Topelius, Zacharias (1818-1898)

Finnish novelist and poet, who wrote in Swedish. In a series of historical novels, collectively known as Fältskärns berättelser/The Field Surgeon's Stories 1859-67, he set the Finnish people in the context of European history over nearly two centuries. He also wrote poems, fairy tales, plays, and an opera. His anthology Läsning för barn/Reading for Children 1865-96 was influential.

Topelius was born near Nykarleby in western Finland. He worked as a newspaper editor in Helsinki 1842-60, at a time when Russian censorship restricted news content in favour of literary material. The romantic and melodramatic Fältskärns berättelser/The Field Surgeon's Stories, centring on the fortunes of a noble family from the Thirty Years' War to the late 18th century, was serialized in the newspaper and became very popular in Finland and Sweden. It was also a contribution to the Finnish nationalist movement. Topelius was professor of history 1854-78.