Collections#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Moonscape and Other Stories |
1954 |
Buy |
| The Tree of Dreams and Other Stories |
1965 |
Buy |
Mikael Karvajalka Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Adventurer |
1948 |
Buy |
| The Wanderer / The Sultan’s Renegade |
1949 |
Buy |
Non-Fiction#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Truth About the Schley Case |
2018 |
Buy |
Secret Of The Kingdom Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Secret of the Kingdom |
1959 |
Buy |
| The Roman |
1966 |
Buy |
Short Stories/Novellas#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Moonscape |
1954 |
Buy |
| The Tree of Dreams |
1965 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Egyptian |
1945 |
Buy |
| A Nail Merchant at Nightfall |
1949 |
Buy |
| A Stranger Came to the Farm |
1952 |
Buy |
| The Etruscan |
1955 |
Buy |
| The Dark Angel |
1963 |
Buy |
Mika Waltari was one of the most internationally successful Finnish authors of the twentieth century, though he remains less well known in English-speaking countries than his reputation in Europe would suggest. He published his first books in the 1920s and went on to write across a wide range of genres, from detective fiction and short stories to the grand historical novels that made his name outside Finland.
The Egyptian, published in Finland in 1945 and translated into English in 1949, became a phenomenon, spending time on bestseller lists in the United States and leading to a Hollywood adaptation in 1954. The novel follows a physician in ancient Egypt named Sinuhe, narrated in the first person as a kind of memoir stretching across a lifetime at the center of Egyptian civilization. Its success opened European and American markets to Waltari’s other historical novels, including The Etruscan, The Dark Angel, and the two-volume Mikael Karvajalka series set during the Renaissance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Mika Waltari written?
Mika Waltari has written fourteen books across six series.
What was Mika Waltari's first book?
Mika Waltari’s first book is The Egyptian, published in 1945.
Is Mika Waltari still read today, and where should a new reader start?
Waltari remains widely read, particularly in Europe, and The Egyptian is the natural starting point for anyone new to his work. First published in Finland in 1945 and translated into English in 1949, it became an international bestseller and is still the book most closely associated with his name. The Dark Angel and The Etruscan are also good entry points for readers who want to explore his range.