Representing the best
Finnish authors abroad
Finnish authors abroad
A beautifully crafted collection of Christmas stories by one of the great masters of European storytelling.
Throughout his long literary career, Mika Waltari, internationally renowned for The Egyptian, returned time and again to Christmas. Written over several decades for Finnish Christmas magazines and newspapers, these stories reveal a more intimate side of the celebrated author. Together they form a rich literary mosaic that traces Waltari’s development as a writer while showcasing the extraordinary range of his imagination.
The stories published in this collection move effortlessly between reality and wonder, humour and melancholy, childhood and old age. Artists struggling with their calling, children discovering the mysteries of the world, soldiers longing for home, families reunited, lonely souls searching for meaning: each story captures a fleeting but unforgettable human moment.
Waltari’s beloved stories explore universal themes of love, compassion, belonging, memory, and hope. They speak to readers of all ages, celebrating the enduring human need for connection, kindness, and wonder.
Mika Waltari (1908-1979) is the most popular 20th century Finnish writer who is best known for his magnum opus The Egyptian. Over a career that spanned five decades, Waltari published well over 100 works, of which hundreds of translations have been made. His works include at least 30 novels, 20 plays and 15 novellas, as well as short stories, poems, screenplays and essays. In 1957 he was appointed to the Academy of Finland, having previously won the state literature award five times. Waltari’s works have been translated into over 40 languages.
Finnish PDF
English World (Vintage Classics/Penguin)
‘I could not be more delighted to be publishing Mika Waltari’s Christmas stories in English for the first time. The pieces in the collection are wide-ranging but I see this as a book that celebrates finding meaning in Christmas through love and connection with friends and family. It will bring a very Finnish Christmas to life for readers around the world in 2027.’ — Charlotte Knight, Senior Editor, Vintage Classics (PRH)
