Mikhail Sholokhov and the Finnish writer Martti Larni remained close friends and worked together for many years. This photo was taken in the office of Martti Larni in Helsinki in 1964. It depicts the Finnish and Soviet writers sitting in front, with the interpreters Borodavkin and Goloshubov standing behind them. The photo was taken during one of Sholokhov’s visits to Finland initiated by Larni.
Martti Johannes Larni was born in 1909 году in Pakila, near Helsinki. He was the fourth of nine children. As a young boy, he earned some extra money as a shepherd. He started his literary career as a poet and translator of French and Scandinavian authors. He published his first poems at the young age of 17. The writer used both his own name Laine (which he changed to Larni in 1942) and the pen names Aslak Nuorti and Dan Aster.
In the 1940s, Larni published several novels in a row which included “The Respectable Poor and Their Mixed Company”, “Impatient Passion”, and “The Sky Fell to Earth”. Starting with his early works, the Finnish writer harshly criticized the bourgeoisie and ridiculed the slavish servility to the West.
The writer became world-famous with his satirical novel “The Fourth Vertebra, or a Scamp Despite Himself” which criticized the American way of life. Larni wrote the novel after living in the United States for several years. In the 1960s, the books of the Finnish writer achieved popularity in the Soviet Union with a significant contribution from Mikhail Sholokhov.
The two writers first met face to face in Finland in 1962. Soon, their acquaintance developed into a real friendship. Sholokhov’s elder daughter Svetlana reminisced that the writers “were united by their quirky sense of humor”.
Martti Larni and his wife Viola often visited Sholokhov in the Vyoshenskaya stanitsa. The Finnish writer was amazed by Sholokhov’s attitude to nature,
Martti Johannes Larni was born in 1909 году in Pakila, near Helsinki. He was the fourth of nine children. As a young boy, he earned some extra money as a shepherd. He started his literary career as a poet and translator of French and Scandinavian authors. He published his first poems at the young age of 17. The writer used both his own name Laine (which he changed to Larni in 1942) and the pen names Aslak Nuorti and Dan Aster.
In the 1940s, Larni published several novels in a row which included “The Respectable Poor and Their Mixed Company”, “Impatient Passion”, and “The Sky Fell to Earth”. Starting with his early works, the Finnish writer harshly criticized the bourgeoisie and ridiculed the slavish servility to the West.
The writer became world-famous with his satirical novel “The Fourth Vertebra, or a Scamp Despite Himself” which criticized the American way of life. Larni wrote the novel after living in the United States for several years. In the 1960s, the books of the Finnish writer achieved popularity in the Soviet Union with a significant contribution from Mikhail Sholokhov.
The two writers first met face to face in Finland in 1962. Soon, their acquaintance developed into a real friendship. Sholokhov’s elder daughter Svetlana reminisced that the writers “were united by their quirky sense of humor”.
Martti Larni and his wife Viola often visited Sholokhov in the Vyoshenskaya stanitsa. The Finnish writer was amazed by Sholokhov’s attitude to nature,
