Mikael Niemi

Who is Mikael Niemi?

Mikael Niemi is a Swedish author. He wrote the novel Populärmusik från Vittula. It is the story of a young boy, Matti, growing up in Pajala in the 1960s and is recounted in a humorous way. It became a best-seller in Sweden and was subsequently translated into 30 languages and made into a film in 2004 by Reza Bagher.

Niemi has also written Svålhålet, Kyrkdjävulen, "Mannen som dog som en lax" and Blodsugarna.

He first became famous by writing poetry, and he has published many collections of poetry, such as Änglar med mausergevär, Med rötter här uppe and his very first, Näsblod under högmässan. He has also written many works for the theater.

Many of his books contain some Meänkieli language, because Pajala, and the rest of Tornedalen, is partly inhabited by people of Finnish origin, although the area has been Swedish territory since the establishment of national borders in the area.

Niemi was educated in Luleå but currently resides in Pajala.