Jari Tervo (born 2 February 1959) is a Finnish author, columnist, and former TV personality. He is a major name in Finnish literature.
Contents
Writing
Tervo mainly writes traditional plot-driven prose fiction, in genres ranging from comedy (Poliisin poika) to detective fiction (Myyrä). 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 WSOY until 2016, but followed his editor, Harri Haanpää, 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 Kati Tervo.
Novels
Pohjan hovi, 1992 (The Court of the North)
Poliisin poika, 1993 (Policeman's Son)
Pyhiesi yhteyteen, 1995, published in English as Among the Saints in 2014
Tuulikaappimaa, 1997 (Windswept Expanse)
Minun sukuni tarina, 1999 (My Family Chronicle)
Kallellaan, 2000
Suomemme heimo, 2001
Rautapää, 2002
Myyrä, 2004 (The Mole)
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