Marja-Leena Mikkola grew up in southwestern Finland, graduated, and became active in left-wing politics in the 1960s and 1970s. She has translated Dylan Thomas and Sylvia Plath. Her works, which are strongly characterised by social commitment, often examine the position of women in society, as in her debut short story collection Naisia, 1962.
She has been very productive and has written within many genres: short stories, novels, songs, cabaret texts, radio and television satires, novels and poetry of adventure, and the book of reports, Raportii raskas puuvilla, 1971, consisting of interviews with women at a textile factory. Her other titles are her debut novel Tyttö kuin kitara, 1964, the songbook Lauluja, 1980, her novels of adventure Amalia, karhu, 1975, Anni Manninen, 1977, and Jälkeen kello kymmenen, 1984, the novel Maailman virrassa, 1981, and the short story collections Lääkärin rouva, 1972, and Heltymys, 1986.
Additions by the editorial team 2011:
The above biography was first published in 1998. Since then, Marja-Leena Mikkola has written the collection of short stories Mykkä tytär, 2001, and the historical interview book Menetetty lapsuus. Suomalaismiehittäjien vankeudessa 1941–44, 2004.