic, writing for a number of newspapers and magazines and travelling widely in Europe. 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. It has been claimed that he also suffered from insomnia and depression, sometimes to the extent of needing hospital treatment. He participated, and often succeeded, in literary competitions to prove 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 one 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 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. 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 the basis of the 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name. Waltari wrote seven more historical novels, placed in various ancient cultures, among which The Dark Angel, set during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 is probably the best. 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, showing particular mastery in this genre. He became a member of the Finnish Academy in 1957 and received an honorary doctorate at the University of Turku in 1970.
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 screenplays, radioplays, non-fiction, translations, and hundreds of reviews and articles. He is also the internationally best-known Finnish writer, and his works have been translated into more than 40 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 26, 2022
”Ruotsalaisia emme ole, venäläisiksi emme tahdo tulla, olkaamme siis suomalaisia.”
Mika Waltari tanssittaa lukijansa läpi Suomen historian murroksen, irrottautumisen Ruotsista osaksi Venäjän keisarikuntaa.
Ensimmäinen kokemukseni Waltarin kanssa, ja viihdyin kyllä tarinan parissa vallan mainiosti. Kirjan keskiössä oli historian lisäksi myös mielenkiintoisia hahmoja ja kaunis tunnelma.
Mika Waltari tanssittaa lukijansa läpi Suomen historian murroksen, irrottautumisen Ruotsista osaksi Venäjän keisarikuntaa.
Ensimmäinen kokemukseni Waltarin kanssa, ja viihdyin kyllä tarinan parissa vallan mainiosti. Kirjan keskiössä oli historian lisäksi myös mielenkiintoisia hahmoja ja kaunis tunnelma.
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August 12, 2025Jos tämän olisi kirjoittanut Kaari Utrio tai Ursula Pohjolan-Pirhonen, tämä olisi ihan eri kategoriassa. Kaikin tavoin.
July 9, 2024
Waltari never disappoints. This is a very subtle story of a Tsar trying to win the love of a Finnish country girl, while trying to win the love of the whole country at the same time. Finnish men are still dying on the front fighting Russia but their families are already greeting the Tsar and submitting to his rule. Throwing a ball for the Tsar, they are literally dancing on the graves of their sons.
As usually, Waltari excels at turning historical figures who are mostly defined by their grand roles into very human characters with flaws, doubts, aspirations and pleasures. This time, the pinnacle of the book are the inner dialogues of the Tsar, revealing him as an actor, a jester, craving the love and attention of the crowds.
As usually, Waltari excels at turning historical figures who are mostly defined by their grand roles into very human characters with flaws, doubts, aspirations and pleasures. This time, the pinnacle of the book are the inner dialogues of the Tsar, revealing him as an actor, a jester, craving the love and attention of the crowds.
May 9, 2024
Mika Waltari on ilmeisesti kirjottanut tän kirjan sen propaganda vaiheessa ja sen huomaa. Tässä kirjassa ei sinäänsä tapahtunut mitään. Alku oli vakuuttava ja sit mä epävakuutuin, yllättävän romanttista tekstiä. Kirja sisälsi ikonisia isänmaallisia lausahduksia, tää oli vaihteeksi mukavan kevyttä luettavaa ja lyhyempi kirja.
August 26, 2025
Todella hurmaava ja koskettava kirja, mutta lyhyydestään huolimatta melko hidaslukuinen.
July 11, 2024
Ei riittävän romanttinen omaan makuun eikä syvällinen/uskottavakaan romanssin tai Ullan itsensä luonteen osalta. Historiallisia tapahtumia kuvailtiin tarkasti, mutta myös sen ajan "kuvastimen" kautta. Enemmän yksityiskohtia riitti keisarin luonteesta ja työstä.
June 8, 2020
Sain noin puolet luettua, ja sitten oli pakko lopettaa. Niin paksua nationalismia, asenteellisuutta ja tietysti seksismiä, ettei sitä vain jaksa. Kirjoitusajankohta vuonna 1944 tuntuu tekstissä ja sen asenteessa todella raskaasti, ja on ällöttävää lukea Waltarin naiskuvausta, jossa kaikki muut suomitaan kamaliksi ja rumiksi paitsi se yksittäinen ah niin viaton ja kaunis ja täydellinen teinityttö, joka on sitten yleinen Suomi-neito ja isänmaallisen naisen ihanneruumiillistuma. Ilmeisesti Waltarin Ulla Möllersvärdistä ja keisarista sepittämä fiktio on myös todella raskaasti värittänyt jälkipolvien käsitystä henkilöistä ja tapahtumista. Oli kyllä viihdyttävää lukea vastapainoksi Henrika Tandefeltin kuvausta tapahtumista, joissa Ulla yms. asetettiin asiayhteyksiinsä eikä tarina ole niin valtaisa ja romanttinen.
January 6, 2023
Historiallinen romaani sijoittuen Suomen sodan päättymisen ja Porvoon valtiopäivien aikaan keväällä 1809. Kieltämättä mielenkiintoinen käännekohta maamme historiassa (piti Wikipediasta lueskella lisätietoja monestakin asiasta).
Etenkin tarinan jälkipuoliskolla keskitytään Aleksanteri I:n ja Ulla-neidon suloisen viattomaan romanssiin (Ullan ollessa tavallaan myös allegoria Suomi-neidolle).
Waltari tunkee hetkittäin keisarin pään sisään kuvailemaan hänen tuntojaan tästä kylmästä ja oudosta maasta, jonka hän on valloittanut.
Etenkin tarinan jälkipuoliskolla keskitytään Aleksanteri I:n ja Ulla-neidon suloisen viattomaan romanssiin (Ullan ollessa tavallaan myös allegoria Suomi-neidolle).
Waltari tunkee hetkittäin keisarin pään sisään kuvailemaan hänen tuntojaan tästä kylmästä ja oudosta maasta, jonka hän on valloittanut.
November 30, 2017
Nuorena tyttönä olen tehnyt ainakin kaksi esitelmää tästä kirjasta. Partiossa lukumerkkiä varten ja koulussa lukutunnille. Romantiikkaa ja historiaa viihdyttävästi ja helpossa muodossa. Hyvin kevyt verrattuna paksuihin eepoksiin.
September 2, 2021
Historiallinen romaani
April 1, 2013
Todella onnistunut historiallisen romaanin ja rakkaustarinan yhdistelmä. Henkilökuvaus on tarkkaa ja samalla äärimmäisen inhimillistä. Waltari saa vangittua henkilöiden (ja heidän kauttaan koko tapahtumien aikakauden) ristiriitaiset sielunmaisemat ja mielenliikkeet esimerkillisellä tavalla. Mielenkiintoisena plussana vieläpä tarinan ja kuvattujen tapahtumien ilmeinen totuudenmukaisuus.
July 27, 2013
Ihan ok, ei mit��n erikoista. Mielenkiintoisia historiayksityiskohtia.4.
November 25, 2012
Ei totuttua tasoa
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews