Introduction

Biography

Known as the na­tion­al po­et of Fin­land, Ru­ne­berg was edu­cat­ed at the Uni­ver­si­ty of Åbo (Tur­ku), and was a friend of Za­cha­ri­as To­pe­li­us.

He worked for a while as a tu­tor in Saa­ri­jär­vi, Fin­land, and af­ter gra­du­at­ing from the uni­ver­si­ty, moved to Hel­sin­ki for a po­si­tion as uni­ver­si­ty lec­tur­er and coun­cil as­sist­ant.

From 1831–36 he taught at the Hel­sing­fors School. In 1837, he be­came a class­ics lec­tur­er at the col­lege of Bo­rgå, found­ed the Bor­gå Tid­ning in 1838, and be­came rec­tor of the col­lege in 1847.

Works

• Dikter, 1831
• Elgskyttarne (The Elk Hunt­ers), 1832
• Hanna, 1836
• Kung Fjalar, 1844
• Fänrik Ståls Sägner (The Tales of En­sign Ståhl), 1848–60