Torsti Lehtinen was born in Helsinki in 1942, where he died in September 2023. He studied philosophy, theology and literature at the University of Helsinki and took a degree as FM, comparable to a Ph. D.

As a writer, Torsti Lehtinen published more than 30 works: novels, collections of poetry and aphorisms, plays, essays and philosophical works. He has worked as a teacher of philosophy and creative writing at several educational institutions, e.g. the Universities of Turku and Tampere, as well as at the Theatre Academy and Valamo College.

Torsti Lehtinen has also been active as a translator. His translations include the main works of Søren Kierkegaard.

He has been awarded several literature prizes, e.g. The WSOY Literature Award, and he won The National Biennial Championships in Essayism in 1995.

Torsti Lehtinen served on the board of the Central Finland Writers’ Association, and, after moving back to Helsinki, was invited to become president of the Helsinki Writers’ Guild in 2003. He also served as vice-president of the Finnish Writers’ Association (2000–2005) and was created an honorary member of The Central-Finland Writers’ Association in 1995.