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Veijo Meri

1928 – 2015

Finnish writer

Linguist Screenwriter Poet
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About Veijo Meri

Lived 1928 – 2015 (aged 86). Veijo Meri was a Finnish linguist, screenwriter, poet, writer, translator and playwright.

Veijo Väinö Valvo Meri (31 December 1928 – 21 June 2015) was a Finnish writer. Much of his work focuses on war and its absurdity. The work is anti-war and has dark humor.

Born in Viipuri (today Vyborg, Russia), Meri graduated from secondary school in Hämeenlinna, then studied history and became an independent writer.

His diverse body of work includes novels, short stories, poetry, and essays.

Translations into English Manila rope: A novel. (Translated from the Finnish by John McGahern and Annikki Laaksi.) 1967. Private Jokinen’s marriage leave. (Translated from the Finnish by J. R. Pitkin.) 1976. Beneath the Polar Star: Glimpses of Finnish History. (English translation by Philip Binham.) 1999.

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Important facts

Born
31 December 1928, Vyborg
Birth century
20th century
Died
21 June 2015, Helsinki
Occupation
Linguist, screenwriter, poet, writer, translator, playwright
Nationality
Finland
Education
University of Helsinki
Awards
Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Aleksis Kivi Award; Nordic Council Literature Prize; Eino Leino Prize; Doctor honoris causa of the University of Helsinki; Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland

People in Veijo Meri's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Portrait of John
John
1881 – 1963
Latin Catholic priest
 Portrait of John McGahern
John McGahern
1934 – 2006
Novelist

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Veijo Meri's

Portrait of Harald Sverdrup
Harald Sverdrup
1888 – 1957
Oceanographer
 Portrait of Louis J. Mordell
Louis J. Mordell
1888 – 1972
Mathematician
 Portrait of Maurice Janet
Maurice Janet
1888 – 1983
Mathematician
 Portrait of Alfonso Reyes
Alfonso Reyes
1889 – 1959
Poet
 Portrait of Beno Gutenberg
Beno Gutenberg
1889 – 1960
Seismologist
 Portrait of Ernest Marsden
Ernest Marsden
1889 – 1970
Physicist

Frequently asked questions

Who was Veijo Meri?

Finnish writer (1928–2015)

When was Veijo Meri born?

Veijo Meri was born on 31 December 1928 in Vyborg.

When did Veijo Meri die?

Veijo Meri died on 21 June 2015 in Helsinki.

What was Veijo Meri's occupation?

Veijo Meri was a linguist, screenwriter, poet, writer, translator and playwright.

What nationality was Veijo Meri?

Veijo Meri was Finnish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Veijo Meri

· Wikidata: Q543798

· DBpedia: Veijo Meri

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Veijo Meri. https://biography.guide/veijo-meri/

MLA: "Veijo Meri." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/veijo-meri/.

Chicago: "Veijo Meri." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/veijo-meri/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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