The Modern Novel

Biography

Volter Kilpi was born in Kustavi in 1874. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Helsinki. He then worked as a librarian, first in Helsinki and then at the University of Turku. His first written work, written when he was still a student, was a neo-romantic work combining poetry and prose, though called a novel, followed by other works in a similar vein. In 1921 he was appointed chief librarian at the University of Turku. During this time he worked on his Archipelago series, including his famous Joycean novel Alastalon salissa [The Hall of Alastalo], which has not been translated into English (one translator who tried gave it up, saying it was impossible to translate) though it has been translated into Swedish and is apparently being translated into German. His only work translated into English is his unfinished novel about Lemuel Gulliver’s alleged fifth voyage Gulliverin matka Fantomimian mantereelle (Gulliver’s Voyage to Phantomimia), published in Finland in 1944, five years after his death.

Other links

Volter Kilpi
Volter Kilpi
Volter Kilpi
Kilpi, Volter (1874 – 1939)
Of Knights, the Finnish Civil War and Home