Paavo Rintala

Paavo Olavi Rintala (20 September 1930 – 8 August 1999) was a Finnish novelist and theologian. He also wrote theatre pieces, radio plays and prose.

Rintala was born in Viipuri, Finland. He has won the Finnish State Prize for Literature (Kirjallisuuden valtionpalkinto) many times, including in 1956, 1963, 1966, 1972, 1972 and 1991. He won the Finlandia Prize as a Finnish laureate for his 1991 novel Sarmatian Orfeus. He also won the Runeberg Prize (in Finnish Runeberg-palkinto) in 1994. In 1971, Rintala was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal. Two of his novels have been adapted to film by Finnish film director Mikko Niskanen. First was the 1958 novel Pojat adapted in 1962 with same title (English title The Boys). The other was the 1963 novel Sissiluutnantti adapted to film as Sissit.

Rintala died in Kirkkonummi, Finland, and he is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.