Mikael Karvajalka books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Mikael Karvajalka series?"

"There are two books in the Mikael Karvajalka series, published between 1948 and 1949."

Q: "What is the first book in the Mikael Karvajalka series?"

"The first book in the Mikael Karvajalka series is The Adventurer, published in 1948."

Q: "Is the Mikael Karvajalka series related to Mika Waltari's other historical novels?"

"The Mikael Karvajalka books stand on their own as a two-part story, separate from Waltari's standalone novels like The Egyptian or The Dark Angel. They share his characteristic blend of historical research and personal narrative but feature a wholly different protagonist and setting, so no prior knowledge of his other work is needed."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Adventurer	1948	Mika Waltari	Buy
2	The Wanderer / The Sultan’s Renegade	1949	Mika Waltari	Buy

Mika Waltari’s Mikael Karvajalka series follows a young Finnish man named Mikael who leaves his homeland and travels across Renaissance Europe and into the Ottoman world, caught up in the religious upheavals of the Reformation and the constant wars of the period. The two novels, The Adventurer and The Wanderer, read as a continuous narrative and are best read in sequence.

The series shows Waltari working in a more adventure-oriented mode than his Egyptian novels, with Mikael encountering historical figures and finding himself at the margins of major events. The books are well-researched, as all his historical work is, but they have a kinetic energy suited to the period they cover, full of travel, danger, and the disorienting encounter with foreign cultures. For readers who enjoyed The Egyptian and want more of Waltari’s historical range, the Mikael Karvajalka books offer a different window into his imagination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Mikael Karvajalka series?

There are two books in the Mikael Karvajalka series, published between 1948 and 1949.

What is the first book in the Mikael Karvajalka series?

The first book in the Mikael Karvajalka series is The Adventurer, published in 1948.

Is the Mikael Karvajalka series related to Mika Waltari's other historical novels?

The Mikael Karvajalka books stand on their own as a two-part story, separate from Waltari’s standalone novels like The Egyptian or The Dark Angel. They share his characteristic blend of historical research and personal narrative but feature a wholly different protagonist and setting, so no prior knowledge of his other work is needed.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order