Hella Wuolijoki

Hella Maria Wuolijoki (; 22 July 1886 – 2 February 1954), known by the pen name Juhani Tervapää, was an Estonian-born Finnish writer, playwright, parliamentarian, businessperson and farmer. She is best known as a dramatist, particularly for the Niskavuori series of plays and for her collaboration with Bertolt Brecht on Mr Puntila and his Man Matti. Wuolijoki served as the Director General of Yle from April 1945 to June 1949 and was a member of the Parliament of Finland from 1946 to 1948. She also played a private role in the peace negotiations during the Winter War through her friendship with Alexandra Kollontai. to Ernst Murrik and Katarina Kokamägi. One of five siblings, Wuolijoki was the elder sister of Salme Pekkala-Dutt, a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Wuolijoki attended school in Tartu.

Several of Wuolijoki's plays were performed outside Finland as early as the 1930s, particularly in Estonia. Minister ja kommunist was staged at the Blancheteatern in Stockholm, and The Women of Niskavuori was performed in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and England. Through her sister Salme, Wuolijoki was the sister-in-law of R. Palme Dutt and the former sister-in-law of Eino Pekkala.

On 2 February 1954 Wuolijoki died in Helsinki, aged 67.

Selected works Memoirs Enkä ollut vanki – tuokiokuvia vankilasta, Tammi 1944 Koulutyttönä Tartossa, (1945) Yliopistovuodet Helsingissä, (1945) Kummituksia ja kajavia, (1947) Minusta tuli liikenainen, (1953)

Plays Talulapsed (Talon lapset) (1912) Koidula (1932) Minister ja kommunist (1932) Laki ja järjestys (1932) Kulkurivalssi (under the pseudonym Feliks Tuli) Palava maa (1936) Niskavuoren naiset (1936) Juurakon Hulda (1937) Justiina (1937) Naiset ja naamarit (1937) Vihreä kulta (1938) Niskavuoren leipä (1939) Vastamyrkky (1939) Niskavuoren nuori emäntä (1940) Kuningas hovinarrina (1945) Tuntematon tuomari (1945) Häjynpuoleisia pikkunäytelmiä (1945) Niskavuoren Heta (1950) Entäs nyt, Niskavuori? (1953)

Her other works include novels and screenplays, several based on her own plays.