{{Short description|Finnish author and writer (1938–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Laila Hirvisaari | image = File:Laila Hirvisaari.jpg | image_size = 248px | caption = <small>Laila Hirvisaari in 2009</small> | birth_date = {{birth date|1938|6|7|df=yes}} | birth_place = Viipuri, Finland | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|6|16|1938|6|7|df=yes}} | death_place = Helsinki, Finland | spouse = Heikki Hietamies, m. 1958 | other_names = Laila Hietamies (1958–2004) }} '''Laila Ellen Kaarina Hirvisaari''' (7 June 1938 – 16 June 2021),<ref name="yle_20210617">{{cite web |last1=Vilkman |first1=Sanna |last2=Mannermaa |first2=Jaakko |title=Kirjailija Laila Hirvisaari on kuollut: "Hän oli historiallisen romaanin peruskallio" |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11986487 |website=Yle Uutiset |publisher=Yleisradio Oy |access-date=17 June 2021 |location=Helsinki |language=fi |date=16 June 2021 |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618045724/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11986487 |url-status=live }}</ref> also known as '''Laila Hietamies''', was a Finnish author and writer. By 2008, more than four million copies of her works had been sold.<ref name="Ref1">(30 September 2008). [http://www.otava.fi/medialle/tiedotteet/kustannustoiminta/2008/fi_FI/laila_hirvisaari_4_miljoonaa_kirjaa/ Laila Hirvisaaren teoksia myyty yli 4 miljoonaa kappaletta] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120526011532/http://www.otava.fi/medialle/tiedotteet/kustannustoiminta/2008/fi_FI/laila_hirvisaari_4_miljoonaa_kirjaa/ |date=26 May 2012 }}, Otava (in Finnish).</ref>

==Biography== Hirvisaari's parents were farmer Aarne Hirvisaari and Saimi Pulli (''née'' Pusa).<ref>{{Writers in Finland 1945-1980}}</ref> When Laila Hirvisaari was three years old, her father Aarne died in the Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union, so she had no memories of him.<ref name="MP">{{cite web |url=http://yle.fi/vintti/yle.fi/tv1/juttuarkisto/laila-hirvisaari-mina-katariina-2011.html |title=Laila Hirvisaari: Minä, Katariina (2011) |date=n.d. |website=Yle |access-date=8 October 2016 |archive-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010235548/http://yle.fi/vintti/yle.fi/tv1/juttuarkisto/laila-hirvisaari-mina-katariina-2011.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After the war, she and her family were evacuated first to Lappeenranta and later to the western part of Finland.

In 1958, she married Heikki Hietamies, who later also became a well-known Finnish author. He is also known for presenting the Tangomarkkinat ("Tango fair"), a major tango competition (1985–1999).<ref name="MP"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.festivals.fi/seinajoen-tangomarkkinoiden-tango-finlandia-palkinto-heikki-hietamiehelle/#.V_ktJNzSGRs |title=Seinäjoen tangomarkkinoiden Tango Finlandia -palkinto Heikki Hietamiehelle |year=2010 |website=Finland Festovals |access-date= |archive-date=10 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210044500/http://www.festivals.fi/seinajoen-tangomarkkinoiden-tango-finlandia-palkinto-heikki-hietamiehelle/#.V_ktJNzSGRs |url-status=live }}</ref>

Laila Hietamies's first novel ''Lehmusten kaupunki'' ("City of the Lindens") was published in 1972 and began a series of novels about Lappeenranta; <ref name="MP"/> the seventh part was published in 2004.<ref name="OTAVA">{{cite web |url=http://otava.fi/kirjailijat/laila-hirvisaari/#.V_kuJ9zSGRs |title=Laila Hirvisaari |website=Otava |access-date=8 October 2016 |language=fi |archive-date=17 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917075820/http://otava.fi/kirjailijat/laila-hirvisaari/#.V_kuJ9zSGRs |url-status=live }}</ref> Hietamies wrote many other novel series, mostly about Karelia and the consequences of the wars of Finland in the 1940s. She wrote also books about a Russian princess, Sonja, during the Russian Revolution.

On 9 December 2004, Laila Hietamies, along with her three cousins, changed their name back to the maiden name Hirvisaari and from then on, her books were published under that name.<ref name="MP"/>

Hirvisaari received many respected Finnish literature awards, including the P.E. Svinhufvud Foundation's recognition award in 1974, but never the most prestigious one, the Finlandia Prize.<ref name="OTAVA"/> Her novel about Catherine the Great] (''Minä, Katariina''), however, was nominated for the Finlandia in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kulttuuri/artikkeli/hirvisaari-finlandia-ehdokkuudesta---mykistyin--kyyneleet-tulivat-silmiin-/2026518 |title=Hirvisaari Finlandia-ehdokkuudesta: 'Mykistyin, kyyneleet tulivat silmiin' |year=2011 |publisher=MTV |access-date=8 October 2016 |language=fi |archive-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010062624/http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kulttuuri/artikkeli/hirvisaari-finlandia-ehdokkuudesta---mykistyin--kyyneleet-tulivat-silmiin-/2026518 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Hirvisaari wrote 34 novels and many short stories and playss, such as ''Unohduksen lumet'' (1975) and ''Olga'' (1977). A movie was based on her novel ''Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat'' ("Abandoned houses, empty yards") in 2000.<ref>[http://www.elonet.fi/fi/elokuva/919476 Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat (2000)] Elonet.</ref> Several of her books have been translated into other languages:<ref name="OTAVA"/>

*''Myrskypilvet'' (Tormipilved), Estonian, Eesti Raamat, 1996 *''Satakielimetsä'' (Ööbikusalu), Estonian, Eesti Raamat, 1998 *''Sonja'' (Vürstitar Sonja), Estonian, Eesti Raamat, 1995, translated by Debora Vaarandi *''Valkoakaasiat'' (Valged akaatsiad), Eesti Raamat, 1996, translated by Debora Vaarandi *''Vienan punainen kuu'' (Red Moon over White Sea), English, Aspasia Books/Canada, 2000, translated by Börje Vähämäki *''Viktoria'' (Victoria), Estonian, Eesti Raamat, 1999, translated by Anne Karu

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{commons category-inline|Laila Hirvisaari}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hirvisaari, Laila}} Category:1938 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Writers from Vyborg Category:20th-century Finnish novelists Category:Finnish women novelists Category:21st-century Finnish novelists Category:21st-century Finnish women writers Category:20th-century Finnish women writers