Hella Wuolijoki (née Ella Marie Murrik; July 22, 1886 – February 2, 1954), known by the pen name Juhani Tervapää, was an Estonian-born Finnish writer known for her Niskavuori series.

Life and career

Wuolijoki was born in the hamlet of Ala in Valga County,^[et]Helme Parish, Estonia.

In 1908, she married Sulo Vuolijoki, a personal friend of Lenin. They divorced in 1923. Later, Wuolijoki spelled her name with a capital W.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Wuolijoki had a literary and political salon that discussed culture and promoted left-wing ideas. She had secret connections with the Soviet intelligence and security structures. The Finnish police suspected her of being an illegal resident spy, but there was no solid proof until 1943, when she was arrested for hiding a Soviet paratrooper spy Kerttu Nuorteva and sentenced to life imprisonment. She was released in 1944 after the ceasefire that ended the Continuation War.

Wuolijoki was a member of the Finnish Parliament and the head of the SKDL parliamentary group from 1946 to 1947. Wuolijoki also served as the director of the national broadcasting company, YLE, from 1945 to 1949.