Frans Eemil Sillanpää
Frans Eemil Sillanpää (16 September 1888 – 3 June 1964) was a Finnish writer. In 1939, he became the first Finnish writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature "for his deep understanding of his country's peasantry and the exquisite art with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with Nature".
Also recorded as Frans Sillanpää
Frans Eemil Sillanpää

Uusi Suomi · Public domain
- Name
- Frans Eemil Sillanpää
- Awards
- 1939 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Born
- 16 September 1888
- Birthplace
- Hämeenkyrö, Finland
- Died
- 3 June 1964
- Place of death
- Helsinki, Finland
- Occupation
- Writer
- Education
- University of Helsinki
- Nationality
- Finland · Grand Duchy of Finland
- Fields
- fiction literature
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Frans Eemil Sillanpää (16 September 1888 – 3 June 1964) was a Finnish writer. In 1939, he became the first Finnish writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature "for his deep understanding of his country's peasantry and the exquisite art with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with Nature".
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Frans Eemil Sillanpää. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q132723 · wikipedia · Frans Eemil Sillanpää
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Frans Eemil Sillanpää • Awards — 1939 Nobel Prize in Literature • Born — 16 September 1888 • Birthplace — Hämeenkyrö, Finland • Died — 3 June 1964 • Place of death — Helsinki, Finland • Occupation — Writer • Notable Works — The Maid Silja • Education — University of Helsinki
Early life
Early life
Frans Eemil Sillanpää was born into a peasant farming family in Hämeenkyrö. Although his parents were poor, they managed to send him to school in Tampere. At school Sillanpää was a good student and with aid from his benefactor Henrik Liljeroos he entered the University of Helsinki in 1908 to study medicine. His acquaintances at university included the painters Eero Järnefelt and Pekka Halonen, composer Jean Sibelius and author Juhani Aho.
Career
Career
In 1913 Sillanpää moved from Helsinki to his old home village and devoted himself to writing. In 1914 Sillanpää wrote articles for the newspaper Uusi Suometar. In 1916 Sillanpää married Sigrid Maria Salomäki, whom he had met in 1914. By principle, Sillanpää was against all forms of violence and believed in scientific optimism. In his work he portrayed rural people as living united with the land. The novel Hurskas kurjuus (Meek Heritage) (1919) depicted the reasons for Finnish Civil War and was controversial at the time due to its objective approach. Sillanpää won international fame for his novel Nuorena nukkunut (translated to English as The Maid Silja) in 1931. In 1939, Sillanpää was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for his deep understanding of his country's peasantry and the exquisite art with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with Nature." A few days after he received the prize, talks between Finland and Soviet Union broke down and the Winter War began. Sillanpää traveled to Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize and donated the golden medal to be melted for funds to aid the war effort. Before the Winter War, Sillanpää wrote the lyrics for Sillanpään marssilaulu to lift his spirits when his eldest son Esko was partaking in military practices at Karelian Isthmus. In 1939, Sillanpää's wife Sigrid died of pneumonia leaving him with eight children. Some time after, Sillanpää married his secretary Anna von Hertzen (1900–1983). In 1941 Sillanpää divorced his wife Anna. His alcoholism and other ailments needed hospital treatment. In 1943 he returned to public life as a bearded old 'Grandpa Sillanpää'. His radio appearances, especially his tradition of speaking on Christmas Eve from 1945 to 1963 attracted listeners. The asteroid 1446 Sillanpää, discovered on January 26, 1938, by Finnish astronomer and physicist Yrjö Väisälä, was named after him.
Death
Death
Sillanpää died on 3 June 1964 in Helsinki aged 75.
Works
Works
• Illustration — Sillanpää sitting for the sculptor Mauno Oittinen in 1931. • Elämä ja aurinko (1916) • Ihmislapsia elämän saatossa (1917) • Hurskas kurjuus (translated as Meek Heritage) (1919) • Rakas isänmaani (1919) • Hiltu ja Ragnar (1923) • Enkelten suojatit (1923) • Omistani ja omilleni (1924) • Maan tasalta (1924) • Töllinmäki (1925) • Rippi (1928) • Kiitos hetkistä, Herra... (1930) • Nuorena nukkunut (translated as The Maid Silja) (1931) • Miehen tie (1932) • Virranpohjalta (1933) • Ihmiset suviyössä (translated as People in the Summer Night) (1934) • Viidestoista (1936) • Elokuu (1941) • Ihmiselon ihanuus ja kurjuus (1945)
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
He also worked under the names Eemil Syväri and Taata Sillanpää. The authorities additionally record the heading Frans Sillanpää. His recorded language was Finnish. He married Sigrid Salomäki and Anna von Hertzen. One child is recorded: Saara Sillanpää.

Finnish writers at the 70th birthday of Frans Emil Sillanpää in Helsinki in 1958, from left: Lassi Nummi, Mika Waltari, F. E. Sillanpää.
Anonymous Unknown author · Otavan Suuri Ensyklopedia 9 (1981), p. 6603.

Colour photograph of the Finnish writer Frans Eemil Sillanpää writing a letter.
Anonymous Unknown author · http: Image record in Finna: HK6869:3.12 Image record page in Finna: museovirasto.5CB7677177A458D3305EE681DA597511
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1888
Frans Eemil Sillanpää born at Hämeenkyrö.
1964
Frans Eemil Sillanpää died at Helsinki.
Films
• Illustration — Poststamp released in 1980 in honour of Sillanpää. Numerous of his works have been made into films: • Nuorena nukkunut, Teuvo Tulio. 1937 • One Man's Faith, Nyrki Tapiovaara and Hugo Hytönen. 1940 • Ihmiset suviyössä, Valentin Vaala. 1948 • Poika eli kesäänsä, Roland af Hällström. 1955 (based on novel Elämä ja aurinko) • The Harvest Month, Matti Kassila. 1956 • Silja – nuorena nukkunut, Jack Witikka. 1956 • The Glory and Misery of Human Life, Matti Kassila. 1988
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q132723: Frans Eemil SillanpääWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Formation and teaching. Sillanpää studied at Jumesniemi Church School, Haukijärvi School, Tampere Lyceum High School and University of Helsinki. He trained under Eino Kaila. Sillanpää received Nobel Prize in Literature, Aleksis Kivi Award and Commander First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland.
Recognition and collections
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,988 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Fraňo KráľAuthor
- Frano SupiloAuthor
- Frans Ben CalladoAuthor
- Frans De CortAuthor
- Frans G. BengtssonAuthor
- Frans HedbergAuthor
- Frans Hjalmar NortamoAuthor
- Frans Michael FranzénAuthor
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Frans Eemil Sillanpää?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.