Mirkka Lappalainen, PhD, has been granted many awards for her research on the historical period of Swedish rule over Finland. Her most recent work, Pohjolan Leijona Kustaa II Aadolf ja Suomi 1611–1632 (‘The Lion of the North – Gustav II Adolf and Finland 1611–1632’) received the Finlandia prize for nonfiction in 2014 and the Vuoden Tiedekirja (‘Science Book of the Year’) award in January 2015. Although her research has been groundbreaking, she became a historian by chance.

Mirkka Lappalainen has been in posts teaching Finnish and Nordic history at the University of Helsinki since 2001. As a teacher, she finds the Socratic method essential for guiding her students.

Docent Mirkka Lappalainen, who focuses on the history of Sweden and Finland in the 17th century, won the Tieto-Finlandia award for her book Pohjolan Leijona – Kustaa II Aadolf ja Suomi 1611-1632 ( ‘The Lion of the North – Gustav II Adolf and Finland 1611-1632’ (Siltala)) in 2014. The…

Doctor of Philosophy Mirkka Lappalainen has a great deal of good memories from her university days. The most significant ones concern the beginning of her studies as a history student and, on the other hand, the day of the defence of her doctoral thesis.

Yle Aamu-TV Interviewed Mirkka Lappalainen on January 8, 2015

Multiple award-winning historian Mirkka Lappalainen already became excited about the 17th century during her time as a student. Her excitement has spawned several books about king Gustav II Adolf.

Mirkka Lappalainen's interview, YLE TV1 January 8, 2015 (in Finnish)