The Adventurer
First edition cover
AuthorMika Waltari
Original titleMikael Karvajalka
CountryFinland
GenreHistorical novel
PublisherWSOY
Publication date
1948
Awards1950 State Literary Prize of Finland
Followed byThe Wanderer 

The Adventurer (UK title: Michael The Finn; original title Mikael Karvajalka) is a novel by Finnish author Mika Waltari, published in 1948. It is a fictional tale of a young Finnish man, Mikael Karvajalka (Hairy-foot), set in 16th century Europe. Mikael is portrayed as an intellectual but rather naive person. Beginning life as an orphan bastard, he pursues a better social position with help of friendly people and by means of theological studies, but ends up drifting along through historical events across Europe rather than being able to steer his life himself.

Plot summary

The book begins in the city of Turku and follows Mikael along an adventure throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. The book depicts many actual historical events with a rich style, although Mikael's involvement in the events is fictitious. The historical events and milieu featured in the book include:

The story is continued in The Wanderer, where the protagonist explores the Ottoman Empire.

Reception

The Mikael duology won the 1950 State Literary Prize of Finland.[1] The Adventurer inspired Jean Auel to start her career as a writer: "It was this story that began to crystallize for me an understanding of the real power of fiction: its ability to make the reader feel. Whatever else a work of fiction may be -- educational, intellectual, literary, narrative -- if it doesn't move the reader, if it doesn't reach inside and grab, it's a waste of the medium and ultimately it fails."[2]

References

  1. Randel, William (1956). "This Man Waltari". Books Abroad. 30 (2): 165–167. doi:10.2307/40095378. ISSN 0006-7431 via JSTOR.
  2. "Great Escapes: Writers Pick Their Favorites". The Washington Post. 1986-12-07. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
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