Jari Tervo


Jari Tervo is a Finnish author, columnist, and former TV personality. He is a major name in Finnish literature.

Writing

Tervo mainly writes traditional plot-driven prose fiction, in genres ranging from comedy to detective fiction. His works often include autobiographical elements; for example, Kallellaan is a diary, and Minun sukuni tarina has a protagonist who is the author himself, all but in name. Despite his renown in Finland, only one of his novels has been translated into English: Pyhiesi Yhteyteen, translated as Among the Saints in 2014.. Tervo has also written books of poetry, as well as newspaper columns for Yle Uutiset, Helsingin Sanomat, and Iltalehti, among other publications.
He was given the Veijo Meri Award in 2018.
Tervo was published by Werner [Söderström Osakeyhtiö|WSOY] until 2016, but followed his editor,, to Otava.

Television

Tervo was a team captain on Uutisvuoto, a Finnish television panel show based on the BBC's Have [I Got News For You], from its debut in 1998 until he quit the show in 2017.

Personal life

Tervo is married to the writer.

Novels

  • Pohjan hovi, 1992
  • Poliisin poika, 1993
  • Pyhiesi yhteyteen, 1995, published in English as Among the Saints in 2014
  • Tuulikaappimaa, 1997
  • Minun sukuni tarina, 1999
  • Kallellaan, 2000
  • Suomemme heimo, 2001
  • Rautapää, 2002
  • Myyrä, 2004
  • Ohrana, 2006
  • Troikka, 2008
  • Koljatti, 2009
  • Layla, 2011
  • Jarrusukka, 2013
  • Esikoinen, 2013
  • Revontultentie, 2014
  • Pyrstötähti, 2015
  • Matriarkka, 2016
  • Aamen, 2018
  • Pääskyt talvehtivat järven pohjassa, 2021

Short story collections

  • Siat ja naudat, 1994
  • Taksirengin rakkaus, 1998
  • Siperian tango: Valitut novellit, 1993–2003, 2003

Poetry

  • Tuulen keinutuoli, 1980
  • Sillankorvassa, illansuussa, 1983
  • Kaistan taivasta, 1988
  • Muistoja Pohjolasta, 1990
  • Intialainen lippalakki: Valitut runot, 1978–90, 1999

Non-fiction

  • Loiri, 2019
  • Ukko, with Kati Tervo, 2022