Algot Untola

{{Short description|Finnish writer and journalist}}

File:Algot Untola.gif

Algot Untola (28 November 1868{{cite book |last1=Koskela |first1=Lasse |title=Suomalaisia kirjailijoita: Jöns Buddesta Hannu Ahoon |date=1990 |publisher=Tammi |isbn=978-951-30-9246-7 |page=200 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Suomalaisia_kirjailijoita/ln_nAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Tiet%C3%A4v%C3%A4inen+Algot+Untola+%2228.11.1868%22&dq=Tiet%C3%A4v%C3%A4inen+Algot+Untola+%2228.11.1868%22&printsec=frontcover |access-date=21 November 2024 |language=fi}} – 21 May 1918) was a Finnish writer and journalist.

Untola was born in Tohmajärvi, to the Tietäväinen family, and his real name was Algoth, but he changed the name to Algot Untola. Untola had many pen names including Irmari Rantamala, Maiju Lassila, Algoth Tietäväinen, Väinö Stenberg, J.I. Vatanen, Liisan-Antti and Jussi Porilainen. Untola's profession was teaching. He graduated in 1891 from Sortavala. Untola's most famous books were Harhama (1909) which he wrote under the name Irmari Rantamala, and Tulitikkuja lainaamassa (1910) under the name Maiju Lassila. Untola refused to take the state literature prize which he got for these books.

Untola first supported the Finnish Party but he didn't agree with their views and he changed his party to Social Democratic Party of Finland. During the Finnish Civil War in 1918 he actively supported the Red side{{cite news |last1=Kolsi |first1=Eeva-Kaarina |title=Kirjailija Maiju Lassilan elämästä tuli karmea tragedia, kun rakastettu heitti hänen päälleen rikkihappoa |url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005746278.html |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=Ilta-Sanomat |date=15 July 2018 |language=fi}} as a newspaper editor. He was arrested by White troops after the Battle of Helsinki and shot dead on 21 May 1918 in Helsinki on a transport of rebel prisoners to the Suomenlinna prison camp.