State Prize for Literature to Hannu Väisänen and Jyrki Lappi-Seppälä

Väisänen’s trademark is his unique ability to combine the skills of a visual artist and author, finding the links between the visual and verbal expression in his literary output. In 2007 Väisänen was awarded the Finlandia Prize, the most distinguished literature prize in Finland, for his book “Toiset kengät” (The Other Shoes).

Jyrki Lappi-Seppälä, MA and translator into Finnish, was awarded the state prize especially for his fresh translation of “Don Quijote de la Mancha”. Lappi-Seppälä brings to this Spanish classic, sometimes considered the first modern novel in western literature, an interpretation in reliable modern language that is true and faithful to the original.

The state prizes were awarded by the National Council for Literature.

The prize award ceremony hosted by Minister of Education and Culture Sanni Grahn-Laasonen took place on 19 November at the Government Banquet Hall Smolna, Helsinki.