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Olavi Paavolainen

Olavi Paavolainen (nom de plume Olavi Lauri)
Born September 17, Kivennapa. Died July 19, 1964, Helsinki

Studies at the University of Helsinki (aesthetics, literary science, art history)

Freelance writer
Director of the theatre department of the Finnish Broadcasting Company 1947–64
Head of advertising 1935, Kudos Oy Silo, Kestilän pukimo Oy
Employee at Suomen ilmoituskeskus Oy, 1933-34, 1936
Editor in chief of the periodical Tulenkantajat 1930

Works:
Nuoret runoilijat (‘Young poets,’ 1924) (under the nom de plume Olavi Lauri)
Valtatiet (‘Highways,’ 1928) (under the nom de plume Olavi Lauri, together with Mika Waltari)
Nykyaikaa etsimässä (‘In search of modern time,’ 1929)
Keulakuvat (‘Figureheads’, 1932)
Suursiivous eli kirjallisessa lastenkamarissa, (‘The great clean up, or in the literary nursery’ 1932)
Kolmannen valtakunnan vieraana, (‘A guest of the Third Reich,’ 1936)
Lähtö ja loitsu. Kirja suuresta levottomuudesta, (‘Departure and incantations. A book about the great unrest,’ 1937)
Risti ja hakaristi. Uutta maailmankuvaa kohti, (‘The cross and the swastika,’ 1938)
Synkkä yksinpuhelu. Päiväkirjan lehtiä vuosilta 1941–1944, I–II, (‘A gloomy soliloquy, pages from a diary 1941–1944, I–II,’ 1946) Pietari–Leningrad, (‘St. Petersburg–Leningrad,’ 1946)

Honours:
Order of the Cross of Liberty, fourth class
Order of the Lion of Finland – Pro Finlandia Medal 1962
Eino Leino Prize 1960
Honorary member of Kiila (Finnish socialist cultural organisation) 1953

Photo: Finnish Literature Society, literature archives
Written by Olli Siitonen
Translated by Matthew Billington

The public face of an elegant charmer

Olavi Paavolainen, who has been described as a dandy, was extremely careful about the public face he presented, and his elegant, gentlemanly dress was honed to perfection, down to the smallest detail. Like his contemporaries, Paavolainen still maintained his style of dress into old age. Paavolainen was also a popular figure among prominent women in cultural and literary circles.

Flame Bearers continuing the celebration of Olavi Paavolainen’s 40th birthday at Museaokatu 40B. From the Left: Anna Kaari, Lauri Viljanen. Ilmari Pimiä, Elina Vaara, Onni Halla, Olavi Paavolainen, Einari Vehmas, Sylvi Kunnas, Yrjö Jylhä, Matti Kurjensaari, Kaino Viljanen and Toivo Pekkanen. Photo: Finnish Literature Society, literature archives

In his youth, the writer engaged in regular correspondence with the Flame Bearer Katri Vala. His relationship with the author Helvi Hämäläinen, which began in the 1930s, foundered during the war, and in her works Hämäläinen would later portray Paavolainen as a self-satisfied narcissist. After the war, Paavolainen married the actress Sirkka-Liisa Virtamo, but the union ended in divorce in 1952. He moved to the Finnish Broadcasting Company during the reign of Hella Wiolijoki and spent much time from the 1950s onwards with Hertta Kuusinen, an influential figure in the Finnish People’s Democratic League.

Sources:

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Olavi Paavolainen

Olavi Paavolainen (nom de plume Olavi Lauri)
Born September 17, Kivennapa. Died July 19, 1964, Helsinki

Studies at the University of Helsinki (aesthetics, literary science, art history)

Freelance writer
Director of the theatre department of the Finnish Broadcasting Company 1947–64
Head of advertising 1935, Kudos Oy Silo, Kestilän pukimo Oy
Employee at Suomen ilmoituskeskus Oy, 1933-34, 1936
Editor in chief of the periodical Tulenkantajat 1930

Works:
Nuoret runoilijat (‘Young poets,’ 1924) (under the nom de plume Olavi Lauri)
Valtatiet (‘Highways,’ 1928) (under the nom de plume Olavi Lauri, together with Mika Waltari)
Nykyaikaa etsimässä (‘In search of modern time,’ 1929)
Keulakuvat (‘Figureheads’, 1932)
Suursiivous eli kirjallisessa lastenkamarissa, (‘The great clean up, or in the literary nursery’ 1932)
Kolmannen valtakunnan vieraana, (‘A guest of the Third Reich,’ 1936)
Lähtö ja loitsu. Kirja suuresta levottomuudesta, (‘Departure and incantations. A book about the great unrest,’ 1937)
Risti ja hakaristi. Uutta maailmankuvaa kohti, (‘The cross and the swastika,’ 1938)
Synkkä yksinpuhelu. Päiväkirjan lehtiä vuosilta 1941–1944, I–II, (‘A gloomy soliloquy, pages from a diary 1941–1944, I–II,’ 1946) Pietari–Leningrad, (‘St. Petersburg–Leningrad,’ 1946)

Honours:
Order of the Cross of Liberty, fourth class
Order of the Lion of Finland – Pro Finlandia Medal 1962
Eino Leino Prize 1960
Honorary member of Kiila (Finnish socialist cultural organisation) 1953

Photo: Finnish Literature Society, literature archives
Written by Olli Siitonen
Translated by Matthew Billington

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